Special SNAP Services in New Mexico

In certain situations, New Mexico residents may qualify for special SNAP services. These programs offer temporary aid for emergencies, natural disasters, and other specific hardships that households might face.

Expedited SNAP (Emergency Service)

This service provides food benefits within seven days to households facing extreme financial hardship, bypassing the standard processing time. It ensures families can access food quickly during a crisis.

Eligibility requires meeting specific financial criteria. Households may qualify if they have under $150 in gross monthly income and less than $100 in liquid resources. Another path is having income plus resources below the monthly housing and utility costs.

Destitute migrant or seasonal farm-worker households with $100 or less in liquid resources are also eligible. To apply, submit a standard SNAP application online, by phone, mail, or in person. Staff automatically screen all applications for expedited criteria.

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)

D-SNAP offers a one-month food benefit after a federally declared disaster. It helps affected households replace lost food or income and manage unexpected disaster-related expenses during recovery.

Residents in declared disaster areas may qualify if their home was damaged, they lost income, or had unreimbursed disaster costs. Current SNAP households in the area automatically receive a supplement to the maximum allotment without a separate application.

To apply, you must do so during the announced D-SNAP window. Applications can be made at designated sites or by calling 1-800-283-4465. You will need to provide proof of identity, residence, and any disaster-related losses.

Replacement SNAP Benefits For Disaster-Related Food Loss

This program allows SNAP households to replace benefits that were used to buy food later destroyed in a disaster. This includes food lost due to events like power outages from wildfires.

Any SNAP household in an area covered by a Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) waiver can request a replacement. For example, a waiver was issued for several counties following the June 2024 wildfires, extending the reporting deadline.

To receive a replacement, submit a request to the Income Support Division by phone, online, or in person before the waiver deadline. Once your loss is verified, the benefit amount is reissued to your EBT card. More information on disaster assistance is available online.

Temporary Hot Foods Waiver

When a disaster disrupts cooking facilities, a temporary waiver may allow SNAP households to purchase hot, ready-to-eat foods. This provides access to prepared meals when cooking at home is not possible.

For instance, a waiver was active for all 33 counties and the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the 2024 wildfires. This waiver applied automatically to every SNAP household in the affected areas, so no separate application was needed.

To use this benefit, simply use your EBT card at authorized retailers that sell hot foods while the waiver is active. The purchase is processed like any other SNAP transaction. Details on the hot food benefits are updated regularly.

How to Use Your SNAP Benefits in New Mexico

Once approved for SNAP, you need to understand how to use your benefits, including what you can buy and where.

What is an EBT Card and How to Use it?

An Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card is how you receive and spend your SNAP benefits. It functions much like a regular debit card. Your monthly food assistance funds are loaded directly onto the card, eliminating the need for paper food stamps.

When you shop at an authorized store, you simply swipe or insert your EBT card into the point-of-sale terminal. You will then enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN) to complete the purchase. The amount is deducted from your SNAP balance.

What Can You Buy with SNAP Benefits?

SNAP benefits are intended for purchasing staple food items for your household. The program helps ensure families have access to nutritious food. Eligible items you can purchase include:

• Fruits and vegetables

• Meat, poultry, and fish

• Dairy products like milk and cheese

• Breads and cereals

• Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages

• Seeds and plants that produce food

However, there are restrictions on what you can buy. You cannot use your EBT card for certain products. Ineligible items include:

• Beer, wine, liquor, or tobacco

• Vitamins, medicines, and supplements

• Hot foods ready to be eaten

• Non-food items like pet food, cleaning supplies, or cosmetics

Where Can You Use Your EBT Card?

Your EBT card is accepted at most major grocery stores and supermarkets. Many smaller corner stores and convenience stores also participate. Look for signs at the entrance or checkout that indicate EBT payments are welcome.

You can also use your benefits to buy fresh produce at participating farmers’ markets. Some markets have a central terminal where you can swipe your card to get tokens for spending at individual stalls.

For added convenience, several online retailers accept EBT for grocery delivery or pickup. Major companies like Amazon and Walmart allow you to use your SNAP funds for eligible food items ordered through their websites.

Download Benny for Free and Earn Cash Back on EBT

You can make your grocery money go further with the Benny app. It gives you cash back on EBT purchases at major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Dollar Tree. The savings also extend to services you might use regularly, such as Uber and Lyft, putting more money back in your pocket.

Download Benny for free. Connect your EBT card and earn cashback as you shop.