6 Lesser-Known Perks of SNAP Assistance: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP) provides food benefits to low-income households in order for them to purchase nutritious food. What many do not realise, however, is that SNAP benefits can be used to pay for more than just food. Here are six additional items that SNAP benefits cover.
6 Lesser-Known Perks of SNAP Assistance
1. Restaurant dinners
Generally, EBT cards cannot be used to pay for restaurant meals. Nevertheless, the regulations vary for some eligible SNAP recipients. Through the Restaurant Meals Programme (RMP), eligible SNAP recipients can use their EBT card to pay for meals in the following states:
- Arizona
- California
- Hawaii
- Illinois (exclusively Cook and Franklin counties)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New York City
- Rhode Island (Exclusively Providence and Washington counties)
- Virginia
Who can typically participate varies by state, but includes the following:
- Those aged 60 and older
- Recipients with disabilities who receive government disability compensation or disability retirement benefits
- Homeless elders
- A SNAP recipient’s spouse who is eligible for the RMP.
- Anyone who wishes to participate must first obtain approval from their home state and execute an agreement with
- the Food and Nutrition Service.
Participating restaurants number in the hundreds. Participating restaurants exhibit a sign (typically on the front door or window) that reads “Participating Restaurant: SNAP Restaurant Meals Programme” alongside a fork and knife logo.
You can also find restaurants by using the SNAP State Directory of Resources or by contacting your local SNAP office.
2. weapons for hunting and fishing
Some Alaskans may use their SNAP benefits to purchase the necessary hunting and fishing equipment to procure their own sustenance. Lines, hooks, fishing rods, nets, blades, harpoons, and other necessary equipment may be purchased. Transportation, fuels, shelter, firearms, ammunition, explosives, and clothing are not covered.
This benefit is available to those who reside in areas so remote that it would be difficult for them to visit a store. The objective is to provide them with sustenance while assisting them in saving a small amount of money.
3. Purchasing groceries through Amazon
SNAP recipients can order supplies on Amazon and have them delivered to their door, using EBT food benefits as payment. A person should only order from Amazon if they are unable to visit a store or if they know they will save money.
EBT can be used on Amazon-sold and -shipped items, but not on those from third-party sellers. Look for the message “EBT eligible” under an item before ordering.
4. Gift containers
SNAP benefits may be used to purchase gift baskets containing at least fifty percent consumable items. For instance, if a container contains 10 items, at least five must be edible, and their value must be equal to or greater than that of any non-food items. Some hampers, such as those with alcoholic beverages, may be disqualified. The easiest course of action is to use only baskets containing edible products.
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5. Seeds and vegetation
Beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP) who fantasise of cultivating their own food garden will be pleased to learn that they can use their SNAP benefits to purchase the seeds and plants necessary to get their garden started. While tending to a garden initially requires more effort, in the long run, a person could end up with far more produce than they could for the same cost from a store.
6. Specific animal species
SNAP recipients may not be able to purchase a cow or a goat with their benefits, but they can buy shellfish, other aquaculture, and pre-slaughtered animals.
In an ideal world, the ability to use SNAP benefits to purchase items “beyond the usual” will allow recipients to stretch their SNAP dollars and retain more money in their bank accounts.
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