With so many people nowadays doing their groceries online and through Amazon, it makes you wonder if Amazon is accepting EBT?
I did some research to see if Amazon does in fact accept EBT (formerly and more commonly known as food stamps.)
Does Amazon Take SNAP EBT?
Amazon does accept SNAP EBT (formerly known as food stamps) benefits as of 2021. You can use your EBT on Amazon Fresh, Amazon Grocery, Amazon Pantry, and many eligible Amazon.com products. On top of this, those in the SNAP EBT program can get an exclusive discount on the Amazon Prime membership.
If you want to understand more about Amazon and EBT payments, you have come to the right place. Keep reading for dull details on what is and isn’t eligible for EBT.
What Are Amazon Items Are Eligible For EBT?
SNAP EBT food items must meet health requirements and standards to ensure families are staying healthy and getting enough nutrition to meet their needs.
Because SNAP has these requirements, Amazon must follow the rules of the program or risk not being able to participate in the EBT program.
Common and popular EBT items you can purchase on Amazon are:
- 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
- Flour, sugar, oil, and other baking items
What Can’t You Buy On Amazon With SNAP EBT?
Non-grocery items like clothing, household decor, or technology are not eligible for the program. Amazon won’t process your SNAP EBT payment for these items.
Pet food and baby formula are not eligible for the program either. Alcohol products, like liquor, beer, and spirits may not be purchased with EBT on Amazon as well.
This also goes for many common household items like makeup, vitamins, toilet paper, paper towels, and personal hygiene products.
Any items you cannot buy in a grocery store with SNAP EBT cannot be purchased on Amazon either with this program.
Can You Pay For Amazon Prime With EBT?
You cannot pay for your Amazon prime membership with EBT. However, if you are in the SNAP EBT program, you are eligible for an exclusive discounted Prime membership.
Other government programs like Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and (temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are also eligible for discounted Prime memberships.
Can You Buy EBT Items And Non-EBT Items In The Same Transaction?
When shopping at a local supermarkets, you can use an EBT card to pay for the eligible items. Non-eligible items (the leftover balance) can be paid with cash or card.
Amazon follows the same procedure. You can have one cart and pay for all non-eligible items on a separate card or use Amazon Cash.
Amazon Cash allows you to use paper money. Just go to a participating location to add a cash balance to you Amazon account.
Whichever method you choose, you can select you EBT payment and a separate card (or cash) for the remaining balance during checkout.
Can You Use Amazon Coupons With EBT Purchases
Amazon does not accept paper coupons. However, they do have their own coupons you can use toward their own products and this includes many EBBT-eligible items.
If you are using SNAP, you are free to use any and all eligible coupons on your orders as well.
You can check the daily coupons on Amazons main page or check the discounts directly on the grocery items when adding them to your cart.
Can You Use SNAP EBT Cash Or Other Payment Methods On Amazon?
The SNAP program allows participants to use EBT funds and EBT cash as well as credit, debit, and gift cards when making purchases on Amazon.
One distinction though, EBT funds are used only for eligible grocery items while EBT cash includes generic funds to help support families.
If you have EBT products and non-eligible products, you won’t be able to complete your transaction without adding another form of payment for the leftover balance.
Does Amazon Offer Free Grocery Delivery For SNAP EBT Orders?
If you meet the minimum order requirement, you are eligible for free shipping with your SNAP EBT order.
Many shoppers stock up on their weeks worth of groceries in order to be eligible for free shipping.
Both EBT and non-EBT products count towards the minimum spend for free shipping.
Just note, Amazon Grocery and Amazon Fresh have different minimums and ways of calculating the requirements for free shipping.
Amazon Grocery has a $25 minimum for free shipping. Amazon Prime members are automatically eligible for Amazon Fresh and some cities have local free shipping with a minimum purchase of $35.
Regardless of you payment method (EBT, credit/debit card, Amazon Cash), you can qualify for free delivery as long as you meet the minimum spend requirement.
If you want to learn even more about Amazon, check out these related posts on does Whole Foods accept EBT, how late does Amazon deliver and when does Amazon charge you.
Conclusion…
Amazon is a partner of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and accepts EBT payments from customers.
Amazon offers a lot of EBT eligible items for their customers under its many programs such as Amazon grocery, Amazon Pantry, and Amazon Fresh. If the items are eligible for the SNAP program, Amazon will accept EBT payments.