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Does Amazon Take EBT? (Yes, Here’s How It Works)

For many across the United States, using an electronic benefits transfer card (EBT) through the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) makes all the difference in ensuring there is a way to pay for groceries week to week. And while some may not think of Amazon as the first choice for grocery shopping, they do offer grocery delivery.

Since Amazon provides grocery and food delivery, they take EBT (also known as food stamps). However, not all items qualify, and not all states participate. If you live in a participating State in the SNAP/EBT program, you will receive access to Amazon Fresh and get free shipping on orders over $35 once your EBT card is added to the account.

If you’re just getting started using SNAP or EBT on Amazon, understanding the verification process and shoppable items can feel overwhelming.

This article will walk you through all you need to know about locational differences, the types of orders that will qualify, and the items you will be able to purchase with your card.

We’ll also cover how to verify your account and get started with your shopping!

How to Use SNAP/EBT on Amazon

If you’re eligible to use SNAP or EBT on Amazon, there are a few steps to follow before you can get to your shopping. Before anything else, you need to add your SNAP EBT card to your Amazon account.

To add your SNAP/EBT card to your Amazon account, here’s what you’ll need to do:

  1. Log into your Amazon account either on the mobile app or on a web browser.
  2. Navigate to the top right corner, where you will see “Account”
  3. When you click on this, you’ll once again see the word “Account” under “My Account”
  4. After selecting the account, you will be taken to a screen with several options. Select “Your Payments”
  5. You will then be able to add a new card to your account

Follow the above steps, enter your EBT card information into the payment input, and then save the payment information. This will automatically save that card to your account so that you can use it at any point.

Next, you can start shopping on Amazon for your grocery needs. Add all the items you’re looking for to your cart and continue to checkout.

Once you get to your checkout process, you will be able to enter the EBT card PIN to pay for the items that are eligible to be covered.

Once you put the PIN in, you will see how much of your total is left over to be covered by a different payment method, if applicable.

What States Can Use EBT on Amazon?

You can use your EBT on Amazon in all states except for Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Montana. If you’re living in any of these four states, you will not have the option to use EBT as a payment method on Amazon.

This may mean choosing a different online grocery platform or simply buying your specialty items through Amazon that you do not need to be covered by EBT.

Regardless, you will need to use a different card type to checkout via Amazon for your food orders.

Since using SNAP EBT has recently been picked up by Amazon as a pilot run by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), it is not available in all states around the country.

And unfortunately, there is no news when these four states will start accepting EBT on Amazon as a payment method.

Is Amazon Prime Free with EBT?

If you’re qualified to use EBT on Amazon, you gain access to several perks. First, you will be able to receive Amazon Prime not for free but at a discounted rate. In addition, you’ll be able to receive exclusive deals and free shipping on Amazon Fresh orders with a minimum of $35.

Although you will not get free access to Amazon Prime, you will receive many other sales and deals that you otherwise would not be able to access, which makes using the EBT worthwhile.

Additionally, by using EBT, you can access Amazon Fresh without having a Prime account which is not the case for non-EBT Amazon users.

Usually, Amazon Fresh is a feature of having a Prime account. This is one of the major benefits of using EBT to pay for your grocery deliveries, as you can access these exclusive features!

How Does Amazon Verify EBT?

To verify your EBT and start receiving the benefits that come with it, you will need to verify your identity with Amazon by taking a picture and submitting it.

After you submit your card and photo, you will be able to continue to sign up for Prime and start placing orders.

The verification process is very straightforward. You will not need to wait long after submitting your information to receive verification for your account.

Therefore, you will be able to start receiving grocery deliveries soon after beginning the process of EBT verification.

Can You Use EBT on Whole Foods Online?

Although Whole Foods Market is offered through Amazon, it is not possible to use EBT online through the Whole Foods Marketplace. If you are choosing to shop Whole Foods delivery, a different form of payment will need to be used for the order to go through.

However, there are several Whole Foods products offered via Amazon groceries and Amazon Fresh that can be ordered with EBT if they are listed as covered items.

This is the only way to be able to receive Whole Foods items while also using EBT. For example, the Whole Foods 365 brand is listed as one of the brands covered by EBT.

Not all of their 365 items will be available through Amazon or covered by EBT. So before heading to Whole Foods, be sure to check online to see if the item you’re after is listed on Amazon and covered by EBT.

Can You Buy EBT and Non-EBT Items in the Same Order?

You can order EBT and Non-EBT items in the same Amazon order and split payments between your EBT card and other payment methods on your account.

Shopping on Amazon with EBT is similar to shopping at all other grocery stores. You can pay for SNAP/EBT-eligible items using your EBT card and use your credit or debit card to pay for the rest.

You can also use your Amazon gift card balance to pay for Non-EBT items in your order. 

Just keep in mind that if you have EBT-eligible and non-eligible items in the same order, you cannot checkout without adding a second payment method. 

Can You Pay with SNAP/EBT Using an Amazon Business Account?

Unfortunately, Amazon business accounts do not qualify for SNAP or EBT payments. For those who need to use EBT as a payment method, it is important to sign into a personal Amazon account and do the shopping there in order to access the EBT deals.

For those who only have business accounts, you can open a personal Amazon account for free and enter your EBT information into the payment method section to access all of the deals through Amazon Fresh.

SNAP/EBT Eligible Items on Amazon

When shopping on Amazon using SNAP or EBT, if you’re aware of which items are covered, you won’t need to pay separately for any of your items during checkout.

Luckily, many popular brands are covered by EBT, including:

  • Quaker
  • Frito Lay
  • Gatorade
  • Planters
  • Pop-Tarts
  • Oreo
  • Pure Protein
  • Welch’s
  • Among so many more!

With so many options, you don’t need to worry about not finding the items you desire while using EBT at checkout.

Amazon made sure to offer a wide variety of products with the option of using EBT to increase the accessibility of their platform to those of all income levels.

To review a comprehensive list of SNAP/EBT-eligible items to purchase, you can visit the USDA website.

Items You Cannot Buy With SNAP/EBT on Amazon

SNAP/EBT can only be used to buy eligible food items on Amazon; therefore, if you’re shopping for items that are not covered by SNAP/EBT benefits, you will not be able to pay using your EBT card. 

Items you cannot buy on Amazon with SNAP/EBT include:

  • Non-grocery items (i.e. home decor, clothing, technology, etc.)
  • Household essentials such as paper towels, napkins, and toilet paper
  • Personal hygiene products
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Vitamins
  • Pet food

As a general rule, if you can’t buy a product at a grocery store using EBT, you cannot buy it on Amazon either. USDA guidelines regarding SNAP/EBT eligibility of items apply to all retailers. 

Conclusion

If you’re eligible to use SNAP or EBT, you can gain several benefits through Amazon when ordering with your EBT. Before accessing your benefits, be sure to register your EBT and verify your identity with Amazon to see all the offers available to you. While ordering, keep in mind that third parties like Whole Foods Marketplace do not accept EBT.

If you’re interested in finding out more about grocery shopping on Amazon, check out the related articles below.

Related Articles:

Do You Tip Amazon Fresh Delivery? (Yes, Here’s How Much)

Amazon Fresh Out of Stock: Here’s What You Need to Know

Amazon Fresh vs. Whole Foods: What’s the Difference?

Do Amazon Gift Cards Expire? (Here’s What to Know)

Does Amazon Deliver on Sundays? (Yes, Here’s What to Know)

About the Author

Eril Eti is the founder of Shopfood.com. He has over a decade of experience in consumer goods and launched many products sold at retailers like Walmart, Costco, Amazon, Target, Kroger, Publix, and more.

Eril loves food, traveling, and trying out new restaurants. Outside of work, you can find him on a hiking trail in New England or playing soccer with his kids.

November 10, 2022