Approximately 38 million Americans are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), what was once known as food stamps.
With more and more people shopping for groceries online through Amazon in today’s world, you may be wondering if Amazon takes EBT? I did some digging to find the answer, and here’s what I know now!
Key Takeaways
Does Amazon Take SNAP EBT In 2022?
Amazon does accept SNAP EBT benefits (formerly known as food stamps) across Amazon Fresh, Amazon Grocery, Amazon Pantry, and eligible Amazon.com products as of 2022. Additionally, Amazon also provides an exclusive discount for Amazon Prime for those on the SNAP program.
If you’re interested in learning more about EBT payments on Amazon, then keep reading for all the details on eligible items and how it works.
What Are Eligible EBT Items Available On Amazon?
EBT food items need to meet certain health standards to ensure families are getting proper nutrition and staying as healthy as possible.
Because of this, Amazon must abide by these standards as a condition of the company’s participation in the EBT program.
The most popular EBT items you may 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
- Freezer aisle items like pizza and potatoes
- Candy bars, cookies, cake, pie, and other baked goods
- Soda and juice
- Flour, sugar, oil, and other baking items
While it’s not as common, SNAP EBT can also be used to purchase vegetable and fruit seeds that will eventually turn into healthy family food.
What Can’t You Buy With SNAP EBT On Amazon?
SNAP EBT payments cannot be processed for items that don’t meet the eligibility criteria. Non-grocery items like clothing, technology, and household decor are not eligible for the program.
Certain products that you can’t buy at grocery stores with SNAP EBT cannot be purchased with this payment method on Amazon either.
Additionally, alcohol products like liquor and spirits may not be purchased with EBT on Amazon, and neither can pet food or baby formula.
SNAP benefits do not cover household goods such as napkins, paper towels, toilet paper, medicine, vitamins, makeup, and personal hygiene products.
How Do Amazon EBT Payments Work?
To use Amazon EBT payments, you just need to add a valid SNAP card issued in a participating state as a payment method on your account.
When you go to place a food order, you can select SNAP EBT as the payment method. Amazon will take care of the rest to ensure the transaction is valid and the EBT can be accepted.
Currently, shoppers in all states other than Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Montana are eligible to use SNAP EBT on Amazon.
Additionally, 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 a discounted Prime membership for SNAP families.
Other state programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are eligible for discounted Prime memberships.
Can You Buy EBT Items And Non-EBT Items In The Same Transaction?
If you shop in-store at a local supermarket, you can use an EBT card to pay for all the eligible items. The leftover balance on non-eligible items can be paid for by card, cash, or check.
The same concept applies to Amazon, as you could use a credit, debit, or gift card to pay for non-EBT items in your order.
It’s easy to add another payment method to your account or during checkout.
If you prefer to use paper money, you can add cash to your online balance at a participating Amazon Cash location.
Do Amazon Coupons Apply to SNAP Orders?
Amazon does not accept paper coupons, like the ones you clip from the newspaper from manufacturers or competitors.
However, Amazon has plenty of its own coupons you can use toward hundreds of items, including many SNAP-eligible products.
Customers using SNAP are welcome to apply Amazon coupons to their orders.
You can either browse all coupons and clip them directly from the main page, or check for extra coupons and discount options when you add grocery items to your cart.
Can You Use SNAP EBT Cash Or Other Payment Methods On Amazon?
The SNAP program includes EBT funds and EBT cash, along with a credit, debit, and gift cards as well as an Amazon Cash which can be added to the balance of your account.
However, EBT funds are used solely for the purchase of eligible grocery items while EBT cash includes more generic funds to support families.
If your cart contains EBT products and non-eligible items, you won’t be able to complete the transaction without an additional form of payment.
Does Amazon Offer Free Grocery Delivery For 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 one or two items.
Both SNAP and non-SNAP items count toward the minimum spend for free shipping, regardless of EBT eligibility or the payment method.
Just remember that Amazon Grocery and Amazon Fresh have different ways of calculating requirements for free shipping. If eligible items for Amazon Grocery orders total more than $25, you can get free shipping.
Amazon Prime members are automatically eligible for free Amazon Fresh delivery and some eligible regions have a local free shipping minimum of $35, which is automatically applied during checkout.
Whether you’re using EBT, credit/debit, or a combination of payment methods, your Amazon Fresh order can qualify for free delivery as long as it meets the minimum spend requirements.
Now that you know if Amazon takes EBT, you can also check our related posts on Amazon daily deals, if Amazon takes coupons, and when does Amazon charges you.
Conclusion
Amazon is a proud partner of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Formerly known as food stamps, this U.S. Government program supplements needy families to ensure they have enough funds for healthy food.
Amazon stocks a variety of EBT eligible foods across Amazon Grocery, Amazon Pantry, and Amazon Fresh. As long as the items are eligible in the selected state, Amazon will accept EBT card payments online.