Cashback Rewards
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This section has information regarding income received from cashback rewards.
Policy
Programs for cashback rewards allow the participant to earn money when using a loyalty rewards program. These programs pay the participant when the individual signs up and uses the mobile application for qualifying purchases at participating providers, such as gas stations, grocery stores, or restaurants.
Cashback rewards are countable as a resource.
Cashback rewards can be issued back to the participant through any of the following:
●Direct deposit into their back account.
●Deposited onto their electronic pay card. (See Electronic Pay Card (EPC) for more information.)
●Deposited onto a retail store specific gift card. (See Gift Cards for more information.)
Examples of cashback mobile applications that accept NA benefits for qualifying purchases include, and are not limited to, any of the following:
●Benny
●Checkout 51
●Fetch
●Ibotta
●Shopkick
●Swagbucks
Examples of cashback mobile applications that do not accept NA benefits for qualifying purchases include, and are not limited to, any of the following:
●Capital One Shopping
●Honey
●Mr. Rebates
●Pogo
●Rakuten
●Receipt Hog
●Upside
Verification
The participant has the primary responsibility for providing verification. (See Participant Responsibilities – Providing Verification for additional policy.)
For NA, income is required to be verified for all of the following before eligibility is determined:
●When reported on a new application, during the interview of a new application, or changes reported before the eligibility determination of a new application.
●For changes reported after an eligibility determination of a new application (e.g., a renewal application, mid approval contact, etc.) and any of the following apply:
The source of the income has changed.
The income is questionable(g) or unclear(g).
The reported income amount has changed by $51 or more.
The previous verification in the case file is more than 59 calendar days(g) old.
For CA, all income is required to be verified before determining eligibility.
Examples of verification that can be used for income received from cashback rewards include, and are not limited to, any of the following:
●Bank statements
●Screenshots of the mobile application that verify income received.
Legal Authorities
7 CFR 273.8(c)
7 CFR 273.9(b)(2)
7 CFR 273.9(c)(8)
Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Clarification
last revised 12/08/2025