Does Wawa accept EBT? (full guide!)
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is part of the US Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It allows families to receive financial assistance for necessities and pay with a monthly top-up card. Many different stores accept EBT cards for eligible purchases, but it’s important to understand the program’s rules and regulations.
Wawa is a popular convenience store chain that also operates as a gas station in many locations. In addition to gas, the EBT card can also be used at Wawa to pay for certain food and other necessities. However, many items sold at Wawa are not eligible for the SNAP benefit program.
Does Wawa accept EBT?
Wawa accepts EBT cards for food and gasoline. Some items sold at Wawa are not covered by the SNAP benefit program and therefore cannot be purchased through EBT.
Read on to find out more about using EBT at Wawa, as well as information about what you can and cannot buy with EBT at Wawa.
What can you buy with EBT at Wawa?
While the EBT program is convenient for families and individuals who may not be able to support themselves without financial assistance, there are some restrictions on what you can and cannot buy through EBT. This obviously applies to many products that Wawa sells.
EBT can be used to purchase the following items at Wawa:
- fresh produce
- Meat (including poultry and fish)
- dairy products
- Cereal and Bakery Products
- Snack foods
- non-alcoholic beverages
- Seed and/or food producing plants
This covers most basic food types and should allow households enrolled in the SNAP benefit plan to feed themselves with a comprehensive meal without problems. However, you cannot use EBT to buy certain items.
Items you cannot buy through EBT include alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicines, pet food, cleaning supplies and cosmetics. Families who need SNAP benefits for some of these items will need to pay in another way.
For more information on what you can and cannot buy with EBT, you can visit the Qualified Foods page on the USDA website.
How to Shop at Wawa with EBT
The federal aid program that eventually evolved into the SNAP benefit program has changed a lot over the years. Families and individuals receiving assistance used to use “food stamps” in exchange for necessities. This has changed several times over the years, sometimes in response to recipients illegally trading their food stamps in exchange for non-essential goods and services.
With the current SNAP benefit program, recipients receive an electronic benefit transfer card. This card tracks the recipient’s balance and spending habits, and is used much like a debit or credit card.
To make purchases with EBT at Wawa, you simply swipe your EBT card at checkout, just like you would with a debit or credit card. The recipient must also enter a personal identification number (PIN) to verify the purchase.
The registration and payment systems used by Wawa should automatically differentiate between eligible and ineligible items for SNAP benefits. If the transaction includes items that are not eligible for SNAP, you will have to pay separately.
In some Wawa locations, it may be necessary to process the two sets of items separately if the cash register cannot automatically distinguish between the two sets of items.
In which states does Wawa accept EBT?
Wawa owns and operates locations in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, DC. Although Wawa stores should accept EBT, the specific rules for eligibility for SNAP benefits in these different states may vary.
Wawa stores should accept EBT in all seven states in which they operate. However, the exact rules governing SNAP benefits in these states may vary. It’s best to contact your local Wawa location to confirm exact expectations.
You can also use the USDA’s SNAP Retailer Locator page to determine if your local Wawa location accepts EBT. Remember, EBT can only be used to purchase items that are eligible for your state’s SNAP benefit program. It may also be a good idea to check your specific state’s SNAP benefits page. For more information, you can visit the state agency pages on the USDA website.
Want to learn more about Wawa? Check out our related post to find out if Wawa accepts Apple Pay.
in conclusion…
Wawa convenience stores and gas stations will accept EBT on eligible items, including gasoline and fresh food. Like other stores, Wawa’s hot meals and other off-the-shelf items cannot be purchased at EBT.
Wawa owns and operates retail stores in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Some of these states may have specific rules about what can be purchased with EBT, so it’s best to check first Local laws and regulations attempt to use EBT in these locations.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask them in the comments section.
