Instacart Introduces SNAP Eligibility Screening Tool

Instacart has added an eligibility screener for Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) benefits, allowing people to quickly and anonymously check whether they are eligible for SNAP benefits. The Instacart EBT/SNAP information page also offers relevant state resources designed to streamline enrollment in these programs, powered by Advocatia Solutions.

Every year, SNAP-eligible families leave government aid for essentials such as groceries unused. Households can receive, on average, $350 per month in financial assistance, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2023, Instacart expanded its online SNAP acceptance to all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Earlier this month, Amazon introduced a Cash EBT payment option for customers receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in 18 states, and Instacart rival DoorDash offered a discounted DashPass membership to SNAP/EBT recipients.

“Everyone deserves access to fresh, nutritious food, and we’re committed to using the power of Instacart to break down barriers that too often stand in the way,” said Dani Dudeck, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Instacart in a statement. “With food insecurity at an all-time high in the U.S., affecting more than one in every eight people, it’s more important than ever to raise awareness of critical assistance programs like SNAP that can help families meet their needs. By introducing our SNAP eligibility screener, we’re making it simpler for families to find out if they qualify and take the first steps toward putting more food on their tables.”

Proactively Helping Combat Food Insecurity

Additionally, via its Instacart Health division, healthcare leaders such as the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) can now recommend and use the SNAP eligibility tool to support patients identified as being nutrition insecure.

“More than 775,000 health center patients screened in 2023 reported experiencing food insecurity and more than 1.2 million patients screened reported experiencing financial strain,” said Dr. Kyu Rhee, President and CEO of NACHC in a statement. “We believe it is essential to advance innovative technology solutions or ‘TechQuity’ for the people we serve.Instacart’s new SNAP eligibility tool will further advance ‘TechQuity’ by helping health center clinicians and patients connect to actionable state resources to combat food insecurity. Access to nutritious food is essential and should transcend geographic and socioeconomic barriers, and we’re proud to partner with Instacart through its Health initiative to help ensure underserved communities can access this impactful tool.”