A CalFresh electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card doesn’t just offer food benefits to individuals and families with low-income, you can also benefit from free access and discounts on museums, zoos, internet, utilities and much more. Below are some of the many additional discounts and benefits you get with a Golden State Advantage Card (EBT).
What is CalFresh EBT?
CalFresh, also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), provides nutrition assistance to low-income individuals and families. Formerly known as the Food Stamps Program, CalFresh offers electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that can be used to purchase food items at authorized grocery stores, supermarkets, farmers’ markets, and select restaurants. Eligibility for CalFresh benefits is based on factors such as income, household size, and expenses.
California EBT Discounts & Benefits
Free Phone & Free Cell Phone Service
The Obamaphone program, officially known as the Lifeline Assistance program, provides CalFresh EBT recipients with discounted or free cell phone and internet services to ensure access to essential communication. Visit the California Lifeline page to get started.
Utility Discounts
Food Stamps/SNAP EBT customers that are enrolled in the CARE program receive a 30-35percent discount on their electric bill and a 20 percent discount on their natural gas bill. Find your gas and/or electric service provider web page through California CARE/FERA page.
Laptop & Internet Service Discounts
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)offers EBT recipients up to $30 per month discounton high-speed internet service through participating internet providers. Plus, a one-time discount of up to $100for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50).
Amazon
SNAP EBT recipients can enjoy the benefits of Prime for half the price. Prime Access gets you Prime Video movies, TV shows, and music, low prices on medications from Amazon Pharmacy, and more. To sign up, visit the Amazon Prime Access Page.
EBT Restaurant Meals Program
The CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) enables recipients of CalFresh benefits and individuals who are homeless, disabled, or elderly (ages 60 and above) to use their EBT benefits to buy hot, prepared food from participating restaurants in California. Locate participating restaurants near you,Participating Restaurant links.
Metrolink Discount
Metrolink passengers with a California EBT card can enjoy a 50 percent discount on all Metrolink tickets and passes. Riders can use their EBT card at any Metrolink station ticket machine to validate and unlock the discounted fare.
Farmers Markets Discounts
Through Market Match, participating farmers markets provide matching funds for individuals with a CalFresh EBT card. When a CalFresh recipient spends their benefits at a participating farmers’ market, they receive additional funds, called Market Match, which can be used to purchase more fresh produce. Find a farmers market participating in the Market Match program.
Free ATM Access
Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, Wells Fargo and dozens of smaller banks and credit unions provide EBT card ATM access without surcharges in California.Here is a complete list of EBT surcharge-free ATMs.
No Sales Tax
CalFresh recipients are exempt from state and local sales taxes on all purchases made using CalFresh benefits. “CA CRV” deposits are not exempt but other deposits such as deposits on some milk bottles are not.
YMCA Discounts
Families who qualify for SNAP EBT benefitstypically qualify for a discounted YMCA membership or some type of financial assistance. Inquire at your local YMCA for the specific discounts available as locations vary.
Summer EBT Program
Summer EBT benefits include a $40 pre-loaded card per eligible child, per month that can be used to purchase groceries.
Local EBT Discounts in California
Here are the many local freebies and discounts.
San Francisco
CalFresh recipients residing in San Francisco can take advantage of free or affordable entertainment, transportation, free diapers, reduced fines or fees and legal services.
Bay Wheels Bike Share For All
Bay Wheels is the Bay Area’s regional bike share program serving Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, San Jose and San Francisco.The program is available to Bay Area residents ages 18 and older who qualify forCalfresh.
Long Beach Bike Share For All
Bike Share For All (BSFA) provides CalFresh recipients with a $5 annual rate for Long Beach Bike Share.
Museums, Zoos & Aquariums
Through Museums for All Program, individuals with CalFresh benefits can receive reduced or free admission to more than 1,000 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card. Search to find a participating museum near you. There are also many free museums for all or free or discounted access with a library card.
California Museums for All Participants
Simply present your CalFresh EBT card and a photo ID. The EBT card cannot used to pay for admission.
- The African American Firefighter Museum (Los Angeles, CA)
- Agape Children’s Museum (Long Beach, CA)
- American Bookbinders Museum (San Francisco, CA)
- American Museum of Ceramic Art (Pomona, CA)
- Art, Design & Architecture Museum (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Asian Art Museum (San Francisco, CA)
- Bakersfield Museum of Art (Bakersfield, CA)
- Barona Cultural Center & Museum (Lakeside, CA)
- Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito, CA)
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (La Jolla, CA)
- Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science (Bakersfield, CA)
- California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco, CA)
- California Botanic Garden (Claremont, CA)
- California Center for the Arts, Escondido (Escondido, CA)
- California Indian Museum & Cultural Center (Santa Rosa, CA)
- California Museum (Sacramento, CA)
- Camron-Stanford House (Oakland, CA)
- Casa de la Guerra (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Casa del Herrero (Montecito, CA)
- Cayton Children’s Museum (Santa Monica, CA)
- Chabot Space & Science Center (Oakland, CA)
- Channel Islands Maritime Museum (Oxnard, CA)
- Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center (Santa Rosa, CA)
- Children’s Creativity Museum (San Francisco, CA)
- Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose (San Jose, CA)
- The Children’s Museum at La Habra (La Habra, CA)
- The Children’s Museum at the Paso Robles Volunteer Firehouse (Paso Robles, CA)
- Children’s Museum of Sonoma County (Santa Rosa, CA)
- Clarke Historical Museum (Eureka, CA)
- Conservatory of Flowers (San Francisco, CA)
- Contemporary Jewish Museum (San Francisco, CA)
- Crocker Art Museum (Sacramento, CA)
- Cupertino Historical Society + Museum (Cupertino, CA)
- CuriOdyssey (San Mateo, CA)
- de Young Museum (San Francisco, CA)
- El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Elverhøj Museum of History & Art (Solvang, CA)
- Exploratorium (San Francisco, CA)
- Filoli Historic House & Garden(Woodside, CA)
- Ganna Walska Lotusland (Santa Barbara, CA)
- GLBT Historical Society Museum (San Francisco, CA)
- Goleta Valley Historical Society, Stewards of Rancho La Patera & Stow House (Goleta, CA)
- The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center (Guadalupe, CA)
- Habitot Children’s Museum (Berkeley, CA)
- Hermosa Beach Historical Society & Museum (Hermosa Beach, CA)
- Japanese American National Museum (Los Angeles, CA)
- Japanese Tea Garden (San Francisco, CA)
- Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center (Riverside, CA)
- Kids Discovery Station (Merced, CA)
- Kidspace Children’s Museum (Pasadena, CA)
- La Brea Tar Pits and Museum (Los Angeles, CA)
- Lawrence Hall of Science (Berkeley, CA)
- Legacy Center (San Diego, CA)
- Letterform Archive (San Francisco, CA)
- Lindsay Wildlife Experience (Walnut Creek, CA)
- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (Palm Desert, CA)
- Lompoc Museum (Lompoc, CA)
- The Marine Mammal Center (Sausalito, CA)
- Marston House Museum & Gardens (San Diego, CA)
- Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (Fort Bragg, CA)
- Mingei International Museum (San Diego, CA)
- Modesto Children’s Museum (Modesto, CA)
- Monterey County Youth Museum (MY Museum) (Monterey, CA)
- Monterey Museum of Art – La Mirada(Monterey, CA)
- Monterey Museum of Art – Pacific Street (Monterey, CA)
- Morris Graves Museum of Art (Eureka, CA)
- MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Museum of the African Diaspora (San Francisco, CA)
- Museum of Children’s Arts (Oakland, CA)
- Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego – Downtown (San Diego, CA)
- Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego – La Jolla (La Jolla, CA)
- Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Museum of Craft and Design (San Francisco, CA)
- Museum of Making Music (Carlsbad, CA)
- Museum of Neon Art (Glendale, CA)
- Museum of Photographic Arts (San Diego, CA)
- Museum of Sensory & Movement Experiences (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Museum of Sonoma County (Santa Rosa, CA)
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (Los Angeles, CA)
- The New Children’s Museum (San Diego, CA)
- New Museum Los Gatos (Los Gatos, CA)
- Oakland Museum of California (Oakland, CA)
- Old Mission Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Palo Alto Art Center (Palo Alto, CA)
- Pretend City Children’s Museum (Irvine, CA)
- Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology (Claremont, CA)
- Richmond Museum of History (Richmond, CA)
- Riverside Art Museum (Riverside, CA)
- Robert Ferguson Observatory (Kenwood, CA)
- Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery (Walnut Creek, CA)
- Sacramento Children’s Museum (Rancho Cordova, CA)
- Sacramento History Museum (Old Sacramento, CA)
- San Bernardino County Museum (Redlands, CA)
- San Diego Archaeological Center (Escondido, CA)
- San Diego Art Institute (San Diego, CA)
- San Diego Automotive Museum (San Diego, CA)
- San Diego Botanic Garden (Encinitas, CA)
- San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum (Escondido, CA)
- San Diego History Center (San Diego, CA)
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum (San Diego, CA)
- San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) (San Diego, CA)
- The San Diego Museum of Art (San Diego, CA)
- San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum (San Francisco, CA)
- San Francisco Zoo & Gardens (San Francisco, CA)
- San Jose Museum of Art (San Jose, CA)
- San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles (San Jose, CA)
- San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum (San Luis Obispo, CA)
- The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Santa Barbara Historical Museum (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Santa Barbara Museum of Art (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Santa Barbara Zoo (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery (Capitola, CA)
- Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum (Santa Maria, CA)
- Santa Monica History Museum (Santa Monica, CA)
- Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Parks-Janeway Carriage House (Santa Ynez, CA)
- Sequoia Park Zoo (Eureka, CA)
- Sherman Library & Gardens (Corona Del Mar, CA)
- Sonoma Botanical Garden (Glen Ellen, CA)
- Southern California Children’s Museum (South Pasadena, CA)
- The Tech Interactive (San Jose, CA)
- Timken Museum of Art (San Diego, CA)
- Turtle Bay Exploration Park (Redding, CA)
- University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
- USS Hornet Seat, Air & Space Museum (Alameda, CA)
- Victor Valley Museum (Apple Valley, CA)
- The Warner-Carrillo Ranch House (Warner Springs, CA)
- Wildling Museum of Art and Nature (Solvang, CA)
Monique McArthur
Monique McArthur is a mother of two, writer, and creator of delicious recipes. In her spare time she enjoys exploring all that Orange County has to offer, traveling, shopping, running with her dogs and spending time with family.
