There’s more to SNAP than grocery money.
Make your SNAP benefits go further with discounts, additional food assistance, and more programs that can help you save.
SNAP participation can qualify and even automatically enroll you for some of these programs, but others may need an additional application. It can be helpful to apply to these programs right after you’re approved for SNAP, when you will likely already have the paperwork you need on hand.
Extra Money for Fruits and Vegetables
SNAP Market Match
You can double your SNAP benefits by shopping at a farmer’s market! Thanks to the SNAP Market Match program, your SNAP dollars double when spent at the farmer’s market on fresh fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, and even seeds or plant starts to grow fruits and vegetables for yourself. Learn more here.
SNAP Produce Match
In eligible stores and some online retailers, including Albertson’s, Safeway, and Amazon Fresh, you may also be able to use the SNAP Produce Match to get discounts and coupons of up to 50% off for buying fruits and vegetables. In this program you can buy frozen and canned fruits and vegetables as well as fresh produce, as long as the products don’t contain added salt, sugar, or fat. Learn more and see a list of eligible retailers here.
SNAP Produce Rewards (Pilot)
If you live in or near West Seattle, Lake City, Pasco, or selected farm stands and pop-up locations, a pilot program called SNAP Produce Rewards could help you access up to $50 more in benefits each month if you buy produce from selected locations. You can access this bonus even if you’re receiving less than $50 in benefits initially. Learn more here.
Additional Food Assistance
If you have children in Washington public schools, SNAP participation will automatically enroll them for free breakfast and lunch without the need to apply. This in turn can qualify them for other benefits through the school, such as fee waivers for athletics or field trips.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have an infant or child under the age of five, the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children also known as WIC can provide you with additional healthy food assistance and other help such as breastfeeding support and health screenings. You will need to apply, but SNAP participation can make the process easier. Find more information here.
Seniors over the age of 60 can receive additional food through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. This program is administered through many different agencies and food banks in Washington and is not available in all counties, so the easiest way to find out if this program is an option for you is to call 2-1-1 or visit https://wa211.org/ and search by location.
You can also use SNAP EBT to order groceries online for pickup or delivery. This can make getting fresh food easier and more convenient.
Non-Food Resources
Your EBT card can qualify you for discounted or even free admission at many museums, zoos, aquariums, and gardens throughout Washington and the US! Visit Museums for All to find participating locations. For most places, you only need to show your SNAP EBT card and a matching ID at the ticket counter to qualify, and multiple family members or friends can come with you for the same free or reduced price. Please note that for museums which offer discounted but not free admission, you can’t buy tickets with your SNAP benefits and will need to bring cash or a debit card to pay for the tickets.
Some additional museums, zoos, and other locations may not be listed with Museums for All but still offer a discounted price to SNAP EBT cardholders. Try searching online for the name of the location you’d like to visit plus the phrase “SNAP discount” or “low income access.” You can also ask at the ticket office if they have any discounts which you might qualify for, such as for SNAP users, veterans, or foster families.
SNAP participation makes you eligible for Lifeline, a federal program that provides discounts on internet services. This program from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provides a monthly discount of $9.25 for broadband internet and/or telephone services through eligible providers, or up to $34.25 for qualifying households on Tribal lands. You will need to apply, but as a SNAP user, you likely won’t have to provide documentation of eligibility. For more information and to apply, visit https://www.lifelinesupport.org/. To find a list of all participating internet service providers near you, search for your city or zip code here.
Several internet providers also offer low-cost options in addition to or instead of Lifeline that you may qualify for with participation in SNAP or other government assistance programs.
-
Compare between your available options and consider
Which service providers operate in your area
The internet speed and data availability you will require
Cost
Whether this program requires a contract, and what the term of that contract may be
Additional eligibility requirements for each service. Some discounts and programs are only available to new customers, students, the elderly, etc. These requirements should be listed on each page.
Documentation requirements for the application
-
Astound Internet First offers home internet for $9.95 per month for speeds up to 50 Mbps or $19.95 per month for speeds up to 150 Mbps. SNAP users are eligible, as well as people enrolled in other government assistance programs.
PCs for People offers low-cost plans starting from $15 per month. SNAP users are eligible, as well as people enrolled in other government assistance programs.
Spectrum Internet Assist offers internet with speeds up to 50 Mbps for $25 per month, or up to 100 Mbps for $30 per month for the first year of participation. Wi-Fi is an additional $10 per month. Families with a child receiving free school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or with a household member receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are eligible.
T-Mobile Project 10 Million is available for K-12 students enrolled in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), SNAP, or other benefits programs. It provides a free hotspot and 200 GB of data per year for 5 years.
Verizon Forward offers several internet plans from $20 per month. People who have qualified for Lifeline or WIC within the past 180 days or received a Pell Grant within the previous year are eligible.
Xfinity Internet Essentials offers home internet for $9.95 per month with speeds up to 50 Mbps. SNAP users are eligible, as well as people enrolled in other government assistance programs.
Please note that the plans listed above may not be the best deal available to you. The Lifeline list of providers available in your area can help you find all your options to compare prices. If you already have internet service, you can also try calling your internet provider’s customer service line and asking about available discounts.
You may be eligible for discounted utilities or energy assistance. Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission maintains a page of providers who offer various payment assistance programs, many of which you may be eligible for as a SNAP user. Here you can also find a link to a map with contact information for the agencies that administer the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in each Washington county.
For Seattle residents, the Utility Discount Program (UDP) offers up to 60% off Seattle City Light bills and up to 50% off Seattle Public Utilities bills. Visit this page to learn more and apply. As a SNAP user, you will only have to provide your Approval Letter for Benefits as eligibility documentation.
Snohomish Public Utility District also offers discounts of 25-50% for qualified customers, with the same income eligibility as for SNAP. Find the application here.
Your local utility company may offer similar discounts or grants to help pay your bill if you’re in need. Contact their customer services department to find out more.
Some transportation services offer discounts for SNAP users.
If you live, work, or travel in the Puget Sound area, you can get reduced fares on trains, buses, light rail, ferries, and more public transit options with an ORCA Lift card. SNAP participation qualifies you for this program, but you will have to request a card to receive the reduced rates. There are also further discounts available to people who are elderly, disabled, or participating in certain other government benefit programs such as TANF. Click here and use their screening tool to see which discounts you’re eligible for and to apply.
In Seattle and Spokane, Lime Access provides discounted rates for e-bikes and e-scooters, and SNAP is among the programs which make one eligible. See here for more details.
In Seattle and Tacoma, Lyft Up Job Access could help you get a free ride to a job interview, training site, or worksite for the first few weeks of work. Learn more here.
You can get reduced-price access to streaming services such as Amazon Prime and Paramount+ with your SNAP participation. With Amazon Prime Access, the streaming service, free shipping, and other Prime deals and services cost $6.99/month instead of the regular $14.99/month. With Walmart+ Assist, you can get access to Paramount+ streaming, free delivery of Walmart orders, and other deals and benefits for $6.47/month or $49/year, which is half off the regular prices.
Many libraries also offer free digital streaming for video, music, and audiobooks in addition to paper books, e-books, DVDs, CDs, and in-person services. Check with your local library to see what they offer!
For additional resources, dial 2-1-1. Phone lines are open in most areas Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also visit https://wa211.org/ anytime.
Last updated: October 29, 2024