Iowa EBT Discounts: How to Save Money and Access Benefits

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards in Iowa are provided to eligible residents as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. These cards function similarly to debit cards, allowing beneficiaries to purchase approved food items at participating stores. Beyond the primary benefit of food assistance, EBT cardholders in Iowa can also access a range of discounts and special offers. These discounts are designed to help individuals and families stretch their benefits further and enhance their quality of life.

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EBT discounts in Iowa cover various services and opportunities, from reduced admission fees at cultural institutions to discounted rates for public transportation. Many of these programs are not widely known, yet they provide significant savings. For example, museums and educational centers may offer entry at a minimal cost to EBT cardholders, which promotes access to educational resources and community engagement. Local providers and community support organizations often collaborate with the state to extend these benefits, aiming to support low-income households in diverse aspects of life.

Museum Discounts

Museums across Iowa offer reduced admission fees to EBT cardholders. Participating institutions include places like the Des Moines Children’s Museum and the Sioux City Art Center, where discounts can range from free admission to a minimal fee of $1 to $3 per person. Such initiatives typically fall under the Museums for All program, aimed at ensuring cultural education is available for all community members.

    National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

    • Address: 1400 Inspiration Place SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404
    • Phone: 319-362-8500

    Family Museum

    • Address: 2900 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa 52722
    • Phone: 563-344-4106

    Des Moines Children’s Museum

    • Address: 1551 Valley West Drive, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266

    Public Transit Fares

    Affordable transportation is crucial, and the EBT program acknowledges this by providing discounted transit fares. Public transit systems such as Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART) may offer reduced fares to cardholders. This can mean substantial savings for daily commutes or casual travel within the city.

    • DART: 50% off standard fare

    Educational Resources

    EBT cardholders receive discounts on educational materials and resources. These might include reduced fees for GED testing or discounted internet services that facilitate online learning and access to educational platforms. Libraries and educational centers may also offer program fee waivers or discounts on supplementary educational materials.

    • GED Testing: Discounted test fees
    • Internet Services: Discounted monthly rates

    Amazon Prime Discount with EBT Card

    If you possess an Iowa EBT Card, you’re eligible to access Amazon Prime services at a significantly reduced cost.

    Shop Amazon Fresh with SNAP EBT Shop Amazon Fresh with SNAP EBT

    Prime Membership Cost with EBT

    Normally, Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month. With an EBT Card, the price drops to just $6.99 per month, allowing you to save more than 50%.

    Online Grocery Purchases with EBT

    As part of the USDA’s pilot program, Amazon has been approved to accept food stamps online. This enables EBT cardholders to conveniently order groceries through Amazon Pantry in designated areas.

    Benefits of Amazon Prime EBT Discount

    • Fast and Free Delivery: Enjoy rapid, free delivery on over 50 million eligible items. In specific metropolitan areas, benefit from free same-day delivery on over a million items and two-hour delivery on groceries and everyday essentials through Prime Now.
    • Streaming Entertainment: Instantly stream TV shows and movies. Your Prime membership provides free access to a vast library of movies and TV shows that can be streamed on various devices including select Smart TVs, Roku, Xbox, Amazon Fire TV, and mobile devices.

    Additional Perks

    • Grocery Shopping: Use your EBT Card to buy groceries online through Amazon Pantry where available.
    • Music Streaming: Access over two million songs and numerous playlists and stations without ads.
    • Reading Material: Unlimited reading across any device with access to books and magazines.
    • Audible Original Series: Enjoy limitless listening to original audio series from Audible.
    • Gaming with Twitch Prime: Receive free game content monthly, exclusive discounts, and more.
    • Photo Storage: Benefit from free, unlimited photo storage to keep all your photos in one place.

    Discounted Cell Phone Services in Iowa

    Below is a table of cell phone providers that are part of the Lifeline program in Iowa, providing discounted services.

    Company NamePhone
    Assurance Wireless888-898-4888
    Access Wireless866-594-3644
    Q Link Wireless855-754-6543
    Life Wireless888-543-3620
    StandUP Wireless800-544-4441
    Safelink Wireless800-723-3546
    U.S. Cellular800-944-9400
    FMTC Wireless208-642-4436
    SEI Wireless319-679-2211
    Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association800-592-6105
    Tag Mobile, LLC866-959-4918
    South Slope Cooperative Telephone Company800-272-6449
    Boomerang Wireless866-488-8719
    TerraCom Wireless877-351-4747

    Discounted Home Phone Services in Iowa

    The following table lists home phone providers in Iowa that participate in the Lifeline program, offering discounted services.

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    Company NamePhone
    Frontier Communications800-921-8101
    Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association800-592-6105
    Farmers Telephone Company641-662-2373
    Villisca Farmers Telephone Company800-469-2111
    Huxley Communications800-231-4922
    Western Iowa Telephone712-944-5711
    Coon Valley Cooperative Telephone Association641-524-2111
    Danville Telecom319-392-4251
    Stratford Mutual Telephone Company515-838-2390
    Mahaska Communications641-676-1000
    Jefferson Telephone Company515-386-4141
    Miles Cooperative Telephone563-682-7111
    Independent Networks712-868-8000
    Guthrie Telecommunications Network, Inc.641-332-2000
    Casey Mutual Telephone Company641-746-2222
    Fenton Cooperative Telephone Company515-889-2785
    Griswold Cooperative Telephone Company712-778-2121
    Coon Creek Telephone Company888-823-6234
    Farmers and Merchant Mutual Telephone Company319-256-2736
    The Community Agency712-930-5593
    La Porte City Telephone Company319-342-3369
    Ace Telephone Association888-404-4940
    Van Buren Telephone Company319-293-3187
    East Buchanan Telephone Cooperative866-327-2748
    CenturyLink800-407-5411
    Osage Municipal Utilities641-832-3731
    Clarence Telephone Company563-452-3852
    Windstream Communications800-347-1991
    Clear Lake Independent Telephone Company641-357-2111
    Arcadia Telephone Cooperative712-689-2238
    Alpine Communications563-245-4000
    F&B Communications563-374-1236
    WTC Communications563-732-3000
    Premier Communications800-741-8351
    Bernard Telephone Company563-879-3203
    Lynnville Telephone Company641-594-2938
    Killduff Telephone Company641-594-2905
    Coon Rapids Municipal Communications712-999-2225
    Mutual Telephone Company of Morning Sun319-868-7636
    Goldfield Access Network515-825-3996
    Butler-Bremer Mutual Telephone Company800-830-1146
    Palmer Mutual Telephone Company800-685-7417
    Algona Municipal Utilities515-295-3584
    Reinbeck Telecommunications Utility319-788-7888
    Westside Independent Telephone Company888-508-2946
    Readlyn Telephone Company319-279-3375
    Minburn Telecommunications877-386-2933
    Rockwell Cooperative Telephone Association641-822-3211
    Prairie Telephone Co., Inc.888-508-2946
    Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association515-352-3151
    FiberComm L.C.712-224-2020
    Panora Communications Cooperative641-755-2424
    OmniTel Communications641-749-2531
    Springville Co-operative Telephone Assn319-854-6107
    SAC County Mutual Telephone Company712-668-2200
    West Iowa Telephone Company800-352-0006
    Alta Municipal Utilities712-200-1122
    Lehigh Valley Cooperative Telephone Assn.515-359-2211
    Van Horne Cooperative Telephone319-228-8791
    Preston Telephone Company866-689-9878
    Citizens Mutual Telephone Company641-664-2074
    Massena Telephone Co712-779-2227
    Brooklyn Mutual Telecommunications Cooperative641-522-9211
    Orange City Communications712-707-1000
    Andrew Telephone Company563-672-3277
    La Motte Telephone Company563-773-2213
    Long Line Metro866-901-5664
    Royal Telephone Co.712-933-2615
    IAMO Telephone Company712-583-3232
    Lost Nation Elwood Telephone Company563-678-2470
    Liberty Communications319-627-2145
    Cascade Communications Company563-852-3710
    Oran Mutual Telephone Company319-638-7001
    North English Cooperative Telephone Company319-664-3821
    Northeast Iowa Telephone Company563-539-2122
    Atkins Telephone Company319-446-7331
    Marne and Elk Horn Telephone Company712-764-6161
    South Slope Cooperative Telephone Company319-626-2211
    Harlan Municipal Utilities712-755-5182
    Ellsworth Cooperative Telephone515-836-4431
    Reasnor Telephone Company641-793-2905
    Titonka-Burt Communications515-928-2110
    Templeton Telephone Company712-669-3311
    Laurens Municipal Communications Utility712-841-4610
    Hubbard Co-Op Telephone Assn.641-864-2216
    Mapleton Communications712-881-4000
    Wellman Cooperative Telephone Association800-677-3484
    C-M-L Telephone Cooperative Association712-443-8222
    Kalona Cooperative Telephone Company319-656-3668
    Ringsted Telephone Company712-866-1456
    River Valley Telecommunications Cooperative712-859-3300
    Palo Cooperative Telephone Association319-851-3431
    HITEC712-551-2565
    United Farmers Telephone712-834-2211
    Prairieburg Telephone Company319-437-3611
    Grand Mound Cooperative Telephone563-847-3000
    Breda Telephone Corporation888-508-2946
    Southwest Telephone Exchange712-825-7502
    Heart of Iowa Communications Cooperative800-806-4482
    Onslow Cooperative Telephone Association563-485-2833
    Mabel Cooperative Telephone Company563-737-2233
    HTC Communications800-813-2023
    Hawkeye Telephone Company563-427-3222
    Ogden Telephone Company515-275-2050
    Keystone Farmers Cooperative Telephone Company319-442-3241
    Olin Telephone Company319-484-2200
    Grundy Center Municipal Telephone319-825-5207
    Woolstock Mutual Telephone Association866-369-6835
    Modern Cooperative Telephone Company319-667-2375
    Dumont Telephone Company641-857-3211
    Jordan Soldier Valley Telephone712-884-2203
    Interstate 35 Telephone Company712-824-7231
    Spencer Municipal Communications712-580-5800
    Baldwin Nashville Tele Co, Inc563-673-2001
    Louisa Communications319-868-7636
    Scranton Telephone Company800-987-9023
    Schaller Telephone Company712-275-4211
    Alliance Communications605-594-3411
    Cumberland Telephone Company712-774-2221
    Grand River Mutual800-451-2360
    Cooperative Telephone Exchange515-826-3206
    Central Scott Telephone Co.563-285-9611
    Northwest Telephone Cooperative Association800-247-2776
    Terril Telephone Company712-853-6121
    Corn Belt Telephone712-664-2221
    Mediapolis Telephone Company319-394-3456
    Walnut Communications888-784-2211
    Colo Telephone Company641-377-2202

    Affordable Connectivity Program for Discounted Internet

    The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) offers significant discounts on internet services for EBT Cardholders, enhancing access to digital resources.

    ACP Benefits

    • Monthly Internet Discount: Households receive a $30 monthly discount on their internet service.
    • One-Time Device Discount: Eligible participants can receive a one-time $100 discount towards the purchase of a laptop, desktop, or tablet.

    Additional Savings

    • Combining with Lifeline: You can combine the $30 ACP internet credit with Lifeline phone service discounts to further reduce your monthly expenses on both phone and internet services.

    Be sure to check out our other articles about Iowa Food Stamps and EBT.