Amazon provides EBT (Electronics Benefits Transfer) recipients the opportunity to buy eligible items on their platform. However, with the nearly endless products sold on Amazon, it can be difficult to know which items are EBT eligible, and which are not. Not to mention an Amazon Prime membership, and other additional services, it can be tricky to know if and when you can use EBT towards those purchases. Below you’ll learn exactly what products are EBT eligible on Amazon’s platform and how to add your EBT card to Amazon to start using your benefits.

So…Does Amazon Take EBT?

Yes.

Amazon has accepted EBT for many years now, but since they’ve traditionally been online only, and now have some brick & mortar and other services, it gets a little more tricky.

How Does Amazon EBT Work?

To use your SNAP EBT card on Amazon, follow these three simple steps:

1. Add/register your SNAP EBT card number on Amazon’s website here.

2. Shop for your groceries.

3. Once done shopping, enter your EBT PIN to pay for all eligible grocery items selected on Amazon.

You can still buy non-eligible EBT items, you just have to use a separate form of payment.

See Also: 4 Clever Ways to Buy Amazon Returns and Save

How Do I Add My EBT Card To My Account?

Before you can start using your SNAP EBT benefits on Amazon, inevitably you must enter your EBT card’s unique number.

To add your SNAP EBT card, register your EBT card number here on Amazon’s website.

What Are the Product Exclusions?

The food that is currently eligible for SNAP EBT on Amazon includes:

• Fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products.
• Bread, cereals, canned vegetables, and pantry items.
• Snacks, seeds, and non-alcoholic beverages.

When in doubt, be on the lookout for Amazon grocery items labeled with “SNAP EBT eligible”.

Otherwise, if products aren’t listed above, or at the very least, have a “SNAP EBT eligible” label, the product is ineligible and excluded from EBT.

Some notable ineligible product exclusions that you can’t buy with EBT on Amazon include:

• Alcohol
• Tobacco products
• Medicine
• Dietary Supplements
• Live animals
• Cleaning supplies, beauty products, and pet food.

Amazon doesn’t actually sell alcohol or tobacco products, but I’ll include them in my list for the sake of clarity.

Also, it’s worth noting that you cannot use Amazon Layaway in conjunction with EBT eligible items.

See Also: You Can Also Use EBT at Costco…Here’s How

Does Amazon EBT Work In All 50 States?

Almost.

Amazon EBT works in all states except Alaska.

You can also use EBT in Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.

Do I Have To Be An Amazon Prime Member to Use EBT?

No.

You don’t need an Amazon Prime membership in order to use EBT benefits for Amazon items.

This means you also have access to Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market without being a Prime member.

Likewise, on SNAP EBT-eligible orders, you can get free delivery without needing a Prime membership.

How Does Amazon Verify My EBT Status?

Amazon verifies your EBT status by requiring you to enter your EBT number.

You must qualify again each year to ensure your EBT status has not changed.

With regards to verifying EBT status to get a 50% discount off an Amazon Prime membership for EBT recipients, you must do the following:

1. Enter your EBT number.

2. Upload an image of your EBT card.

See Also: Can You Also Use EBT at Whole Foods Market?

Can Items Be Sold by a 3rd Party Seller?

No.

For items to EBT eligible, they MUST be shipped by Amazon and sold by Amazon.

Items sold by 3rd party sellers are not eligible.

Can I Buy Amazon Gift Cards With EBT?

No.

Unfortunately, you cannot buy Amazon gift cards with EBT.

Can I Buy My Annual Amazon Prime Membership with EBT?

No.

You can’t buy your annual Amazon Prime membership with EBT.

However, you can receive a 50% discount from Amazon Prime with proof of being an EBT recipient.

To verify you are a valid EBT recipient to receive this Prime discount, you must 1) enter your EBT number here and 2) upload an image of your EBT card.

Is the Return Policy The Same When Using EBT?

Yes.

If you aren’t satisfied with your Amazon Fresh store item or Amazon Go item, you can return it to receive a refund if you paid using EBT.

To return your Amazon Fresh or Amazon Go item for a refund you paid with EBT:

1. Visit “Your Orders” (on your Amazon account).

2. Navigate to the item you wish to return (that was bought using EBT)

3. Select “Request Item Refund”.

4. Follow the additional directions provided.

It’s important to note it can take up to 10 business days for the refund to be issued back onto your EBT card once the refund has been processed.

Ask the Reader: Do you regularly use your EBT benefits on Amazon? If so, am I missing any tidbits of information that others might find helpful?

By Kyle James

Whole Foods is a health-conscious grocery store that offers a wide selection of yummy, but rather pricey food options. With Whole Foods’ rise in popularity in recent years, I was interested if they accepted EBT. Not only does Whole Foods offer a wide range of quality foods in their in-store locations, but they have their own app, website, and even sell their own Whole Foods brands and items on Amazon. If you’re looking for where you can and cannot use your EBT card when it comes to all things Whole Foods grocery items, read on to find where and when Whole Foods accepts EBT.

Does Whole Foods Take EBT or WIC?

Yes and no.

All Whole Foods locations accept EBT (electronic benefits transfer) at all their in-person store locations.

However, most, but not all physical Whole Foods locations accept WIC (special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children).

Be sure to call your local Whole Foods store to verify if they accept WIC.

Does the Whole Foods Website Accept EBT?

Unfortunately, no.

The EBT terms for the Whole Foods online store differ from the policy of their physical store locations.

Whole Foods does not accept EBT for purchases made online via the Whole Foods Market website.

See Also: 8 Items That Are Often Cheaper at Whole Foods

Can I Use EBT On Whole Foods Purchases Through Amazon?

Yes and no.

You can make some online Whole Foods purchases via Amazon. But… it’s complicated.

Amazon itself allows for the use of your SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program) EBT card.

Yet, if you add Whole Foods items to your cart through Amazon’s site, Amazon will not let you use your EBT card for those specific Whole Foods items.

That being said, with a bit of digging and trial-and-error, there are still ways to use your EBT card on Amazon to get your hands on some Whole Foods Items.

If you go to Amazon’s grocery section (Amazon Fresh), and search Whole Foods, you’ll notice Whole Foods’s 365 by Whole Foods Market brand appears.

You CAN buy the 365 by Whole Foods Market brand items on Amazon using your EBT card through this method.

What EBT-Eligible Whole Foods Items Can I Buy In-Store?

Now that you know you cannot use your EBT card to buy Whole Foods items online (unless it’s their 365 brand), what items can you actually buy in-stores?

At all Whole Foods locations, you can buy grocery items with your EBT card.

This includes items like:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Dairy Products
• Bread
• Snacks
• Non-Alcoholic Beverages
• Frozen, canned, or fresh foods
• Meats
•  … and really all grocery food items imaginable.

That being said, this does not mean you can buy everything on your shopping list at Whole Foods.

See Also: Whole Foods Return Policy: Here’s Exactly How It Works

What Items Are Ineligible To Buy Using EBT?

There are some non-grocery-related items that you cannot buy at Whole Foods with your EBT card.

Although some items are obvious like alcohol and nicotine products, others are less obvious.

For example, a couple head-scratchers that you CANNOT purchase include ready-made “hot foods/meals” and vitamins.

Items that are in-eligible at Whole Foods with EBT include:

• Ready-made HOT foods/meals
• Vitamins
• Pet Supplies
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Tobacco Products
• Non-Baby Food Related Items (i.e. diapers)
• Cleaning Supplies

If you wish to buy these products in-store at Whole Foods, be sure to have an alternative payment method with you other than your EBT card.

To be clear on the “hot foods” dealio, you CAN buy premade meals that are cold or frozen, which you then heat and serve at home.

You just CAN’T buy foods that are hot at the time of purchase.

How Exactly Do I Use My EBT Card At Whole Foods?

An EBT card can be used just as you would a debit card or credit card at checkout.

Be sure to follow the checkout payment system’s swipe and PIN instructions on-screen with your own unique 4-digit PIN number.

If you don’t have enough funds on your EBT card to pay for your entire order, you can split your total into multiple payment methods.

Then you can use a debit, credit, or gift card to pay for the outstanding funds.

Or, you can also ask the cashier to kindly return some items of your choice.

You can always check your EBT card balance by calling a customer service helpline at 1-888-328-6399 or checking online at https://www.connectebt.com.

Can I Use EBT in Conjunction With Curbside Pickup?

Yes.

You can use your EBT card with Whole Foods curbside pickup service but it has some kinks that need to be worked out.

Thanks to commenter Mary, some items that are eligible for EBT are not ringing up as such and she’s being charged for them.

In her case, it was butter and Kefir, but I’m sure there are others.

The problem is that Whole Foods corporate doesn’t seem interested in fixing the issue and is passing the buck back to individual stores.

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

Ask the Reader: Have you ever used your EBT card at Whole Food or do you stick to more budget friendly grocery stores?

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Mike Mozart.

Trader Joe’s is a grocery store chain that has a reputation for being affordable and high-quality. But does it accept EBT cards? In this post, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about using your EBT card at Trader Joe’s. I’ll also talk about which food items are not eligible for purchase (and which are) so that you can make smart choices when you’re shopping. Let’s break it all down.

What Exactly is an EBT Card?

An EBT card is a government-issued card that is distributed to low-income individuals and families in order to help them purchase specific food items.

The SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) are loaded onto these cards and replenished each month.

Once you have an EBT card, you can use it to shop for qualifying items at approved retail outlets, just like you would with any other debit card.

Does Trader Joe’s Take EBT Cards?

Yes.

The short answer is yes, all Trader Joe’s locations accept EBT cards.

Just like other grocery stores, Trader Joe’s is obligated to accept your EBT card for qualified purchases.

Better yet, this popular grocery chain makes it incredibly convenient to use your card in the checkout aisle.

See Also: Is Apple Pay Accepted at Trader Joe’s? Here’s the Deal

How Does EBT Work at Trader Joe’s?

Essentially, using your EBT card at Trader Joe’s is just like using it at any other approved retailer.

All you have to do is swipe your card during checkout just like you would any other form of payment, and you’re good to go.

Keep in mind that your card can only be used to purchase certain food items, which we will get into in the next section.

It’s also worth noting that the same generous Return Policy at Trader Joe’s is available to EBT customers with your refund being put back on your card.

What Can Be Bought with My EBT Card?

The key to shopping for groceries with your EBT card is selecting items that are intended for human consumption, aka food items.

Remember, SNAP benefits can only be applied to certain food items, so it is important that you know which items qualify before you fill up your cart at Trader Joe’s.

Here are some of the things that you CAN purchase with SNAP benefits on your EBT card:

1. Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are always covered when it comes to paying with EBT.

Whether these are fresh or canned fruits and veggies, your card will cover them.

2. Meat, Poultry, and Fish

Another item that is covered with your card is meat, poultry, and fish items.

These are packed with nutritious value, which makes them a no-brainer when selecting items to add to your shopping cart.

3. Dairy Products

Dairy items such as milk, cheese, and sour cream are also covered by SNAP benefits loaded onto your EBT card.

According to the USDA, these items are considered essential to a balanced diet.

4. Bread and Cereals

Breads and cereals are also acceptable purchases.

These are essential staples for many diets and can be especially useful for households with children.

5. Snack Foods and Drinks

Some people are surprised to find out that EBT will also cover snacks and soft drinks for your household.

In fact, you can purchase all sorts of non-alcoholic beverages with your SNAP benefits.

6. Seeds and Plants

Another surprising item that is covered is seeds and live plants.

Since these items can be used to grow foods for your household, they are covered by SNAP.

I love the VERY healthy basil plants sold at Trader Joe’s; great for cooking and they live right up until winter starts.

See Also: 8 Trader Joe’s Insider Shopping Tips That’ll Save You BIG

What About Pre-Made Frozen Meals?

Trader Joe’s is known for their very tasty premade frozen meals and have an entire aisle dedicated to them.

My family is a HUGE fan of their frozen Chinese food in particular, especially the orange chicken and broccoli and beef.

So it begs the question do these items qualify as acceptable EBT purchases since they’re considered “pre-made”?

Yes, ALL frozen meals and side dishes at Trader Joe’s are acceptable purchases, it’s only the hot meals where you run into trouble.

What is Not Covered by EBT at Trader Joe’s?

Knowing what is not covered by your EBT card is just as important as knowing what is.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of items that can not be purchased using your SNAP benefits.

• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products

• Vitamins and medicines

• Live animals

• Hot foods

• Pet food

• Cleaning supplies

• Paper products

• Hygiene items

• Cosmetics

Does Trader Joe’s Sort Items Depending On Eligibility?

Yes.

The system at Trader Joe’s does a nice job automatically sorting out eligible and ineligible items when you checkout.

So while you may end up with a remaining balance, you don’t have to worry about being embarrassed by items getting “rejected” and a loud siren going off.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever used your EBT card at Trader Joe’s? Let us know how your experience went down.

By Kyle James