SNAP Recipients Get New Way To Use Benefits

SNAP recipients will now have a new way to use their benefits, and it could be as simple as clicking a button on their phone.

Uber Eats will now be accepting EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) payments from those receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The SNAP benefits can apply for Uber Eats orders from Albertsons, Safeway, Jewel-Osco and Vons as well as all Walgreens locations and Duane Reade stores in New York.

In the next few months, Uber said it will add more grocers to the list of Uber Eats stores that accept SNAP on the app.

In addition to the new payment option, Uber Eats is offering SNAP recipients $0 delivery fees on their first three SNAP-eligible orders. They can also get a three-month free trial Uber One membership once they link their EBT card in the Uber Eats app.

“With this rollout, we are taking a significant step forward in ensuring that everyone has access to the fresh food they need, especially those without access to reliable transportation for whom food delivery can be a lifeline,” Hashim Amin, head of grocery and retail delivery at Uber, North America, said in a statement.

“We believe that everyone deserves the convenience of delivery, regardless of their payment method. We are proud to begin this work with Albertsons Cos. and Walgreens, allowing us to bring essential products directly to our customers’ doorsteps, and we’ll continue to grow our list of retailers accepting SNAP over time.”

Since many SNAP recipients live in areas deemed food deserts, the Uber Eats expansion could significantly help them access healthy foods, especially for older Americans.

“The expansion of SNAP EBT acceptance to Uber Eats breaks down barriers that prevent older adults from accessing healthy food, especially those facing transportation challenges or limited access to grocery stores,” Jessica Johnston, senior director of the Center for Economic Well-Being at the National Council on Aging, said in a statement. “This gives older adults more choices and flexibility, and it aligns with our mission to promote health and independence.”

Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, said while many might oppose this move to make SNAP more accessible, it’s a logical expansion of SNAP benefits to meet today’s technology.

“You are more than likely going to have people who oppose this, as any measure to make the accessing of these benefits easier is viewed by them as a step in the wrong direction,” Beene told Newsweek.

“However, for tens of millions of Americans, Uber Eats and similar services are the new reality for how they receive their groceries and other resources. The partnership between Uber Eats and some retailers for recipients to access these benefits through their platform should be seen as a win-win for all parties.”

Still, while the partnership could positively impact food accessibility in the short term, it could face challenges down the line, said Kevin Thompson, a finance expert and founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group.

“For-profit and nonprofit partnerships often start with good intentions but can become less favorable for the people they serve,” Thompson told Newsweek. “Over time, there may be fees or subscription costs required to use Uber Eats, which would create financial barriers.”

If Uber Eats is committed to sustaining the program, Thompson said they will need to absorb the costs or adjust pricing.

“If they just adjust pricing, then it effectively is being subsidized by taxpayers, so I truly need to see how this would be positive for the government in the long run and not just another program that has been abused by a for-profit business,” Thompson said.