Having reliable phone service is crucial nowadays for work, school, and everyday life. For low-income families and individuals receiving SNAP food stamp benefits, paying monthly phone bills can be a challenge. A common question is – can I use my EBT card to pay my phone bill?
Unfortunately phone bills are generally not a qualified expense for SNAP EBT benefits. However some workarounds like using your EBT card at select retailers may allow you to pay certain phone expenses. We’ll take a comprehensive look at using EBT for phone bills and provide tips to maintain affordable phone service.
SNAP EBT Basics
First, let’s review some basics on SNAP and EBT cards. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food stamp benefits to low-income households. Benefits are deposited monthly into an EBT account, which works similar to a debit card.
The EBT card can be used to purchase eligible food items at participating retailers It cannot be used to withdraw cash SNAP benefits are intended for food purchases only,
EBT Restrictions for Phone Bills
In general, phone bills are considered a non-essential utility expense and therefore do not qualify for SNAP EBT benefits. The same goes for other utilities like cable/internet bills.
Essential expenses like rent, electricity, water bills, and medical costs can potentially qualify in some states. But phone service is universally restricted.
So if you are wondering “can I pay my AT&T bill with food stamps?”, the answer is typically no. Your EBT card cannot be used to directly pay phone company bills.
Potential Workarounds
While you cannot straightforwardly pay a phone bill with your EBT card, there are some potential workarounds:
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Use your EBT card to purchase prepaid refill cards at convenience stores or retailers like Dollar General. These can be used to add minutes to a prepaid wireless account.
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Shop at select retailers that allow using EBT for non-food essentials like hygiene products. You may be able to purchase prepaid phones or airtime cards if offered.
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Withdraw cash benefits (if available in your state) to use towards phone expenses.
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Utilize government lifeline programs that offer discounted or free wireless service and phones to qualified applicants.
These options have limitations but may help offset phone costs for EBT households. Check your state’s specific EBT policies.
Applying for Lifeline Discounts
If you receive government assistance like SNAP or Medicaid, consider applying for the Lifeline Program. This federal benefit provides up to $9.25 monthly in discounted wireless service. You can also get free or discounted mobile devices through Lifeline.
To qualify for Lifeline, your household income must be at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Apply through an approved Lifeline carrier to enroll. Popular carriers include Safelink, Assurance Wireless, and Access Wireless.
Using Lifeline together with strategies like buying prepaid cards with your EBT can help low-income families maintain affordable phone access.
Prioritizing Phone Payments
Phone service is essential today for work, education, and access to resources. Some ways to prioritize phone payments include:
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Use cash benefits (if available) towards phone bills first before non-essentials.
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Explore low-cost prepaid plans like Mint Mobile, Visible, etc. Avoid expensive unlimited data plans if possible.
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Consider downgrading your service. Opt for limited talk/text and use WiFi for data whenever possible. Suspend service temporarily if needed.
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Take advantage of free government phones and lifeline discounts.
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Use payment arrangements and extended due dates from carriers to avoid disconnects. Avoid late fees when possible.
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Contact carriers for discounted service plans available to government assistance recipients. Some have special SNAP EBT programs.
With workarounds and budgeting, maintaining phone service is possible even with limited income. Prioritize these critical bills and use EBT wisely.
Using EBT Cards Responsibly
EBT cards provide essential food assistance to eligible low-income Americans. It’s important to use your benefits responsibly for their intended purpose – to supplement food budgets.
The EBT card and PIN should be kept secure and not shared with unauthorized users. Benefits can only be used for your household. Follow your state’s guidelines on approved EBT purchases.
Be wary of EBT cash exchanges where you swipe your card for someone else in exchange for money. This is illegal and can disqualify you from receiving further benefits.
Additional Resources
If you need assistance gaining or maintaining affordable phone service, additional resources are available:
- Lifeline National Verifier – https://www.checklifeline.org/lifeline
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Lifeline Program – https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/lifeline-support-affordable-communications
- Your state SNAP EBT administration office or consumer relations department
Check if you qualify for discounted wireless plans, government subsidized service, payment assistance, and other resources. Maintaining phone service is possible even on limited income with the right strategies.
Non-Eligible Bills for SNAP
It’s also very important to know the bills that are not considered for food stamp eligibility. These bills include:
Non-essential utilities are not considered qualified for SNAP benefits. This doesn’t negate the fact that they are also important, but because they are not directly related to the basic needs of food, shelter, and health, they are not considered eligible.
Remember that food stamps, now called SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), are organised to help people and families meet their basic needs relating to nutrition and shelter. Examples of nonessential utilities are cable bills, internet bills, phone bills (payment of cell phones), and charges for landlines.
Although payments associated with cable, internet, and phone bills are generally not counted as being eligible for food stamps, it does not make these bills any less important. However, it is important to know which payments do count and which do not count as eligible expenses for food stamps, so you can better educate yourself about the process.
By focusing on the essential expenses directly related to food and shelter, individuals and families can make informed decisions about budgeting and allocating their resources.
What determines your eligibility for food stamps?
Specific bills are considered for an individual in the determination of food stamps. This will affect the level of SNAP benefits that you’ll get.
Here are some of the bills that have been looked into.
This is one of the basic bills that is considered for SNAP eligibility. The amount you pay for your housing is a vital factor that determines your SNAP eligibility status. Rebates and mortgages can be counted as qualified. However, it may be only a part of the housing expenses that will be considered for stamp food eligibility.
Utility bills like water, electricity, and gas are important bills that are considered for SNAP eligibility. They are bills that largely contribute to having a healthy and secure environment. You should also know that nonessential utility bills include the internet or cable, which are not considered eligible for food stamps.
Medical expenses also play a notable role in determining SNAP eligibility. Medical bills like prescriptions, doctor visits, and health insurance premiums are counted among the qualifying factors. This is why it’s important to keep records and receipts of all these payments so that you can have proof of their effect on your budget.
Childcare expenses are a basic factor that is considered for food stamps. Childcare expenses such as daycare fees are considered, and you will need to provide documentation to prove these, as well as go through the verification process for registration.
USING EBT TO PAY MY PHONE BILL
FAQ
Does SNAP count bills?
Where can I pay online with EBT cash?