Does Amazon Accept EBT (Eligible Programs, How It Works, and More)
About 38 million Americans participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), once known as food stamps.
With more and more people shopping online through Amazon these days, you might be wondering if Amazon charges EBT. I did some digging to find the answer and here’s what I know now!
Does Amazon accept SNAP EBT?
Amazon does accept SNAP EBT benefits (formerly Food Stamps) for Amazon Fresh, Amazon Grocery, Amazon Pantry, and eligible Amazon.com products. Amazon is also offering Amazon Prime exclusive discounts to those who enroll in the SNAP program.
If you want to learn more about Amazon EBT payments, read on for all the details about eligible items and how they work.
What are the eligible EBT listings on Amazon?
EBT foods need to meet specific health standards to ensure families receive proper nutrition and stay as healthy as possible.
Therefore, Amazon must comply with these standards as a condition of the company’s participation in the EBT program.
Some of the most popular EBT items you’re likely to find on Amazon include:
- Fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables
- Fresh, frozen and canned beef, pork, poultry and other meat products
- fresh, frozen, and canned seafood
- dairy products, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter
- Nuts, chips, crackers, pretzels, and other snacks
- frozen aisle items like pizza and potatoes
- Candy bars, cookies, cakes, pies and other baked goods
- soda and juice
- Flour, sugar, oil, and other baked goods
While less common, SNAP EBTs can also be used to purchase vegetable and fruit seeds that will eventually turn into healthy family meals.
What can’t you buy with SNAP EBT on Amazon?
SNAP EBT payments cannot be processed for items that do not meet the eligibility criteria. Non-grocery items such as apparel, technology and home decor are not eligible for the program.
Certain products that you can’t buy with SNAP EBT at the grocery store can’t be bought with this payment method on Amazon either.
Additionally, EBT cannot be used to purchase alcoholic products such as liquor and spirits, nor pet food or infant formula on Amazon.
SNAP benefits do not cover household items such as napkins, paper towels, toilet paper, medicines, vitamins, cosmetics and personal hygiene products.
How do Amazon EBT payments work?
To pay with Amazon EBT, you must have a valid SNAP card issued in a participating state added to your account as a payment method.
When you go to place your order, you can choose SNAP EBT as your payment method. Amazon will take care of the rest to make sure the transaction is valid and EBT is accepted.
Shoppers in all states except Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Montana can use SNAP EBT on Amazon.
In addition, Amazon maintains a list of participating states and guidelines for the SNAP program.
Can you use EBT to pay for Amazon Prime?
EBT cards cannot be used to purchase Amazon Prime memberships. However, Amazon offers discounted Prime memberships for SNAP families.
Other state programs like Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are eligible for reduced Prime membership.
Can you buy EBT and non-EBT items in the same transaction?
If you shop in-store at your local supermarket, you can use your EBT card to pay for all eligible items. Remaining balances on non-eligible items may be paid by card, cash or check.
The same concept applies to Amazon, as you can use a credit card, debit card, or gift card to pay for non-EBT items in your order.
It’s easy to add other payment methods to your account or during checkout.
If you prefer to use paper currency, you can add money to your online balance at participating Amazon Cash locations.
Do Amazon Coupons Work on SNAP Orders?
Amazon does not accept paper coupons, such as those you clip from a manufacturer’s or competitor’s newspaper.
However, Amazon has a lot of coupons of its own that you can use to buy hundreds of items, including many SNAP-eligible products.
Customers who use SNAP are welcome to apply Amazon Coupons to their orders.
You can browse all coupons and clip them right from the home page, or check for additional coupons and discount options when adding groceries to your cart.
Can you use SNAP EBT cash or other payment methods on Amazon?
The SNAP program includes EBT Funds and EBT Cash, as well as credit, debit and gift cards and Amazon Cash, which can be added to your account balance.
However, EBT funds are only used to purchase eligible groceries, while EBT cash includes more general-purpose funds to support families.
If your shopping cart contains EBT products and ineligible items, you will not be able to complete the transaction without an alternative payment method.
Does Amazon offer free grocery delivery on SNAP EBT orders?
SNAP EBT orders are eligible for free shipping if you meet the minimum order requirements.
That’s why many shoppers choose to stock up on enough groceries to qualify for free shipping, rather than just stocking up on one or two items.
SNAP and non-SNAP items count toward the free shipping minimum, regardless of EBT eligibility or payment method.
Keep in mind that Amazon Grocery and Amazon Fresh calculate their free shipping claim differently. You can get free shipping on eligible Amazon grocery orders totaling more than $25.
Amazon Prime members are automatically eligible for free Amazon Fresh delivery, with a $35 minimum for free local delivery in some eligible areas, which is automatically applied at checkout.
Whether you use EBT, credit/debit card, or a combination of payment methods, as long as you meet the minimum spend requirements, your Amazon Fresh orders are eligible for free shipping.
Now that you know whether Amazon accepts EBT or not, you can also check our related posts on Amazon’s daily specials, whether Amazon accepts coupons, and when will Amazon collect your money.
in conclusion
Amazon is a proud partner of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Formerly known as food stamps, the U.S. government program provides grants to poor families to ensure they have enough money to buy healthy food.
Amazon stocks a variety of EBT-eligible food products in Amazon Grocery, Amazon Pantry, and Amazon Fresh. Amazon accepts EBT cards for online payments as long as the item is eligible in the selected state.
