Pennsylvania has one of the most comprehensive EBT cultural access programs in the country — and unlike most states, it operates on three distinct layers. In 2026, your Pennsylvania ACCESS Card — issued automatically alongside your EBT card when you receive SNAP or Medical Assistance — unlocks $2 admission at more than 90 cultural sites throughout the Greater Philadelphia region through the Art-Reach ACCESS Program, including the Philadelphia Zoo, Franklin Institute, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Please Touch Museum, Morris Arboretum, Academy of Natural Sciences, Eastern State Penitentiary, and dozens of performing arts venues and theaters.
Across the rest of the state, your EBT card qualifies you for Museums for All discounted admission at science centers, zoos, historic sites, and children’s museums in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Hershey, the Lehigh Valley, Scranton, and communities statewide.
Your card also qualifies you for half-price Amazon Prime at $6.99/month, free or low-cost phone and internet service through Lifeline, produce-matching at farmers markets, Summer EBT for children, and energy bill assistance through LIHEAP.
This is the complete guide to every EBT discount available to Pennsylvania SNAP recipients in 2026, organized by region.
A Note on Pennsylvania’s SNAP Program and the ACCESS Card
Pennsylvania’s SNAP program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) through County Assistance Offices (CAOs) in all 67 counties. Benefits are delivered on the Pennsylvania ACCESS Card — Pennsylvania’s name for the EBT card. The ACCESS Card doubles as both your grocery benefit card and your cultural access credential throughout the state.
Pennsylvania has three separate EBT discount programs worth knowing:
Art-Reach ACCESS Program — Pennsylvania’s most expansive and unique program, managed by Art-Reach (a Philadelphia-based nonprofit). Your PA ACCESS Card gives you $2 admission at more than 90 cultural sites in Greater Philadelphia and Delaware. This is a PA-specific program — out-of-state EBT cards are not accepted at Art-Reach ACCESS sites. No separate registration is needed; just show your ACCESS Card and photo ID.
Museums for All — the national program, covering hundreds of additional museums statewide. EBT cards from any state are accepted. Admission is typically $3 or less per person for up to four people.
Pay-What-You-Wish at select venues — a handful of Philadelphia institutions including the Philadelphia Museum of Art offer pay-what-you-wish pricing (including zero) on select evenings or days.
If you are unsure whether you qualify for SNAP in Pennsylvania, use the Pennsylvania SNAP eligibility calculator for an instant estimate.
Amazon Prime — Half Price for Pennsylvania SNAP Recipients
Pennsylvania ACCESS 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 Pennsylvania ACCESS 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 ACCESS Card balance. A free 30-day trial is available for first-time Prime members.
The Art-Reach ACCESS Program — $2 Admission at 90+ Philadelphia Cultural Sites
The Harvey and Virginia Kimmel Family Fund ACCESS Program, administered by Art-Reach, is Pennsylvania’s defining EBT cultural access benefit and one of the most impressive in the entire United States. Your Pennsylvania ACCESS/EBT Card gives you and up to three additional people $2 admission at more than 90 cultural institutions throughout the Greater Philadelphia region — covering museums, zoos, performing arts venues, gardens, theaters, and historic sites.
In March 2026, the William Penn Foundation awarded $7.6 million to Art-Reach and six of its most-visited partner institutions — the Philadelphia Zoo, Franklin Institute, Please Touch Museum, Academy of Natural Sciences, Morris Arboretum, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art — specifically to sustain and expand EBT access programming. This is one of the largest private investments in EBT cultural access of any city in the country, ensuring these programs remain funded and growing.
How to use the Art-Reach ACCESS program:
- Simply bring your Pennsylvania ACCESS Card and a valid photo ID to the participating venue
- No advance registration or separate application required
- Contact some venues in advance — particularly performing arts organizations that issue tickets — as seats may sell out
- Your card covers you and up to three additional guests at the $2 rate per person
- The $2 rate applies to general admission; special exhibits, events, and premium experiences may be priced separately
- Out-of-state EBT cards are not accepted for the Art-Reach ACCESS rate — only Pennsylvania or Delaware state-issued ACCESS/EBT cards
The full current list of participating organizations is at art-reach.org/access.
Philadelphia — Key Art-Reach ACCESS Partners
Philadelphia Zoo — America’s first zoo, founded in 1874. Standard adult admission is $28; with your ACCESS Card, you and up to three guests pay $2 each. The zoo joined the ACCESS program in 2025, supported by the March 2026 William Penn Foundation grant. Philadelphia Zoo is AZA-accredited and home to a wide range of African, Asian, and North American animals across 42 acres in West Fairmount Park.
Franklin Institute (Philadelphia) — Pennsylvania’s most visited museum and one of the top science museums in the United States. The Benjamin Franklin National Memorial — the only national memorial to Franklin in the country, housing a 20-foot marble statue of the Founding Father — is inside the Franklin Institute and included with admission. Exhibits cover physics, astronomy, engineering, space, the human body, and technology. With your ACCESS Card, admission is $2 per person versus the standard adult rate of $25+. Planetarium shows are also included with general admission at the ACCESS rate. Supported by the March 2026 William Penn Foundation grant.
Philadelphia Museum of Art — One of the largest and most significant art museums in the United States, housing more than 240,000 works across 226 galleries. Famous globally for the “Rocky Steps” of its main entrance on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Standard adult admission is $30; with ACCESS, it is $2 per person. The William Penn Foundation grant (March 2026) additionally supports restoration of free pay-what-you-wish Friday evenings at the museum for ACCESS cardholders.
Please Touch Museum (Philadelphia) — The premier children’s museum in Philadelphia, designed for children under 7. Located in Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park — the only surviving building from the 1876 Centennial Exposition, one of the most architecturally significant Victorian-era structures in the country. Standard admission runs $22; with ACCESS, it is $2 per person. Supported by the March 2026 William Penn Foundation grant.
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (Philadelphia) — The oldest natural history museum in the Western Hemisphere, founded in 1812. Features a reconstructed Cretaceous dinosaur environment with a full Tyrannosaurus rex, the Butterflies! walk-through live butterfly pavilion, a live animal collection, and extensive geology and mineral exhibits. With your ACCESS Card, admission is $2 per person.
Morris Arboretum and Gardens (Philadelphia/Chestnut Hill) — A 92-acre National Historic Landmark arboretum and garden of the University of Pennsylvania, featuring more than 12,000 labeled plants, trees, and flowers across a Victorian-era estate. Admission is $2 per person with ACCESS Card. Supported by the March 2026 William Penn Foundation grant.
Eastern State Penitentiary (Philadelphia) — One of the most historically significant and visually striking sites in American history. The world’s first “penitentiary” opened in 1829 and operated for 142 years. Its revolutionary design — massive stone cellblocks radiating from a central hub, individual cells with private exercise yards, and complete solitary confinement — was replicated by more than 300 prisons worldwide. Famous inmates included Al Capone, who had a surprisingly comfortable cell that is on display. Admission is $2 per person with ACCESS Card.
Franklin Square (Philadelphia) — One of William Penn’s original five squares for the city, featuring a Philadelphia-themed 18-hole miniature golf course (Elfreth’s Alley, the Ben Franklin Bridge, LOVE Park, and other Philly landmarks), the Liberty Carousel, and a picnic area. The mini-golf course standard rate is $9 for adults and $7 for children; ACCESS cardholders pay $2 per person for up to four people — saving a family of four up to $28 on a round of mini-golf.
Independence Seaport Museum (Philadelphia) — Located on Penn’s Landing on the Delaware River, with collections covering Philadelphia’s role in American maritime and naval history. Includes the USS Becuna submarine and USS Olympia, the oldest steel-hulled naval vessel still afloat in the world. ACCESS admission is $2 per person.
Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square) — One of the greatest horticultural displays in the world, a 1,100-acre estate in Chester County with more than 11,000 types of plants, 20 indoor gardens in a massive conservatory, 50 outdoor gardens, and spectacular fountain shows. Standard adult admission is $30+; ACCESS admission is $2 per person.
Hagley Museum & Library (Wilmington, DE) — The birthplace of the du Pont dynasty and the American chemical industry, set on 235 acres along the Brandywine River. The site includes the original 1802 E.I. du Pont gunpowder mills, a Georgian-style mansion, workers’ community restored to period, and extensive industrial history exhibitions. ACCESS admission is $2 per person.
Philadelphia Orchestra — ACCESS cardholders can purchase tickets to Philadelphia Orchestra concerts at Verizon Hall in the Kimmel Cultural Campus for $2 per ticket. Use promo code ACCESSPHILORCH online or call the Box Office at (215) 893-1999. Tickets become available in two phases — September and December — for the September–June concert season.
Chanticleer Garden (Wayne) — A 35-acre pleasure garden in Delaware County, considered one of the finest private gardens in the United States, featuring bold plantings of unusual trees, perennials, and grasses across a dramatically landscaped former estate. ACCESS admission is $2 per person.
Additional Philadelphia ACCESS partners include: African American Museum in Philadelphia, American Helicopter Museum, Glencairn Museum, Friends of Laurel Hill (cemetery tours), Historic Christ Church Burial Ground (where Ben Franklin is buried), James A. Michener Art Museum (Doylestown), and dozens of performing arts companies including theaters, dance companies, and choral organizations.
Philadelphia — Additional EBT Discounts
The Frick Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh) — FREE
The Frick Pittsburgh in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh is a remarkable estate comprising the Frick Art Museum, Car and Carriage Museum, greenhouse, and the grounds of the Victorian mansion of industrialist Henry Clay Frick — rival and colleague of Andrew Carnegie. Admission to the permanent collections, Car and Carriage Museum, gardens, and all outdoor grounds is permanently free for all visitors. No EBT card required.
Philadelphia Museum of Art — Pay-What-You-Wish Fridays
In addition to the $2 ACCESS rate, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is restoring pay-what-you-wish pricing on Friday evenings, funded by the March 2026 William Penn Foundation grant. On these evenings, ACCESS cardholders and all other visitors can pay any amount — including nothing — for general admission. Check the museum’s website at philamuseum.org for current Friday evening hours.
Pittsburgh — Carnegie Museums, Pittsburgh Zoo & More
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh — Museums for All discount
The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh encompass four world-class institutions that collectively represent one of the great museum complexes in the United States:
Carnegie Museum of Art — Pennsylvania’s first museum of modern and contemporary art, founded in 1895 by Andrew Carnegie. The museum’s International Exhibition is one of the oldest juried contemporary art exhibitions in North America.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History — One of the top natural history museums in the country, with exceptional dinosaur galleries. The Dinosaur Hall holds one of the largest mounted dinosaur specimens in the world. The Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems is among the finest mineral collections in the world, featuring the 604-carat Star of Asia sapphire.
Carnegie Science Center — A four-floor science museum on the North Shore, featuring an OMNIMAX theater, a nuclear submarine (USS Requin, moored outside), and extensive STEM exhibits.
The Andy Warhol Museum — The most comprehensive single-artist museum in the world, dedicated to Pittsburgh-native Andy Warhol, with 900 paintings, 77 drawings, 1,500 photographs, and 4,000 archival items on seven floors.
EBT cardholders receive discounted admission at each Carnegie Museum through the Museums for All program. Verify the current EBT rate at each location before visiting at cmoa.org, carnegiemnh.org, carnegiesciencecenter.org, and warhol.org.
Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium — $3 per person, up to four people
The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium welcomes EBT cardholders for $3 per person for up to four guests through the Museums for All program. Located in Highland Park, the zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals representing 400+ species across African savannas, Asian highlands, North American habitats, and an aquarium wing. Standard adult admission is $22.
Address: 7370 Baker St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh — $2 per person, up to four people
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh offers $2 per person admission to Pennsylvania ACCESS cardholders (and Museums for All rate for all-state EBT cards) for up to four people. Located in two historic buildings — the original 1898 post office and a LEED-certified addition — the museum features Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, the Nursery area for infants and toddlers, a backyard outdoor play area, and hands-on maker and arts studios. Standard admission is $16.
Address: 10 Children’s Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
Harrisburg — State Museum of Pennsylvania
The State Museum of Pennsylvania (Harrisburg) — Museums for All discount
The State Museum of Pennsylvania, adjacent to the State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg, holds the official collection of the Commonwealth — art, artifacts, and natural history specimens documenting Pennsylvania’s history from the earliest geological periods through the present. Exhibits include Pennsylvania’s role in the American Revolution, natural history specimens from across the state, a full-scale colonial Pennsylvania streetscape, and a planetarium. EBT cardholders receive discounted admission through the Museums for All program.
Address: 300 North St, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Phone: (717) 787-4978.
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts (Harrisburg) — Museums for All discount
The Whitaker Center in downtown Harrisburg combines a hands-on science center with a Harsco Science Center, an IMAX theater, and the Sunoco Performance Theater for live performances. EBT cardholders receive discounted admission through the Museums for All program.
Address: 222 Market St, Harrisburg, PA 17101.
Central Pennsylvania — ZooAmerica & The Hershey Story Museum
ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park (Hershey) — Museums for All discount
ZooAmerica in Hershey is the only zoo in the country entirely dedicated to North American wildlife — featuring 200 animals representing 65+ species from five distinct North American ecological regions, from the Eastern Forests to the Great Plains, the Southwest Desert, the Northlands, and the Mid-Atlantic Coast. EBT cardholders receive discounted admission through the Museums for All program.
Address: 201 Park Ave, Hershey, PA 17033.
The Hershey Story Museum (Hershey) — Museums for All discount
The Hershey Story Museum chronicles the life of Milton Hershey — Pennsylvania-born chocolate entrepreneur, social reformer, and humanitarian — and the company and community he built in central Pennsylvania. EBT cardholders receive discounted admission through the Museums for All program.
Address: 63 W Chocolate Ave, Hershey, PA 17033.
Scranton & Northeast Pennsylvania — Everhart Museum
Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science and Art (Scranton) — Museums for All discount
The Everhart Museum in Nay Aug Park in Scranton is a multidisciplinary museum spanning natural history, science, and fine art, with collections of regional wildlife specimens, dinosaur fossils, decorative arts, and rotating art exhibitions. EBT cardholders receive discounted admission through the Museums for All program. Verify the current rate at everhart.org before visiting.
Address: 1901 Mulberry St, Scranton, PA 18510.
Greater Philadelphia — Additional Museums for All Partners
Beyond the Art-Reach ACCESS program, numerous additional Greater Philadelphia venues participate specifically in Museums for All (accepting EBT cards from all states at $3 or less per person):
Reading Public Museum (Reading) — art, natural history, and science collections in the Schuylkill Valley region, with a planetarium and arboretum. EBT cardholders receive discounted admission.
Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center — $2 per person for families with a SNAP/EBT card; hands-on interactive museum for young children.
West Overton Village (Scottdale) — birthplace of distiller Henry Overholt and early home of Henry Clay Frick; preserved 19th-century Mennonite farm complex. Museums for All partner.
Fort Ligonier (Ligonier) — one of the most significant French and Indian War sites in North America, featuring a reconstructed British fortification and museum. Free admission for up to four family members with EBT card.
Wharton Esherick Museum (Malvern) — the studio and home of “the Dean of American Craftsmen,” a National Historic Landmark featuring Esherick’s sculptural woodwork, furniture, and prints. EBT discount available.
Statewide — Double Up Food Bucks at Farmers Markets
Pennsylvania SNAP recipients can access Double Up Food Bucks — or the equivalent PASA Farming for the Future produce incentive program — at participating farmers markets statewide. Spending SNAP dollars on fresh locally grown Pennsylvania fruits and vegetables earns matching credits of up to $20 or more per visit, depending on the market. Markets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Reading, and many smaller communities participate.
In Philadelphia, the PHS Meadowbrook Farm Farmers Market and various neighborhood greenmarkets accept EBT and participate in produce matching. Ask at the market information booth when you arrive.
Phone & Internet — Lifeline
Pennsylvania ACCESS cardholders automatically qualify for the federal Lifeline program, which provides up to $9.25 per month off a monthly phone or internet bill. Comcast’s Internet Essentials — one of the most widely available low-income broadband programs in the country — accepts SNAP enrollment as a qualifying credential and is available throughout Comcast’s extensive Pennsylvania service territory. See the full Lifeline application guide for step-by-step instructions.
Energy Assistance — LIHEAP
Pennsylvania SNAP households automatically meet the income threshold to apply for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), which helps pay heating and cooling costs. Pennsylvania winters — particularly in the northern counties, the Pocono Mountains, and western Pennsylvania — involve significant natural gas and heating oil costs. Receiving even a small LIHEAP payment can automatically qualify your household for the highest SUA tier in your SNAP benefit calculation, potentially increasing your monthly food benefit. See the LIHEAP application guide for details. Contact 211 Pennsylvania (dial 2-1-1) to find the nearest LIHEAP program.
Summer EBT for Children — Pennsylvania SUN Bucks
Pennsylvania 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 ACCESS Card in June–August with no separate application needed for current SNAP households.
YMCA — Reduced Membership Rates
Many YMCA locations across Pennsylvania offer reduced or sliding-scale membership rates for SNAP/EBT cardholders. Contact your local Pennsylvania YMCA — locations in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Allentown, Scranton, Erie, and throughout the state — to ask about current income-based pricing.
What You Can Buy With Your Pennsylvania ACCESS Card
Pennsylvania has not implemented any state-specific SNAP food purchase restrictions. All federally approved SNAP items remain purchasable with your Pennsylvania ACCESS Card in 2026. Pennsylvania uses 200% FPL broad-based categorical eligibility — one of the most generous income thresholds in the country — meaning many working households that don’t qualify in other states may qualify here. For the full list of what SNAP covers, see the SNAP-eligible foods guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What discounts do Pennsylvania EBT cardholders get in 2026?
Pennsylvania ACCESS cardholders benefit from three programs: (1) Art-Reach ACCESS — $2 admission at 90+ cultural sites in Greater Philadelphia including the Philadelphia Zoo, Franklin Institute, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Please Touch Museum, Academy of Natural Sciences, Morris Arboretum, Eastern State Penitentiary, Franklin Square, Longwood Gardens, and dozens of theaters and performing arts organizations; (2) Museums for All — statewide discounted admission including Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Zoo ($3/person), State Museum of Pennsylvania, ZooAmerica, and many others; (3) Pay-what-you-wish at select venues including Philadelphia Museum of Art on Friday evenings. Plus half-price Amazon Prime ($6.99/month), Double Up Food Bucks at farmers markets, Lifeline phone/internet discounts, and SUN Bucks for children.
What is the Art-Reach ACCESS program and how do I use it?
Art-Reach ACCESS is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit program that provides $2 admission at more than 90 cultural institutions throughout Greater Philadelphia and Delaware to Pennsylvania and Delaware ACCESS/EBT cardholders. No registration required — just bring your Pennsylvania ACCESS Card and photo ID to any participating venue. Call ahead for performing arts venues, as tickets may sell out. The full list is at art-reach.org/access. Out-of-state EBT cards are not accepted — only Pennsylvania or Delaware state-issued cards qualify for the Art-Reach $2 rate.
Is the Franklin Institute $2 with an EBT card?
Yes — with a Pennsylvania ACCESS Card, admission to the Franklin Institute is $2 per person for you and up to three additional guests, versus the standard adult rate of $25+. The $2 rate includes general admission and the planetarium. Show your ACCESS Card and photo ID at the admissions desk.
Can I get into the Philadelphia Zoo for $2 with EBT?
Yes — the Philadelphia Zoo joined the Art-Reach ACCESS program in 2025, supported by the March 2026 $7.6 million William Penn Foundation grant. With your Pennsylvania ACCESS Card, admission is $2 per person for up to four people. Standard adult admission is $28. Show your card and photo ID at the ticket window.
Does the Pittsburgh Zoo accept EBT cards?
Yes — the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium accepts EBT cards through the Museums for All program at $3 per person for up to four people. EBT cards from any state are accepted. Standard adult admission is $22.
What is the difference between Art-Reach ACCESS and Museums for All in Pennsylvania?
Art-Reach ACCESS is a Philadelphia-region program specifically for Pennsylvania and Delaware ACCESS/EBT cardholders — $2 admission at 90+ sites, including performing arts venues and theaters that Museums for All typically doesn’t cover. Museums for All is the national program — $3 or less per person, EBT cards from any state accepted, available at museums, zoos, and gardens statewide throughout Pennsylvania and across the country.
Can I get free internet in Pennsylvania with my EBT card?
Yes — through the federal Lifeline program, Pennsylvania ACCESS cardholders qualify for up to $9.25/month off their phone or internet bill. Comcast’s Internet Essentials program — widely available throughout Pennsylvania — accepts SNAP enrollment as a qualifying credential and offers low-cost home broadband. See the Lifeline application to apply.
Check Your Pennsylvania ACCESS Card Benefits
Your Pennsylvania ACCESS Card balance can be checked by calling 1-888-328-7366, 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 Pennsylvania.
Additional resources: Pennsylvania SNAP benefits by household size — how to apply for SNAP in Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania WIC income guidelines — Pennsylvania Medicaid eligibility.
Last updated: 2026 | Discount programs, admission rates, and eligibility requirements are subject to change. The Art-Reach ACCESS participating organization list is updated regularly — verify the current list at art-reach.org/access before visiting. Pennsylvania SNAP is administered by the PA Department of Human Services (DHS) through County Assistance Offices. ACCESS Card support: 1-888-328-7366 (24/7).