Looking for free admission, free internet and other perks related to NY food stamps or NYC food stamps? A New York food stamps card can do so much more than buy groceries and give you cash benefits. It can also be used for discounted admission, growing a garden and so much more!
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Got EBT in another state?
Please click here!
Got NY Food Stamps? You can get discounts and freebies!
Arts Access is a program for low income residents of Western New York. This program connects you with free and low cost cultural opportunities, such as comedy shows, theater productions and museums!
This program allows you to register for an Art Access card, which can be used to obtain free tickets (at least 2) and transportation to venues and events in your area! Find more information on their website.
As of this writing, participating venues/events include:
- Albright-Knox Art Gallery
- Buffalo ComedySportz
- Alleyway Theatre
- Aquarium of the Niagara
- Buffalo Botanical Gardens
- Buffalo Choral Arts Society
- Buffalo History Museum
- Buffalo Museum of Science
- Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus
- Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
- Burchfield Penney Art Center
- Castellani Museum
- Community Music School
- Explore Buffalo Tours
- Explore & More Children’s Museum
- Friends of Vienna
- Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
- Irish Classical Theatre Company
- Jewish Repertory Theatre
- Just Buffalo Literary Center
- Kavinoky Theatre
- Lehrer Dance
- Make Music Day WNY
- Music is Art
- MusicalFare
- Neglia Ballet
- Nickel City Opera
- O’Connell & Company Productions
- Paul Robeson Theater at the African American Culture Center
- Road Less Traveled
- Second Generation Theater
- Theatre of Youth
- Young Audiences of Western New York
Amazon
offers discounted Amazon Prime memberships for customers who receive NY food stamps or Medicaid benefits! You’ll need to verify that you receive food stamps or Medicaid to get this incredible price.
Summer food services help kids eat healthy when free or low cost school meals aren’t available.
Wait — you can’t afford to miss this!
You could qualify for more food stamps funds! Who doesn’t need more grocery money every month? If you’ve been struggling to make ends meet, I have good news. We’ve found several legal ways that you can increase your monthly food stamps balance! If you’re ready to get more grocery money each month, then you won’t want to miss this post!
You can even get cash back from your food stamps card! It’s true and it’s legal – no cash benefits required. One of our readers earned an additional $437.84 just by shopping with her food stamps card. She uses that extra money to buy diapers, wipes and other essentials. Here’s how.
Did you know your NY food stamps card could do this?
Your food stamps card can do a lot more than just pick up groceries at your local supermarket!
Buy seeds, gift baskets and more! No joke – this is all part of the actual federal food stamps law. Here’s a list of unexpected things you can actually buy with your food stamps funds.
Shop at these retailers! Did you know that Costco, farmer’s markets and even you-pick strawberry fields can accept NY food stamps benefits? Some retailers (including farmer’s markets) even give you discounts or free stuff if you shop there with your food stamps card!
If you have NY food stamps, you may also qualify for these programs!
Internet for $5-$10/month? We’ve found discounts from Comcast, CenturyLink and other providers around the US. Click here to see all the discounted Internet programs you could qualify for.
Power companies may be able to help with your high electric bills. We’ve found special low-income rates, free home improvements and more! Discover what your company offers here.
Property tax exemptions may be available for low income veterans and seniors. You’ll need to contact your county assessor’s office for more info.
Student loan payments can crush a low income budget. Income-based repayment plans could drop your payment to ZERO dollars per month! Get the details here.
Veterinary care grants may be able to help with your pet’s vet bills.
YMCA offers reduced prices for low income individuals and families. Contact your local branch for details!
Get museum admission discounts with your NY food stamps!
For your convenience, we’ve organized our free and discounted museum admission list alphabetically by city. We’ve also used green titles to indicate the museums that honor EBT cards from all 50 states.
It is important to realize that you cannot pay for admission with your NY food stamps card. You will show the EBT card to receive the discount but you will need to pay the remaining admission price, if any, in cash or with a credit/debit card.
Bridgehampton
Children’s Museum of the East End – FREE
This Museums for All participant provides FREE admission to EBT cardholders from any state. The admission provides access to the exhibit galleries, which include an art studio, family tree gallery and more. Mini golf is also available for an extra charge. For more information, please visit the CMEE website.
East Aurora
Explore & More Children’s Museum – FREE
Kids love Explore & More! Fun exhibits include a culture center, art room, baby garden and so much more. They also have lots of fun and engaging events! Discover the place where learning and fun come together for FREE when you show your EBT card!
East Meredith
Hanford Mills Museum – FREE
Experience a historic working mill at The Hanford Mills Museum. Originally a sawmill in the 1840s, Hanford Mills also includes a gristmill, feed mill, woodworking shop and more. The sawmill is still powered by the 1926 waterwheel. Learn more at the Hanford Mills Museum website.
Got an NY food stamps card? You and three guests can visit the Hanford Mills Museum absolutely free. Guests under are 12 are always free. Residents of neighboring zip codes 13757, 13739, 13786, 13750, and 13806 can also receive free admission with proof of residency. The Hanford Mills Museum is a Museums for All partner.
Glen Falls
World Awareness Children’s Museum – FREE
The World Awareness Children’s Museum is incredible! Your kiddos can shop for groceries in a Nigerian marketplace, learn how to use chopsticks in a Japanese Washitsu, dress up in world fashion, discover the Amazon Rainforest and more!
Ithaca
Museum of the Earth – $1 per person
From trilobites to mastodons, the Museum of the Earth showcases Earth’s prehistoric past with engaging and interactive exhibits. The Museum is home to the most complete mastodon skeletons ever assembled. When you’re done admiring the collection, you can watch paleontologists diligently uncover fossils in the Prep Lab. You can unearth your own in the Fossil Lab.
Sciencenter – $1 per person
“Climb, splash, think, build, and bounce your way through many exhibit galleries filled with full-body science fun. From astronomy to zoology, the Sciencenter offers something special for guests of any age,” says the Sciencenter website.
And families receiving NY food stamps can get admission to the Sciencenter for just $1 per person! This museum was the first in the country to adopt this wonderful program, so be sure to thank them!
Katonah
Katonah Museum of Art – $3 or less per person
The nationally recognized KMA has 10,000 square feet of exhibits. They are new to the Museums for All program and the person I spoke to at the desk wasn’t sure about the details. I will update this with more information when I hear back from them.
New York City
Residents of New York City can get some sweet deals, whether or not they’re receiving food stamps! If you live in New York City, you can get a free government-issued ID card called an IDNYC. In addition to other benefits, this identification provides you with a one-year annual admission pass to 40 of New York City’s coolest zoos, museums, concert halls, gardens, performing arts centers and more. Click here for more information!
Citi Bike offers a reduced fare bike share to SNAP recipients and residents of New York City Housing Authority properties. For just $5 per month, you can unlock thousands of bikes across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Jersey City. You can take as many rides as you want, and the first 45 minutes of each ride are included free with your plan! Get the rest of the details here.
Cool Culture – FREE
If you have a child that is currently enrolled in a participating early childhood center or elementary school (pre-K and Kindergarten grades only), you may be eligible for a Cool Culture Family Pass. This pass offers free general admission for up to 5 people to 90 destinations, including:
- The Anne Frank Center USA
- Brooklyn Children’s Museum
- Central Park Zoo
- Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
- Museum of the City of New York
- National Jazz Museum in Harlem
- Prospect Park Zoo
- Skyscraper Museum
- Sony Wonder Technology Lab
See the full list of 90 museums here – and then click here to sign up!
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum – FREE
Get FREE admission to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum for up to 4 people! This museum is located aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid, a designated National Historic Landmark. You’ll also be able to see the Space Shuttle Enterprise, the record-breaking British Airways Concorde and the submarine Growler!
Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling – $3 per person
As the cultural heart of the Sugar Hill project, the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum provides cultural programs, educational exhibits and a fun space for neighborhood children to gather and play. Designed to help children create and tell their own stories and art, the museum is designed to serve children 8 years old and younger.
Oneonta
Oneonta World of Learning – FREE
Oneonta World of Learning provides hands-on educational exhibits for children. The museum is designed to encourage parent-child interaction in a playful, imaginative space. Although the open hours are limited, you can visit free with an EBT card!
Oswego
Children’s Museum of Oswego – $3 or less per person
The newly renovated Children’s Museum of Oswego contains 10,000 square feet of new hands-on, interactive exhibits! With an EBT card, you can bring four guests for $3 or less per person.
Oyster Bay
Planting Fields Foundation – $3 or less per person
The Foundation preserves Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park. The grounds features 409 acres of greenhouses, rolling lawns, formal gardens, woodland paths and plant collections. The estate buildings include a 65-room Tudor Revival Mansion and more.
Poughkeepsie
Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum – $2 per person
The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum welcomes EBT cardholders for just $2 per person. With interactive play focusing on early learning, science, literacy, math, art, music, community and more, the four exhibit galleries are designed to help families connect and learn together through purposeful play.
Rochester
George Eastman Museum – FREE
The world’s oldest photography museum is located in the sprawling mansion estate that once housed photography pioneer and New Yorker George Eastman. Visitors can enjoy exhibits, films, docent tours, lectures, music recitals and three separate gardens. Admission is free for NY food stamps recipients but GEM is not a Museums for All partner.
Rochester Museum & Science Center – $3 or less per person
If you have an EBT card, then you can visit the Rochester Museum and Science Center for $3 or less per person! I haven’t received an exact rate from this new Museums for All partner yet but I’ll let you know as soon as I find out.
Rye
Westchester Children’s Museum – FREE
Build your own rollercoaster, play with puppets and so much more at Westchester Children’s Museum in Rye. You can view more information about their current and future offerings at their website. As a Museums for All partner, this museum offers discounted admission for four people per EBT card. The rate is $3 or less per person.
Saranac Lake
The Adirondack Carousel – $1
The Adirondack Carousel now participates in Museums for All! Their Museums for All rate is $1 per ticket with a valid EBT card.
Saratoga Springs
The Children’s Museum at Saratoga – $1 per person
This museum is geared for guests between birth and 5 grade. Up to four people can receive admission for $1 each with an EBT card.
Troy
SUNY Poly Children’s Museum of Science and Technology – $1 per person
This museum believes that science belongs to every child – and that’s why the museum proudly provides discounted admission for low-income patrons through the Museums for All program. There are exhibits for nature lovers, builders, explorers and more. Browse all their exciting exhibits on their website by clicking here.
Utica
Utica Children’s Museum – $1 per person
Dive into science with interesting exhibits, like the current nanoscience offerings. You can view new and upcoming exhibits on the Utica Children’s Museum website by clicking here.
Thank you for taking your time to share some tips that could allow more family bonding time ,when on a very fixed income.So many things a family might be able to enjoy thanks to the time you spent making webpage.Great family memories can be built off just a trip to the muesuem or zoo ,i know i wasn’t able to do this things with my older children ,due to such a limit of income and my ex was to proud to receive any assistance, even when we would have qualified for it.They tell me they value everything more and appreciate there upbringing without extra help .We as a family enjoyed fishing and picnicing it was free and going to free parks .With this knowledge as a grandma now ,i will be sure to share this information and I feel you shouldn’t ever be assamed for reaching out for help.If you can use it for what its intended for and feed your children healthier why not.With this information many will get more quality time with there kids and family and less conflicts .Education is important to all ages and being able to afford it on a budget and for free or 1.00 to 3.00 a person is going to huge relief to allot people and increase the public to attend these events and muesuems and quality of life ,good mental health for families. You can get mental and physical health with a ebt card is a great balance and should be told to people so they realize this.More healthy families might come from this benifit.So many families forget about how important it is to spend quality time as a family is.Keep kids off drugs and off the streets.Great opportunity for families ,pack a lunch grab a picnic on your way to these places save more money and family communication going strong.Thanks for caring enough too speak out with ideas.
Thanks for visiting and helping to spread the word about our website! Family fun is so important and we’re so honored to be able to help low income families find more affordable opportunities for fun. 🙂
Is this update for 2017 , and how or who do we ask about information at the places we would like to go? Someone may say it’s not true . Information please thank you . Jg
Hello, there! I completely understand your concern. I spend hours researching these discounts and I update this post every 3 months. The last update was in January 2017. To verify the information, you can check the Museums for All page, the idNYC page, the actual website for each museum (such as GEM) or by calling the museum directly and asking about their EBT discounts. Sometimes the receptionist doesn’t know about it and has to refer your call to someone else, though. That’s happened to me a few times.
Great job Nicole! I wish that this kind of information was available back in the days when I was making less than 9 grand a year and supporting my wife and daughter. Low cost access to such programs is an enormous benefit to families and to the entire community. I certainly appreciate the time and effort you’ve taken to glean this information from the many programs provided by NY state and local governments.
Thanks for stopping by, Ken! I really appreciate the encouragement. 🙂
First time on your website and I’m impressed with this article on other uses on the EBT card. Thank you for getting it right and taking the time to write it!!!!
I’m in NY State and I just got free prime this month signing up with my EBT card.
I’m hoping that soon enough more online stores will accept EBT cash benefits. That would be Great!!! Thanks again
You’re so welcome, Rachele! I’m so glad we could help. 🙂
It is already noted that the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is free for New York EBT/SNAP card holders. I’d like to add that they honor EBT/SNAP from other states as well. They gave us two free adult and to free kids tickets. I was thankful i could afford to buy something in the gift shop for our boys.
That is awesome, Chuck! I’m so glad you were able to go and enjoy the Intrepid Museum! In this article, all of the museums with green titles are Museums for All participants and honor EBT/SNAP cards from all 50 states. Isn’t that awesome?!
This was very helpful I was just watching the news and they were talking about the amazon discount so I google and your page popped up. I’m a full time student along with being a single mother, working to get by. I actually call about the internet today and I did the prime as well. I can’t wait to take my kids to the museum.
Yay! I’m so glad our page was helpful to you! 🙂