Where You Can Order Groceries Online With An Ebt Card
With more Americans claiming food assistance amid the pandemic, more states and stores are letting consumers use their benefits when ordering groceries online for pickup or delivery.
Participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, can pay in store at most major grocery chains including “specialty” grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s using electronic benefits transfer cards. But until last year, EBT wasn’t a widely available payment option online. Now, thanks to the continued expansion of an online purchasing pilot program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, households receiving SNAP benefits in 47 states and the District of Columbia can use EBT to pay for grocery pickup and/or delivery from a number of retailers .
The list of participating states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Alaska, Louisiana, and Montana are the only states that have not enrolled in the pilot.
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Usda Online Ebt Pilot Program
The United States Department of Agriculture, the federal agency that oversees the foods stamps program started the Online Purchasing Pilot in January 2017 with select retailers for the initial launch of the EBT Online Purchasing Pilot.
In an , the USDA expects all approved merchants to have their program up and running in 2020. Which means that in all likelihood, EBT cardholders in states with approved merchants will be able to use their food stamps to purchase food online in 2020.
Below is a list of grocery stores that accept EBT online and participate in the USDAs Online Purchasing Pilot.
We will describe in detail each grocery stores online EBT program and what state they operate in. We will also cover how you can place an order using your food stamps card and have it delivered to you.
Instacart Expands Ebt Snap Payment To Three New Retailers
Instacart recently expanded EBT SNAP payment to three new retailers.
Buying groceries online just got a bit easier for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program users in 15 states. Beginning April 29, 2021, online grocery platform, Instacart is expanding acceptance of EBT SNAP payment to three new retailers Publix, The Save Mart Companies and Price Chopper/Market 32, for online grocery delivery and pickup. The expansion increases EBT SNAP availability by more than 1,500 stores across 15 states.
Were committed to continuing to expand EBT SNAP payments for Americans nationwide and are proud to partner with three new retailers – Publix, The Save Mart Companies and Price Chopper/Market 32 – on this important initiative, said Nilam Ganenthiran, President of Instacart.
Ordering groceries online has long been a challenge for SNAP users. It wasnt until early 2019 that ordering groceries online was even an option for SNAP users. And until the arrival of Covid-19, it had only been available to people in a few select states.
Once the expansion is complete, Instacart will offer EBT SNAP in more than 4,000 stores across 38 … states and Washington D.C.
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Ebt Online Purchasing Pilot Approved States
According to the USDA, the next states to be approved for EBT online for delivery have already been determined. These states have completed the application process and have been approved for the program.
The EBT Purchasing Pilot has currently been launched in over 47 states nationwide.
The following states are currently participating in the EBT Online Purchasing Pilot:
- Alabama
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The Online Purchasing Pilot is expected to roll out to more states within the coming months.
Check back for more updates on when these states are approved and participating in the program.
3 Surprising EBT Perks You May Not Know About
You may not be aware but your EBT card comes with other amazing perks that most EBT cardholders are simply not taking advantage of. Here are the top 3 EBT perks you should know about:
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This expansion means that EBT SNAP will now be available at all Publix locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The Save Mart Companiesincluding Save Mart, Lucky California, Lucky and FoodMaxx bannersacross California and Nevada. Price Chopper/Market 32 across its New York stores, and in the coming weeks will expand to its Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Vermont locations. Once the expansion is complete, Instacart will offer EBT SNAP in more than 4,000 stores across 38 states and Washington D.C.
Customers can enter their zip code to determine if they are near a participating retailer and begin shopping and selecting items from retailers EBT-eligible products. SNAP users will have to add their SNAP EBT card to their Instacart account to pay for groceries. While the benefits will pay for most groceries, users will need to add a debit or credit card to pay for delivery and service fees, bottle fees, taxes, tips and any items that are not EBT eligible. According to Instacart, customers will see a payment breakdown on the Place Order page at checkout, allowing them to see what will be charged to their EBT card and what will be charged to their credit or debit card.
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Can You Pay For Groceries Online With Ebt
Although many grocery stores dont have the capability to accept EBT cards as payment online, there are a handful of merchants that do.
In 2019, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service rolled out a pilot program for retailers to process online purchases using SNAP benefits. Grocers must meet a specific set of requirements.
Coinciding with stay-at-home orders and increased demand for online shopping, the program has expanded significantly this year as additional states and retailers are being approved to process EBT payments online.
The following stores are authorized to accept EBT payments for online grocery shopping. Its important to note that SNAP recipients can only purchase eligible food items with their EBT card and cannot use their cards for service charges, delivery fees and other associated costs.
Add Ebt Benefits As A Payment Option For Groceries Delivered By Peapod
Many disabled people have difficulty getting to the grocery store due to their illnesses. Many also do not have cars. PEAPOD and other grocery delivery services offer the choice of doing grocery shopping online and having the groceries delivered to your home. However, PEAPOD does not take food stamps. They offer the same groceries through the same company, and the groceries are approximately the same cost. Since people pay online with a credit card, it would be easy for Stop & Shop to add EBT benefits as a payment method. I personally have no problem with them requiring people to pay the delivery and other non food fees with cash or credit cards, but thing they should accept the food stamp benefits for food items like they would in their stores. Since they don’t, it limits people on food stamps who are less able to get to the grocery store or carry groceries, and many end up going to convenience stores more often, so the food dollars don’t go as far. I think this is a reasonable accommodation to people who need it.
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A Limited Pilot Program
For now, this only applies to residents of Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington. If it works out, the practice will spread to more states.
The two-year program will start out with national online grocers like Amazon, FreshDirect and Safeway regional chains like ShopRite and HyVee and smaller, New York-only chains like Harts Local Grocers and Dashs Market.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the food stamp program, wants to see whether local or national grocers work best online, the USDA said.
Shoprite And The Fresh Grocer
ShopRite, a northeastern grocery chain with roughly 300 stores, accepts EBT payment for online grocery orders from stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
The Fresh Grocer, which operates about a dozen stores in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, also lets customers shop online using EBT as payment.
ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer are both subsidiaries of the grocery cooperative Wakefern Food Corp.
Online orders can be picked up via curbside service or delivered, where available. When ordering online, SNAP recipients must select EBT Snap Card as their payment method and enter their card information.
Customers dont have to meet a minimum purchase amount to complete their online orders.
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Heres Where You Can Pay For Groceries Online With An Ebt Card
Shopping for groceries online has become a growing preference during the coronavirus pandemic.
Whether youre ordering ahead to pick up your food from the store or getting your order delivered to your doorstep, online grocery shopping eliminates the need to go up and down aisles, potentially rubbing elbows with dozens of shoppers.
A June consumer behavior study of 3,000 adults found that 37% plan to shop more online and 23% will rely more on same-day curbside pickup as a result of the pandemic.
While online grocery shopping has its benefits, one drawback is that it typically requires you to pay with a debit or credit card. If youre enrolled in the governments Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, you cant always use your Electronic Benefits Transfer card online.
We investigated whether its possible to pay for groceries online with EBT and found several grocery chains that provide the accommodation.
There Are 3 Things You Need To Know Before You Order
Even when youve found a place with grocery delivery that accepts EBT, there are three things that you need to know before you order.
First, your food stamps funds cannot be used to pay for the delivery fee, tip or other charges. It can only be used to pay for the eligible groceries themselves. Youll need a secondary payment method to cover the delivery fee and tip.
Second, youll save money if you place one large order instead of several smaller ones. Because you have to pay a delivery fee and tip for each order, its best to plan ahead and make sure that you dont miss anything. Grocery lists and meal plans can make a big difference!
Third, you may get better deals in the store. When you order online, you may miss out on great ways to save money .
That being said, its overall a great thing that there are stores with grocery delivery that accepts EBT. Obviously, its a tremendous blessing for people who are homebound but its also a great option when you are sick and dont want to spread your germs.
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Food Delivery Apps That Dont Accept Ebt Cards
You will find food delivery apps that provide restaurant-made meals are not able to accept EBT cards.
Only retailers that provide uncooked food items can accept payment via SNAP benefits.
Food delivery apps like GrubHub, UberEats, Postmates, and DoorDash cannot take payment through EBT cards.
However, certain states allow hot meals and restaurant-prepared foods to be delivered and paid for via EBT cards.
You can check out the USDA website to see if your state qualifies.
In addition, whether you are having uncooked groceries delivered or you qualify for hot meal delivery, it is important to note that delivery fees cannot be paid through the EBT card and must come out of your own pocket.
Food Stamp Program Makes Fresh Produce More Affordable
The reaction to Amazon’s new programs has been mixed. The credit card is available to people with bad credit or no credit at all and offers 5% cash back on purchases. However, the interest rate is higher than that of an average credit card, according to The Washington Post.
Walmart and Amazon have been increasingly moving into each other’s turf. As Amazon aims to broaden its customer base in low-income communities, Walmart is rolling out services designed to attract more affluent customers. Last year, Walmart introduced Jetblack, an invitation-only personal shopping service in New York. Walmart has also been offering higher-end brands on Walmart.com.
Editor’s note:Amazon and Walmart are among NPR’s sponsors.
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Online Purchasing Now Available For Snap Recipients In Indiana
SNAP recipients in Indiana may use their Hoosier Works EBT cards to purchase groceries online for pickup or delivery at two approved retailers Amazon and Walmart.
To use Amazon:
- Amazon offers online ordering and delivery of groceries to SNAP recipients. Instructions on how to use this service can be found here:
To use Walmart:
- Walmart offers online ordering and delivery and pick-up options at some stores, while other stores only allow online ordering and pickup of groceries at a designated spot outside the store.
- Information on online ordering at Walmart can be found here:
- Information about delivery of groceries from Walmart can be found here:
- Walmart customer service can be found here:
To use ALDI/Instacart:
Delivery fees that may apply to the online purchase may not be paid with SNAP benefits.
If SNAP recipients have any problems using their card for ordering, they should call the number on the back of their Hoosier Works EBT card for customer service.
More information about this new service is and
TANF benefits, which are also provided via Hoosier Works EBT card, may not be used for online purchasing. Currently more than 680,000 Hoosiers receive SNAP benefits and nearly 13,000 Hoosiers receive TANF assistance.
Hoosiers may apply for SNAP or TANF at . They may also call 800-403-0864 for assistance.
Ebt Food Delivery : Complete Guide To Ordering Food Online With Ebt Cards
Written by Brett Helling
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more people than in years prior have become unemployed as their businesses shut down.
This has led to a rise in unemployment insurance, SNAP benefits, and the use of an EBT card.
In addition, more people, especially those at higher risk for COVID-19 complications, have sought grocery delivery services.
Is EBT food delivery also possible?
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Discount Or Free Cell Phone Services
If you are currently on Food Stamps/EBT Cardholder, and your income is below a certain level, you may qualify for FREE or low-cost cell phone service for you or a member of your family through the Federal Lifeline Program, which serves nearly 13 million Americans.
This program provides discounts on cell phone service for qualifying low-income consumers, including those on Food Stamps. Here are the cell phone companies that participate in the program Nationwide.
Assurance Wireless 1 898-4888
Safelink Wireless 1 723-3546
Access Wireless 1 594-3644
enTouch Wireless 1 488-8719
Q-Link Wireless 1 754-6543
Life Wireless 1 543-3620
StandUp Wireless 1 544-4441
