SNAP Benefits Update: Can You Buy Medicine, Vitamins Using Your EBT Card?

SNAP benefits aim to provide nutrition to eligible, low-income individuals and households through a monthly cash assistance deposited to an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.

EBT card functions similarly to a debit card. It can be used at authorized retail stores and grocery chains to purchase food. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture administers the program at the federal level, while local SNAP offices distribute the benefits to its recipients.

The state determines the eligibility of the applicants and issues monthly allotments of SNAP benefits. Interested applicants are determined eligible based on their gross monthly income, net income, and assets.

Households or individuals' gross monthly income must be at or below the 130% poverty line. The poverty line is higher for bigger families and lower for smaller families. Cash income from all sources, including earned and unearned income, is counted in determining eligibility in SNAP benefits.

Amounts in bank accounts are also counted as assets. Once given SNAP benefits, you can use your food stamp payments to buy fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, bread and cereals, and other snack foods.

SNAP Benefits Medicine

However, there are items that are not on the list of items allowed to be bought using the benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. Recipients cannot use their SNAP benefits to buy alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco.

Also included in the list of ineligible SNAP items are live animals except for shellfish, fish removed from the water, and animals slaughtered before the pick-up from the store.

Non-food items such as pet foods, cleaning supplies, paper products, other household supplies, cosmetics, and hygiene items are also not allowed to be purchased using SNAP benefits. Prepared foods for immediate consumption and hot foods are also not included in the eligible SNAP benefits items.

Aside from prepared meals, vitamins, medicines, and supplements are also not eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. If it has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase.

Use of EBT Card

EBT cardholders might receive some discounts, perks, and free stuff, such as free admission to museums. Aside from free museum admissions, EBT cardholders can also enjoy 50% off Amazon Prime Membership, discounted or free cell phone, and home phone service.

Certain retailers also offer discounts for EBT cardholders. In California, EBT cardholders are offered lifeline program if they qualify for free or low-cost home or cell phone service for you or members of your family through the Federal Lifeline Program.

The program currently serves around 13 million Americans. It aims to help individuals lower the monthly cost of phone and internet services.

Some farmer markets also have what is called a Match Incentive Program, which means the market will match every dollar a recipient will spend, allowing a SNAP beneficiary to get twice as much food and only pay half the price for it.

In California, the EBT matching program offers up to maximum amount of $10 per visit. If recipients spend $10 on their EBT card, they may be able to take home $20 worth of goods.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: How to Use Your SNAP Benefits - From Utah Department of Workforce Services