How to Double Your SNAP Benefits in Arizona

Did you know you can double your SNAP benefits in Arizona just by shopping at certain stores?! This is a really incredible way to get more food with your benefits.

Arizona has one of the most generous Double Up Food Bucks programs in the country. They give you more places to shop, more variety of food that you can buy, and they’ve even removed the maximum daily limit at most locations.

What is the Double Up Food Bucks program?

The Double Up Food Bucks program is a nationwide movement to help low income people purchase more fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables with their food stamps dollars. The program is spearheaded by a nonprofit in Washington DC that focuses on sustainable grocery practices.

Ultimately, the program invites shoppers who use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to shop at certain retailers. Those retailers will double the value of their purchase. So, if the shopper spend $20, they can take home $40 in fresh produce.

Most states have a cap or limit on how much free produce you can get every day. Arizona has suspended that limit at most markets and farm stands.

You can Double Up your SNAP Benefits at many places.

The Double Up Arizona program allows you to shop from a wide variety of retailers. In most states, it’s only Farmer’s Markets that will double your benefits… but in Arizona, you actually have a lot of different options.

There are Farmer’s Markets, mobile markets, CSAs, farm stands, grocery stores and even convenience stores that will help you double your SNAP benefits. Many of these locations operate year-round and are open five days a week or more.

You can Double Up on more than just produce.

Although most states will limit your Doubled Up purchases to just fresh locally grown fruits or vegetables, that’s not the case in Arizona. You can Double Up your purchases on fruits, vegetables, herbs, seeds, cactus fruit and even dried beans. Plants that produce food are also eligible.

According to their pamphlet, the foods you purchase with your Double Up bucks can be fresh, roasted, steamed, smoked or cut. However, they cannot have any added sugar, oil or salt.

There may be a daily limit depending on where you shop.

Arizona has temporarily lifted the daily limit at Farmer’s Markets, Mobile Markets, CSAs and Farm Stands due to the strain of the coronavirus pandemic. It does not appear that the limit has been reinstated as of this publishing date in March 2023.

If you choose to redeem your Double Up benefits at a grocery store or convenience store there is a $20 per day limit. That means you can spend $20 to receive $40 worth of eligible foot items.

Using Double Up Food Bucks is a three-step process.

In order to use the benefits under this program, you’ll need to follow this three-step process:

First, you need to apply for SNAP. You have to be shopping with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefits in order to use the Double Up program. If you already have SNAP, you can skip this step.

Second, you need to find a participating Double Up location near you. There are many locations around the state for your convenience.

Third, you need to visit the information booth or customer service center at the location you visit. Usually, you will have to swipe your card to receive tokens that can be used to redeem your benefits.

Don’t forget your Arizona EBT discounts!

If you have EBT in Arizona, you can get discounted admission to zoos and museums throughout the state! We have a list of Arizona EBT discounts here.

Nicole Thelin

Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.