If you receive government benefits, you've probably heard the terms SNAP, EBT, and WIC used almost interchangeably — but they're actually three different things. Understanding the difference matters because it affects what you can buy, where you can shop, and how your benefits interact with programs like SSI and Medicaid. Let's clear up the confusion once and for all.
In this article, we'll cover:
- What SNAP, EBT, and WIC each are and how they differ
- What you can and can't buy with each program
- How EBT cards work for both SNAP and cash benefits
- Whether SNAP and WIC benefits affect your SSI
- How to use all three programs together to maximize your household's resources
- Common mistakes that can put your benefits at risk
What Is SNAP?
SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and it's what most people know as "food stamps." It's a federal program run by the USDA that helps low-income individuals and families purchase food. If you're approved for SNAP, you receive a monthly benefit loaded onto a card that you can use at grocery stores, farmers' markets, and certain other food retailers.
SNAP benefits can only be used to buy food items — groceries, seeds, and plants that produce food. You cannot use SNAP to purchase alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicine, hot prepared foods (with limited exceptions through the Restaurant Meals Program), or non-food items like cleaning supplies or paper products.
Many SSI recipients qualify for SNAP automatically or through a simplified application process. In most states, receiving SSI makes you categorically eligible for SNAP, meaning you don't need to go through the full income verification process separately.
What Is EBT?
EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer, and it's not a benefit program itself — it's the delivery system. Think of EBT as the technology (the card and the payment network) that puts your benefits in your hands. Your EBT card looks and works like a debit card, and it can carry different types of benefits depending on what you're enrolled in.
Here's where people get confused: your EBT card might carry SNAP benefits, cash benefits (like TANF), or both — on the same card. The SNAP side can only be used for food. The cash side can be used to withdraw money from ATMs or make purchases wherever EBT cash is accepted. These are two separate accounts on one card, and they have different rules.
So when someone says "I used my EBT at the store," they could mean they used SNAP benefits to buy groceries, or they used cash benefits to buy something else entirely. The distinction matters for your records and for understanding what's being spent from which benefit.
What Is WIC?
WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children, and it's a separate nutrition program run by the USDA that specifically serves pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age 5. WIC is more targeted than SNAP — it provides benefits for specific nutritious foods like milk, eggs, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, infant formula, and baby food.
In many states, WIC benefits are now also loaded onto an EBT card (sometimes called an eWIC card), though some states still use paper vouchers or a separate WIC-specific card. The important thing to know is that WIC benefits are restricted to a specific list of approved food items and brands, so you can't use them as freely as SNAP benefits.
How Do These Programs Interact With SSI?
This is a critical question for anyone receiving Supplemental Security Income. The good news is that SNAP benefits do not count as income or resources for SSI purposes. Social Security explicitly excludes SNAP from the SSI income and resource calculations. You can receive SNAP and SSI at the same time without one affecting the other.
WIC benefits are also excluded from SSI income and resource calculations. Like SNAP, WIC is considered a need-based nutritional benefit and doesn't count against you for SSI purposes.
However, cash benefits loaded onto your EBT card — such as TANF payments — do count as unearned income for SSI. This means if you receive both SSI and TANF cash benefits, the TANF payment will reduce your SSI dollar-for-dollar (after the $20 general income exclusion). This is another reason why understanding the difference between the SNAP side and the cash side of your EBT card matters.
Can You Receive SNAP, WIC, and SSI All at Once?
Yes. There is no rule preventing you from receiving all three programs simultaneously, and many families do. Each program has its own eligibility criteria, but receiving one doesn't disqualify you from the others. In fact, receiving SSI often makes it easier to qualify for SNAP, since your income is already verified as being below the threshold.
For families with young children, combining SSI, SNAP, and WIC can make a meaningful difference in stretching a tight budget. SNAP covers general grocery shopping, WIC provides targeted nutritional support for mothers and young children, and SSI provides the cash benefit for other living expenses.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the most frequent errors people make is spending SNAP benefits on non-food items and then wondering why the transaction was declined. Remember, SNAP is food-only. If you need to buy household supplies, you'll need to use cash benefits or pay out of pocket.
Another common mistake is not realizing that cash benefits on your EBT card count as income for SSI. If you receive TANF cash benefits and don't report them to Social Security, you could end up with an overpayment notice. Always report all sources of income to SSA, even if the money comes on the same card as your SNAP.
Finally, keep track of your benefit balances. Some states have apps or websites that let you check your SNAP and cash balances on your EBT card. Knowing exactly what you have available helps you budget effectively and avoids declined transactions at the register.
Managing multiple benefits on a tight budget takes work. Purple helps SSI and SSDI recipients keep their finances organized with a checking account designed to track resources and stay compliant with Social Security rules.