Your New Jersey Families First Card — New Jersey’s name for the EBT card — opens doors far beyond the grocery store. In 2026, New Jersey SNAP recipients benefit from one of the most comprehensive state EBT cultural access programs in the country: the Families First Discovery Pass, a state-run program distinct from the national Museums for All initiative that provides free or deeply discounted admission to arts organizations, history museums, live performance venues, and cultural institutions throughout New Jersey.
Through the Families First Discovery Pass and Museums for All, your card unlocks free self-guided tours at Battleship New Jersey in Camden, free general admission at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, free access to Montclair Art Museum and the Hunterdon Art Museum, and dozens of other cultural experiences statewide. New Jersey also operates Good Food Bucks — an unlimited dollar-for-dollar fresh produce match at participating farmers markets, with no cap on the matching amount.
Your card also qualifies you for half-price Amazon Prime at $6.99/month, free or low-cost phone and internet service through Lifeline, Summer EBT for children, and energy assistance through LIHEAP.
This is the complete guide to every EBT discount available to New Jersey SNAP recipients in 2026.
A Note on New Jersey’s SNAP Program and the Families First Card
New Jersey’s SNAP program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS). Benefits are loaded monthly onto the Families First Card — New Jersey’s name for the EBT card. When venues ask to see a “SNAP card,” “EBT card,” or “Families First Card,” they are all asking for the same card.
New Jersey has two separate cultural access programs for Families First cardholders:
Museums for All — the national program. Show your Families First Card and a photo ID at participating venues. EBT cards from any state are accepted.
Families First Discovery Pass — New Jersey’s own state program, run by the NJ State Council on the Arts and NJ Historical Commission. This covers arts organizations, performance venues, history museums, cultural centers, and other institutions that go beyond the Museums for All partner list. Only New Jersey Families First Cards are required (no photo ID required, as NJ Families First Cards do not have photos).
The current list of Families First Discovery Pass participating organizations for the 2025–2026 program year is available at nj.gov/state/njsca/discoverypass. The program is updated three times a year — October, January, and May — so participation can grow throughout the year.
Amazon Prime — Half Price for New Jersey SNAP Recipients
New Jersey Families First cardholders qualify for Amazon Prime at $6.99 per month — less than half the standard $14.99 monthly rate. The membership includes free two-day shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music, and access to Amazon Fresh for online grocery ordering.
Sign up through Amazon’s Prime for EBT page and verify your enrollment by uploading a photo of your Families First Card or a recent benefit letter. A credit or debit card is required as a backup payment method; the $6.99 fee cannot be charged to your EBT balance.
Camden — Battleship New Jersey
Battleship New Jersey (Camden) — FREE self-guided tour
Battleship New Jersey — docked on the Camden waterfront directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia — is the most decorated battleship in the history of the United States Navy, having served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War. It is one of the most visited historic sites in New Jersey and one of the most distinctive EBT destinations on the East Coast.
New Jersey Families First cardholders receive free self-guided admission through both the Museums for All program and the Families First Discovery Pass. Present your Families First Card at the Ticket Office — no online purchase required, as eligibility must be verified in person at check-in.
The self-guided tour covers nine decks of the 887-foot Iowa-class battleship — including the bridge, fire control stations, officers’ quarters, crew berthing areas, the engine rooms, and the massive 16-inch gun turrets. Standard adult self-guided admission is $29.99, making the free EBT rate one of the highest-value museum discounts in the state.
Address: 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ 08103. Phone: (856) 966-1652. EBT cards from all states are accepted for the Museums for All rate.
Hillsborough — Duke Farms
Duke Farms (Hillsborough) — FREE general admission
Duke Farms is a 2,700-acre landscape park, conservation center, and working farm in Somerset County — one of the largest privately-held open spaces in New Jersey. The estate was the private preserve of tobacco heiress Doris Duke and opened to the public after her death as a center for environmental sustainability education and outdoor recreation.
New Jersey Families First cardholders receive free general admission through the Families First Discovery Pass. Use the code FFDP at online checkout and present your Families First Card upon arrival. Capacity is limited, so tickets for a specific date and time may not always be available — book in advance when possible.
The grounds include eight miles of biking and hiking trails, the Farm Building Complex, a glass-enclosed Orchid Range, a butterfly house, native meadows and wetlands, and regular educational programming on sustainable agriculture and land stewardship. Free general admission does not apply to special events, specific programs, or membership.
Address: 1112 Duke Farms Dr, Hillsborough, NJ 08844. EBT cards from other states: the Families First Discovery Pass is New Jersey-specific; confirm whether general Museums for All applies for out-of-state cards.
Newark and North Jersey — Newark Museum of Art, Montclair Art Museum & More
Newark Museum of Art (Newark) — Free First Thursdays + Families First discount
The Newark Museum of Art is New Jersey’s largest museum — a multidisciplinary institution founded in 1909 with a collection of over 130,000 objects. Its strengths include American art (modern and contemporary), African art, ancient Mediterranean collections, and one of the finest Tibetan Buddhist art collections in the Western world, including a sacred altar consecrated by the Dalai Lama. The museum also has a planetarium and a charming mini-zoo.
Newark residents receive free admission every day. All other visitors can access free admission on the first Thursday of each month from 5 to 9 PM. Families First cardholders receive discounted admission through the Families First Discovery Pass — confirm the current EBT rate at newarkmuseumart.org.
Children 12 and under are free any day. Standard adult admission is $10.
Address: 49 Washington St, Newark, NJ 07102. Phone: (973) 596-6550.
Montclair Art Museum (Montclair) — FREE for up to five visitors
The Montclair Art Museum in Essex County has maintained one of the strongest EBT access commitments in New Jersey. Families First cardholders receive free admission to the galleries for up to five visitors, along with free day-of tickets to the Bickford Theatre subject to availability.
The museum holds an outstanding collection with particular strength in American art and Native American art — its George Inness collection and Native American galleries are among its signature holdings. It has been engaging diverse audiences for over a century.
Address: 3 South Mountain Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042. Confirm current EBT admission details at montclairartmuseum.org.
Maccullock Hall Historical Museum (Morristown) — FREE for up to four people
Maccullock Hall in Morristown is a historic Federal-style mansion dating to 1810, home to a significant collection of decorative arts, American paintings, and the personal collection of Thomas Nast — the caricaturist credited with creating the modern visual imagery of Santa Claus and popularizing the Republican elephant and Democratic donkey political symbols. Families First cardholders receive free admission for up to four people through the Families First Discovery Pass.
Address: 45 Macculloch Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960.
Somerset County — Hunterdon Art Museum & Grounds For Sculpture
Hunterdon Art Museum (Clinton) — FREE (advance reservation required)
The Hunterdon Art Museum in Clinton offers free admission to galleries for Families First cardholders. Advance reservations are required — call (908) 735-8145 up to one day in advance to reserve your free tickets, and present your Families First Card when you arrive. The museum presents changing exhibitions of contemporary art, craft, and design by internationally recognized and emerging artists, set in a historic stone mill building on the South Branch Raritan River.
Address: 7 Lower Center St, Clinton, NJ 08809. Phone: (908) 735-8145.
Grounds For Sculpture (Hamilton) — Families First discount
Grounds For Sculpture is a 42-acre museum, sculpture garden, and arboretum in Hamilton, Mercer County — one of the most ambitious outdoor art environments in the United States, featuring permanent and rotating works by international and American sculptors in elaborately landscaped naturalistic settings. Families First cardholders receive free general admission with Families First card at checkout using code FFDP — confirm current terms before visiting at groundsforsculpture.org. This discount is not valid on special events, programs, or membership.
Address: 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, NJ 08619.
Woodbridge and Shore Region — Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge & Historic Allaire Village
Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge (Medford) — Youth art workshops 50% off
The Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge spans 171 acres in Burlington County and serves as one of New Jersey’s primary wildlife rehabilitation centers, treating more than 6,000 wild animals annually. The nature center and hiking trails are open seven days a week. Families First cardholders receive 50% off youth art education workshops (for visitors 18 and younger) — use code FFDP when registering online.
Address: 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford, NJ 08055.
Historic Allaire Village (Farmingdale) — Families First discount
Historic Allaire Village in Monmouth County is an open-air living history museum preserving a 19th-century bog iron industrial village — one of the most complete surviving early industrial communities on the East Coast. The village features 16 original, reconstructed, and replicated 18th and 19th-century buildings. Families First cardholders can enjoy free tours and event admission for families of up to five people by presenting their Families First Card.
Address: 4263 Atlantic Ave, Farmingdale, NJ 07727.
Hoboken — Hoboken Historical Museum
Hoboken Historical Museum (Hoboken) — Museums for All discount
The Hoboken Historical Museum preserves the history of this densely urban Hudson County city — birthplace of Frank Sinatra and the first city in America to have standardized baseball rules applied in an organized game. Located in the historic machine shop on Hudson Street, the museum is open six days a week and participates in the Museums for All program. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
Address: 1301 Hudson St, Hoboken, NJ 07030.
WheatonArts (Millville) — Families First discount
WheatonArts in Millville, Atlantic County, is a unique cultural center featuring the Museum of American Glass — home to one of the most significant glass art collections in the world — along with working glass, pottery, and flameworking studios with daily artist demonstrations, a nature trail, and the Folklife Center. Families First cardholders receive discounted admission. The Families First discount is not valid during the Festival of Fine Craft, and a maximum of two adults per card may access the discount. Check current details at wheatonarts.org.
Address: 1501 Glasstown Rd, Millville, NJ 08332.
Statewide — Good Food Bucks (Unlimited Produce Matching)
New Jersey SNAP recipients can access Good Food Bucks at participating farmers markets statewide — a dollar-for-dollar match on fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables with no cap on the matching amount. Unlike most states’ Double Up Food Bucks programs which limit matching to $20–$25 per visit, Good Food Bucks in New Jersey has no stated upper limit, making it one of the most generous SNAP produce incentive programs in the country.
When you use your Families First Card to purchase fresh produce at a participating market, you receive an equal amount of Good Food Bucks to spend on additional locally grown fruits and vegetables. Markets throughout New Jersey participate — the list is maintained at goodfoodbucksnj.com. The program supports local New Jersey farmers while significantly stretching the produce-buying power of SNAP households.
Phone & Internet — Lifeline
New Jersey Families First cardholders automatically qualify for the federal Lifeline program, which provides up to $9.25 per month off a monthly phone or internet bill. Participating providers serving New Jersey include major national and regional carriers. See the Lifeline application guide for step-by-step instructions.
Energy Assistance — LIHEAP
New Jersey SNAP households automatically meet the income threshold to apply for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), which helps pay heating and cooling costs. New Jersey winters can be harsh — particularly in northwestern counties near the Delaware Water Gap and in the urban areas with aging housing stock where heating efficiency is low. Receiving even a small LIHEAP payment can qualify your household for the highest SUA tier in your SNAP benefit calculation, potentially increasing your monthly benefit. See the LIHEAP application guide for details.
Summer EBT for Children — New Jersey SUN Bucks
New Jersey families with school-age children who receive SNAP automatically qualify for SUN Bucks (Summer EBT), which provides $120 per eligible child each summer to replace free school meals when school is not in session. Funds load directly to your Families First Card in June–August with no separate application needed for current SNAP households.
NJ TRANSIT — Reduced Fares for Low-Income Riders
NJ TRANSIT offers reduced fare programs for qualifying low-income riders. Contact NJ TRANSIT at njtransit.com or call 1-800-772-2222 to confirm current EBT/Families First cardholder eligibility and the specific fare discount available in 2026.
What You Can Buy With Your New Jersey Families First Card
New Jersey has not implemented any state-specific SNAP food purchase restrictions. All federally approved SNAP items remain purchasable with your Families First Card in 2026. For the full list of what SNAP covers and does not cover, see the SNAP-eligible foods guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What discounts do New Jersey EBT cardholders get in 2026?
New Jersey Families First cardholders benefit from two programs: the national Museums for All (Battleship New Jersey, Duke Farms, Hoboken Historical Museum) and New Jersey’s own Families First Discovery Pass (a state-specific program covering dozens of arts, history, and performance venues including Montclair Art Museum, Maccullock Hall, Hunterdon Art Museum, Historic Allaire Village, WheatonArts, and many others). Additional discounts include half-price Amazon Prime ($6.99/month), unlimited Good Food Bucks produce matching at farmers markets, Lifeline phone/internet discounts, and SUN Bucks for school-age children.
Is admission to Battleship New Jersey free with an EBT card?
Yes — completely free self-guided tours for Families First cardholders through both the Museums for All program and the Families First Discovery Pass. Present your card at the Ticket Office in person — online purchase is not available because eligibility must be verified at check-in. Standard adult admission is $29.99, making this one of the highest-value EBT discounts in New Jersey. EBT cards from any state are accepted for the Museums for All rate.
What is the Families First Discovery Pass and how is it different from Museums for All?
The Families First Discovery Pass is New Jersey’s own state-run cultural access program — distinct from and additional to the national Museums for All initiative. It covers arts organizations, performing arts venues, history museums, cultural centers, and other institutions that participate in the NJ State Council on the Arts and Historical Commission program. Only New Jersey Families First Cards are accepted (out-of-state EBT cards are not required to be accepted, though many venues choose to accept them). The full list of participating organizations is updated three times a year at nj.gov/state/njsca/discoverypass.
What is Good Food Bucks and does it really have no cap?
Good Food Bucks is New Jersey’s farmers market produce incentive program for SNAP recipients — it matches every dollar you spend on fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables at participating markets dollar-for-dollar. Unlike Double Up Food Bucks in most other states, which typically cap matching at $20–$25 per visit, New Jersey’s program appears to have no stated upper limit. Visit goodfoodbucksnj.com for the current list of participating markets.
Can I use my out-of-state EBT card at New Jersey museums?
It depends on the program. For Museums for All venues (Battleship New Jersey, Duke Farms, Hoboken Historical Museum), EBT cards from any state are accepted — just show your card and photo ID. For Families First Discovery Pass venues, the program is designed for New Jersey Families First Cards. Some organizations accept out-of-state cards at their discretion, but it is not required. Call ahead to confirm before visiting from out of state.
Can I get free internet in New Jersey with my EBT card?
Yes — through the federal Lifeline program, New Jersey Families First cardholders qualify for up to $9.25/month off their phone or internet bill. Several New Jersey providers participate. See the Lifeline application to apply.
Check Your New Jersey Families First Card Benefits
Your Families First Card balance can be checked by calling 1-800-997-3333, through the ebtEDGE app, or at the point of sale at any authorized retailer. For a full guide, see how to check your SNAP balance in New Jersey.
Additional resources: New Jersey SNAP benefits by household size — how to apply for SNAP in New Jersey — New Jersey WIC income guidelines — New Jersey Medicaid eligibility.
Last updated: 2026 | Discount programs, admission rates, and eligibility requirements are subject to change. The Families First Discovery Pass participating organization list is updated in October, January, and May — verify the current list at nj.gov/state/njsca/discoverypass before visiting. New Jersey SNAP is administered by the NJ Department of Human Services (DHS). Families First Card support: 1-800-997-3333 (24/7).