4 Surprising Things You Can Buy With SNAP Benefits Aside from Groceries

About 42 million Americans receive their monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at $218.14 per person. They use this to mostly buy grocery items and other food supplies at selected stores. SNAP was established when the food stamps program turned electronic in the late 1990s. Now, SNAP beneficiaries use an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to make it easier to receive the funds.

But not many people know that SNAP benefits could also be used for other necessities aside from grocery items.

Here are other surprising things people may buy using their SNAP EBT card:

Restaurant Meals

Generally, you cannot use the SNAP EBT card to pay for restaurant meals. However, states like California, Arizona, Maryland, and Illinois have incorporated the Restaurant Meals Program so that families who have no time nor the means to prepare meals at home may opt to use their SNAP benefits for dine-in orders. According to Pew, the Restaurant Meals Program is also a huge help for people with disabilities.

"There are populations that don't have the means to prepare or store food," Mohammed Aly of the Orange County Poverty Alleviation Coalition said. "Only a handful of states have heard of this program or have implemented it in any fashion -- that absolutely needs to change."

Edible Plants or Seeds

Since 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has included seeds, edible plants, and fertilizers in the SNAP benefits that Americans may buy at SNAP retailers and participating Farmers' Markets. The idea behind this is to encourage families to grow their own food in their backyard so they will become self-reliant or to facilitate a community garden initiative with their neighbors.

Hunting or Fishing Gear

As with edible plants and seeds, SNAP benefits may also be used for buying hunting or fishing gear, like nets, rods, knives, or harpoons. These are helpful for those who live in rural areas.

In Alaska, these are called subsistence purchases, which allow Americans to forage their food without any difficulty since they could obtain the needed tools or equipment.

Gift Baskets

For Christmas gift-giving or other special occasions, there are special gift baskets made just for SNAP. These mostly include food like cheese, meat, and some snacks. Some gift baskets will consist of a small toy, but more than 50 percent of the items are edibles. The food basket's price will include the container. However, gift baskets with alcohol or cigarettes are not eligible for payment via the EBT card.

Some Beverages

Additionally, some energy drinks and coffee that you have to prepare yourself, and are not ready-to-drink, may also be included in the SNAP purchases, provided that these have nutritional information on the label. Generally, however, the USDA limits beverages in the choices as many of these do not pass the agency's standard for nutrition.

To apply for SNAP benefits and determine if you qualify, sign up with BenefitsCheck.Org.