Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards serve as the modern replacement for traditional food stamps, and in New Mexico, they operate under the name of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These EBT cards are a lifeline for families and individuals facing economic hardship, allowing them to purchase food by providing them with government-funded assistance each month. As a crucial part of the social safety net, EBT cards not only help with grocery bills but can also unlock numerous discounts and perks for cardholders.
In recent years, New Mexico has broadened the scope of advantages for EBT cardholders, extending beyond food purchases at participating supermarkets. Discounts on various services and memberships, such as reduced fares on public transportation and low-cost entry to museums and cultural institutions, have become available. These initiatives are designed to help beneficiaries stretch their monthly SNAP benefits further while providing access to resources that might otherwise be unaffordable.
Food Assistance Programs
In New Mexico, the EBT card can access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), providing financial assistance for purchasing healthy food. Additionally, the Fresh Savings program matches SNAP benefits up to $10 when buying fresh fruits and vegetables. Here is an indicative list of stores where EBT is accepted:
- Walmart
- Kroger
- Albertsons
- Sprouts Farmers Market
Educational Resources
Educational benefits for EBT cardholders include free or discounted admissions to museums and cultural institutions. For example:
- The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science offers a reduced admission fee of $1 per person.
- The Explora Science Center provides admission at a minimal fee to EBT cardholders.
- Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
- Address: 217 Johnson Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
- Phone: 505-946-1000
- Explora Science Center & Children’s Museum of Albuquerque
- Address: 1701 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104
- Phone: 505-224-8300
- Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
- Address: 9201 Balloon Museum Dr. NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113
- Phone: 505-768-6020
- Santa Fe Children’s Museum
- Address: 1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
- Phone: 505-989-8359
- Santa Fe Botanical Garden
- Address: 715 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
- Phone: 505-471-1903
Public Transportation Discounts
Public transportation systems in New Mexico offer discounted fares to EBT cardholders to ensure affordable travel. They have special fare programs, such as:
- Rio Metro Regional Transit District: Offers a reduced fare of $0.85 for a one-way trip.
- Santa Fe Trails: Provides a reduced fare at $0.50 per ride.
Reduced fare programs often require showing the EBT card and a valid ID upon boarding.
Amazon Prime Discount for EBT Cardholders
If you possess an EBT Card from New Mexico, you’re eligible to apply for the Amazon Prime Discount exclusive to EBT holders. This special offer provides all the perks of a Prime membership at a significantly reduced price.
Membership Cost Comparison
- Regular Price: Amazon Prime typically costs $14.99 per month.
- Discounted Price: With an EBT Card, the membership is reduced to just $6.99 per month, saving you over 50%.
Eligibility for Online Grocery Purchases
As part of a USDA pilot program, Amazon is authorized to accept food stamps for online grocery deliveries in select regions. This initiative makes it easier for EBT cardholders to use Amazon Pantry for their grocery shopping.
Prime Membership Benefits
- Free Fast Delivery: Enjoy speedy, no-cost shipping on more than 50 million eligible items. In certain urban areas, Amazon offers free same-day delivery on over a million products, and free two-hour delivery on essentials and groceries via Prime Now.
- Streaming Entertainment: Instantly watch a vast array of TV shows and movies. Prime includes access to thousands of titles at no additional charge, available on devices such as smart TVs, Roku, Xbox, Amazon Fire TV, and mobile devices.
Additional Advantages
- Grocery Shopping: Use your EBT card to order groceries through Amazon Pantry where available.
- Music Streaming: Access over two million songs and thousands of playlists and stations without ads.
- Reading Material: Unlimited reading on any device, including books and magazines.
- Audible Original Series: Unlimited listening to original audio productions from Audible.
- Gaming with Twitch Prime: Receive free game content monthly, along with exclusive discounts and more.
- Photo Storage: Unlimited storage for your photos.
Discounted Cell Phone Services
Here is a table of cell phone providers that participate in the Lifeline program in New Mexico, along with their contact numbers.
| Company Name | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Assurance Wireless | 888-898-4888 |
| Safelink Wireless | 800-723-3546 |
| CellularOne | 800-730-2351 |
| Choice Wireless | 800-246-4239 |
| Ntua Wireless, Inc. | 800-246-4234 |
Discounted Home Phone Services
Below is a table listing home phone providers participating in the Lifeline program in New Mexico, including their contact numbers.
| Company Name | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Mescalero Apache Telecom | 866-283-7654 |
| Penasco Valley Telecommunications | 800-505-4844 |
| Tularosa Basin Telephone Company | 800-972-8282 |
| La Jicarita Rural Telephone Cooperative | 800-742-7232 |
| Baca Valley Telephone Company | 575-278-2101 |
| Dell Telephone Cooperative | 800-964-2352 |
| Leaco Rural Telephone Cooperative | 800-851-0554 |
| Sacred Wind Communications | 877-722-3393 |
| Roosevelt County Rural Telephone Cooperative | 575-226-2255 |
| Western New Mexico Telephone Company, Inc. | 800-535-2330 |
| Frontier Communications | 800-921-8101 |
| CenturyLink | 800-407-5411 |
| Valley Telephone Cooperative | 800-446-2031 |
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Benefits
The Affordable Connectivity Program offers significant savings on internet services for EBT cardholders:
- Monthly Internet Discount: Households receive a $30 discount each month on their internet service.
- One-Time Device Discount: Eligible participants can also receive a one-time discount of $100 towards the purchase of a laptop, desktop, or tablet.
Additionally, the benefits of the ACP can be combined 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 New Mexico Food Stamps and EBT.