SNAP Participants Get Huge Discounts on More Than Just Food

Are you a hardworking, taxpaying American who earns too much to qualify for government assistance but not quite enough to enjoy certain luxuries without worrying about the cost? Well, it turns out people who do qualify for help from the government, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, enjoy some of those same luxuries for a fraction of the price.

For more than 42 million US residents every month, this program helps put dinner on the table. As the largest food assistance program in the country, SNAP provides billions of dollars in benefits each year. But what many Americans may not realize is that SNAP participants automatically qualify for more than just help buying food — they also get significant discounts at museums, zoos, aquariums, and even services like Walmart+ and Amazon Prime.

SNAP Beyond the Dinner Table

There’s no denying that middle-class families are struggling amid the high cost of living, but a portion of every paycheck is still snatched by the government to help support low-income US residents who, thanks to special discounts offered by private companies, get to enjoy many aspects of a traditional middle-class lifestyle for pennies on the dollar.

Take Walmart, for example. The largest traditional retailer in the world offers a discounted Walmart+ membership program “for the benefit of individuals who are eligible for certain government assistance programs, specifically SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, TTANF, NSLP & LIHEAP.” For just $6.47 a month, SNAP beneficiaries can get their taxpayer-funded groceries delivered right to their homes. They also get a video streaming service of their choice through the program, either Paramount+ or Peacock. Plus, they get free shipping, free pharmacy delivery, and free online pet care.

Want the same benefits but don’t qualify to participate in SNAP or a similar program? Well, you’ll have to pay nearly twice as much at $12.95 a month. That might not sound like much, but according to a recent Pew Research Center survey, 70% of American adults “say they have cut back on spending for extras – such as eating out, streaming services or other entertainment – in the past year.” Many Americans are forced to cut back while their tax dollars go toward supporting families on welfare who can then enjoy conveniences like grocery delivery at a steep discount.

Walmart isn’t the only company providing discounts to SNAP beneficiaries. Amazon offers SNAP recipients, among others, Prime for half the price of a normal membership. They also have access to free or discounted phone and internet services, utility and energy assistance, free school lunches, public transportation discounts, and waivers for college application fees.

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Then there’s the Museums for All initiative, which allows those on SNAP to “gain free or reduced admission to more than 1,600 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card and a photo ID.”

Museums for All allows SNAP participants to enjoy the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago for the low price of $3 for visitors 17 and under and $5 for those 18 and over. Not on SNAP? The ticket price jumps to $19.95 for adult Chicago residents and $14.95 for Chicago’s children. It’s even higher for out-of-city folks, who could pay more than $45 a ticket, depending on the day.

Welfare Enablers

According to the US Department of Agriculture, the federal government spent $101.7 billion on SNAP in 2025. An average of 12.3% of US residents received SNAP benefits each month last year, though participation varied widely by state, ranging from just 4.7% to as high as 21.9%.

Perhaps even more concerning is that these benefits aren't exclusively going to Americans. Over 1.7 million noncitizens received SNAP benefits in 2023, according to research by the Economic Policy Innovation Center. The share cost taxpayers roughly $5.7 billion. Plus, the US Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General estimated that thieves may have stolen $233 million in food assistance benefits over just two years.

SNAP and private industry programs have effectively created and continue to enable a welfare lifestyle that makes a mockery of the middle class. Participants get to enjoy a wide variety of middle-class amenities for a fraction of the price, or entirely for free. With all these benefits, what incentive is there for welfare recipients to become self-reliant?