The Gopuff Company boasts a quality delivery service as they deliver instant needs and essentials right to your door in minutes. These products include thousands of items, from cleaning supplies and over-the-counter medicines to food, drinks, electronics, cosmetics, and household supplies.
Gopuff offers several electronic payment options you may choose from. This high variety makes the payment for your delivery order quick and easy. If you are wondering whether Gopuff accepts EBT or not, this article has a comprehensive answer for you.
Does Gopuff Take EBT?
No, Gopuff does not currently accept EBT cards as a valid form of payment. While many companies have the costs of their products covered by the EBT card, Gopuff doesn’t accept the EBT card because their services are not deemed essential.
As of 2020, the US government approved the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. This card helps individuals and families to buy essential products. The best part about using the EBT card is that recipients don’t have to spend a dime of their own money.
Read the full explanation in one of the sections below.
EBT/SNAP: What You Need to Know
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is an electronic system by which social services, particularly the state welfare department, provide benefits such as food and cash. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) handles the distribution of the food benefits and provides the benefits recipients with an account to purchase essential products.
The SNAP initiative aims to provide food-purchasing assistance for low and no-income individuals or families in the United States. The number of people applying to and joining SNAP increases yearly, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thus, to be a recipient of this benefit program, the system must confirm your eligibility by determining the state you live in and whether you meet certain bank balance limits. You can apply for this benefit through your state welfare department.
When you get the approval to become a recipient, you will get a magnetically encoded payment card (EBT card) which usually has a monthly payment of $125 per participant. However, you can’t withdraw this cash and can only use it for purchasing approved products.
Where Is EBT Accepted?
More and more grocery store chains and major retailers in selected states are starting to accept valid EBT card payments. These retailers include Walmart and Target. In addition, some pharmacies, convenience stores, gas stations, and farmer’s markets will also accept EBT payment for your uncooked food items.
How Do I Use My EBT Card?
Using the EBT/SNAP card is as straightforward as other forms of payment. The EBT card is more like a debit card you can use to withdraw cash at the ATM or purchase items online.
Here are the simple steps on how to use your EBT card:
- Take your groceries to the checkout counter
- Swipe your card through the POS terminal or present your EBT card to the clerk
- Input your PIN into the payment terminal
- Press the Enter key and wait for your payment to be processed
Why Doesn’t Gopuff Accept SNAP/EBT?
Gopuff doesn’t accept SNAP or EBT benefits because the delivery company does not have legal permission to receive the benefits as payment. You might wonder why? This is because the items Gopuff delivers are deemed “not essential.”
Some of their services involve delivering supplies like electronics, medicines, cleaning materials, etc. Since delivery services are not listed under essential services, the EBT card doesn’t cover them. To accept EBT/SNAP benefits as payment, every item Gopuff delivers must undergo verification to ensure they are qualified.
Even though they deliver food, drinks, and the likes to their customers, EBT/SNAP benefits are not accepted as payment for already prepared food or food that can be eaten in the store. As a result, since Gopuff majorly delivers restaurant-prepared food to their customers, they currently cannot accept EBT/SNAP benefits as payment.
Do Any Delivery Services Accept EBT?
Yes, various delivery services accept EBT as payment.
In some states like California, you can use your Calfresh (EBT) benefits to purchase groceries and prepared meals. That’s not all. You can also go online to choose an EBT home delivery service or opt for a pick-up at participating locations. The program is also available in Arizona, Maryland, Illinois, Michigan, and Rhode Island.
You’ll also be pleased to know that California authorities are actively working to increase the number of stores that accept EBT cards online.
Online Food Delivery Apps That Accept EBT Card
Nowadays, using your EBT card to purchase uncooked food items is easy. You can order from your comfort zone through the available online platforms. Below are some of the online grocery delivery apps that accept EBT cards:
- Amazon (AmazonFresh and AmazonPantry apps accept EBT card payments in all states except for Montana, Louisiana, Alaska, and Hawaii).
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
- Instacart
Notable Retailers That Accept EBT Cards and Provide Food Delivery Service
Many retailers and major grocery stores in selected states now accept EBT/SNAP benefits to provide food delivery services. With a valid EBT card, you can pay either in whole or part of the order cost. These retailers and grocery stores include:
- Walmart
- Amazon
- ALDI
- BJ’s Wholesale
- Food Lion
- Hy-Vee
- Kroger
- Publix
- Safeway and Albertsons
- Shoprite
You should note that only retailers that provide uncooked food items can accept payment via EBT/SNAP benefits. Hence, you can only purchase certain food items using the EBT food delivery service. These items include:
- Dairy products like butter, cheese, condensed and dried milk
- Bread and Cereals
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Non-alcoholic beverages like juice and lemonades
- Seeds and Plants
- Snacks
- Poultry products and pantry staples
Products like alcohol or tobacco products, medicines, household supplies, cosmetics, cleaning materials, and other non-food items are not considered in the
Can You Pay Cash On Gopuff?
Presently, you cannot pay with cash on Gopuff. In previous years, the cash payment option was available. But then, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company suspended accepting money in many markets for health and safety concerns. However, Gopuff now has various electronic payment options to make the payment for your order smooth and easy.
What Payment Methods Does Gopuff Accept?
Though Gopuff does not EBT, they have several other payment options you can select for their delivery services.
You can use any of the following payment methods on Gopuff:
- Debit Card
- Credit Card
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Venmo
Notably, Gopuff offers a distinct feature that allows you to opt for more than one payment method in your account. That way, you can easily change your payment method to a convenient and suitable one.
Conclusion…
The implementation of SNAP helps provide nutritional benefits to eligible low-income individuals and families via the EBT Card. However, some regulations guide what you can purchase with your EBT/SNAP benefits. Moreover, not all grocery chains, retailers, and delivery services are authorized to accept EBT card payments.
Gopuff takes pride in their exceptional delivery services as they deliver your items to your doorstep within minutes. Although the Gopuff platform has incorporated several payment options for its services, payment with EBT is unavailable. This is because, in most states, you cannot purchase fast food with EBT. Unfortunately, Gopuff has also suspended cash payments due to health and safety concerns.
For those with valid EBT cards, this article examines where your EBT payments will be accepted.