Does Amazon Take EBT (Here’s What No One Told You Before)

Do you wish to stock up on groceries, household items, and other things using your EBT card? It’s great knowing Amazon takes EBT payments. This article will walk you through how to use your EBT card on Amazon, the products you can buy, and much more. So pick up your EBT card, and get yourself ready!

Quick Summary

Amazon accepts payments through EBT in all the states except Alaska, but you only get to buy EBT-eligible products there. These include groceries, essential household items, and other domestic products. There is no need for an Amazon Prime membership to use EBT as a payment method. You can easily access Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh without being a member. If you want to avail of EBT on Amazon, add your EBT card credentials to your Amazon account.

Does Amazon Take EBT In All States?

Alaska is the only state where Amazon EBT has not been made available. You can continue using your EBT card to make Amazon purchases if you live in Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or the District of Columbia. 

Since Amazon has been a retailer that only takes online orders for several years, taking EBT payments hasn’t always been simple. It may seem challenging to use Amazon with EBT by adding brick-and-mortar stores and other services. But we’re right here to make it simple for you!

Do I Need To be Amazon Prime Member To Use EBT?

No, you don’t need to subscribe to Amazon Prime to use the EBT benefits on the website. 

This means that even if you are not a member of Prime, you still have access to products from Amazon, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market. You may even get free shipping on SNAP EBT-eligible products without a Prime membership, another benefit! 

How Will Amazon.com Verify My EBT Eligibility Status?

Amazon uses a relatively simple way to verify your EBT status. Just type in your EBT number, and there you’ve got it! But consider that you must reapply each year to confirm that your eligibility for EBT remains the same.

Now, there are a few more hoops to clear if you’d like to take benefit of the great 50% discount on an Amazon Prime membership for EBT customers.

You needn’t worry, though; it’s still simple! It only takes a few seconds to determine your eligibility by inputting your EBT number and uploading a picture of your EBT card. So go ahead and use every great benefit that an Amazon Prime membership offers at a far more affordable rate.

How To Use EBT On Amazon For Payments?

Business accounts are not functional with Amazon’s SNAP and EBT payments. If you intend to profit from EBT discounts, log into a personal Amazon account. But fret not; registering a personal account is pretty simple and cost-free! 

Once you have a personal account, you can easily access all EBT discounts available through Amazon Fresh by entering your EBT data in the payment method section. So, whether you’re a regular buyer or a business owner, you can easily benefit from the savings from Amazon. This is somewhat the same as how EBT payments work at Target or other major retailers.

Steps To Add EBT Card To Amazon Account

  1. Once you’ve signed in, go to the “Account” section in the top-right corner of your display.
  2.  Choose “Your Payments” below “My Account” from the drop-down menu.
  3.  Enter the details from your present SNAP EBT card in your Amazon account and tap “Save.”
  4.  Start your Amazon shopping and add things to the shopping cart.
  5.  To use your SNAP EBT benefits, submit your EBT card PIN when ready to check out.
  6.  You will see the total of the purchases that SNAP EBT is not covering, and then you can use another payment method, such as a credit or debit card, to pay the remaining amount.

Online shopping will be cost-effective and convenient when you connect your SNAP EBT card to your Amazon account. This will simplify taking advantage of the exclusive EBT-only discounts and deals.

Can I Return An Amazon Purchase Bought Using EBT?

  1. Put in your Amazon credentials, and then choose “Your Orders.”
  2.  Find the product you wish to return that you purchased with EBT.
  3.  Then, proceed by hitting “Request Item Refund” and following the instructions that appear.
  4.  You might have to wait up to 10 business days for a refund to be processed before it shows up on your EBT card.

List Of Cool Things You Can Buy On Amazon With EBT

Pantry Staples: You also get to buy items like acceptable salt, kosher, black peppercorns, refined salt, and other basic kitchen necessities, along with the readily available food items you buy. These are EBT-eligible products that you can purchase with stamps if you want to try making affordable, nutritious meals at home.

Canned Vegetables: For households that do not have refrigerators or other storage choices, canned veggies are helpful. If fresh vegetables are out of your financial range, these canned items are a great source of nutrient intake. Also, they need less time for cooking and sometimes arrive already chopped, making them easier to cook.

Health-Focused Snacks: Protein meal bars and other low-carb edibles are eligible for SNAP EBT benefits. You should buy these bars to eat healthy while shedding pounds. For individuals trying to drop some weight on a limited budget, these tasty snack treats may also replace meals.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages: There are a variety of non-alcoholic beverages that are SNAP-enabled, like energy drinks such as Monster. Other non-alcoholic beverages include chocolate shakes, fruit juice, Gatorade, tea, coffee, packaged water, and Arizona Green Tea. Certain meal replacement shake items are also eligible for SNAP benefits. Drinks satisfy thirst, whereas meal replacement shakes fulfill hunger. You may eat and drink these products on the go; they are all so simple to prepare.

Toys with Food: Your kids would be excited to learn that some food-with-toy options are also available that are eligible for EBT. So, it would be a fun treat for them. These children-friendly foods include products from the Groovy Growing Candy lab or the Rainbow Gummy Candy lab. Ensure you always check that the product you are considering buying with EBT is SNAP-eligible. Since most of the SNAP-eligible items target the adult market segment, very few options are available for children. Along with that, the focus of SNAP EBT is providing nutritious meals, which also limits your food choices with toys. 

Dairy Products: Dairy products tend to be SNAP-eligible foods and an excellent source of fiber in your diet. Almond, cow, and other dairy fluids can be found on Amazon. Furthermore, Whey protein powder, dairy coffee, yogurt, butter, and cheese are all available for purchase. We advise against stocking up with more dairy products than you can use, considering some (like milk) must be kept refrigerated and perishable.

Indoor Planting Kits: Using SNAP options, you can plant food from seeds or seedlings at home. This will make your meals healthier. Even though they are not instantly edible, these SNAP benefits enable you to cultivate your food at home for routine consumption constantly. These, however, don’t come with advanced automated solutions, and they often need manual maintenance. If you like to garden, you can save money with your SNAP benefits while purchasing organic mushroom grows kits, seedlings, or seed pods.

Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are an ideal source of protein, Omega 3, and other vital nutrients. You can buy things like chia pets as an exciting way to introduce chia seeds to your family. However, read the label before buying, as not all chia pets are covered by SNAP benefits. These seeds are available in white and black variants.

Gift Baskets: Gift baskets usually contain a range of pre-packaged foods, like snacks, desserts, and other non-perishable foods. It’s essential to remember that they often exclude fresh goods such as meat, poultry, and fish. Although you can use your EBT card to buy each of these things separately, gift baskets usually have dried, processed items that can be kept fresher for longer.

Food Games: Food games are also available and can be purchased with SNAP EBT cards. These food-associated kid-friendly games let kids play with candies, chocolates, and gummy bears. You can get candy-based food games such as gummy roll candies which resemble tape measures. These interactive games are a great way to involve youngsters in learning about nutrition while also getting them keen on eating well.

Products Excluded From SNAP EBT On Amazon

Many different grocery products can be purchased with SNAP EBT payments. However, not all of them are eligible under this program. You cannot buy some supermarket goods with your SNAP EBT card because they are restricted. 

These include potentially hazardous cigarette products, alcoholic drinks, beer and wine, and other toxic substances. 

The SNAP EBT program does not cover other non-food items such as toiletries, cosmetics, cleaning, or home supplies. Also, you cannot use your SNAP EBT benefits to buy pet food, medicines, vitamins, or supplements. 

SNAP-Eligible Food Items On Amazon Grocery 

If you’re wondering what you can get on Amazon using your SNAP EBT card, the simple answer is a lot! You can choose from various eligible grocery products on Amazon, from frozen pizzas to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Do you prefer fresh, canned fish or seafood? Check. Dairy products like milk, butter, and cheese? Check. Pork, beef, poultry, and other kinds of meat? Check. Cake mixes, sugar, oil, and other supplies for baking? Check. Even food items like almonds, crackers, pretzels, and chips are available.

In addition, you may buy seasonings, including mustard and ketchup, to give your meals a flavor, along with condiments and seasonings that will enhance your culinary skills. Also, sweeteners such as honey, sugar, and maple syrup are acceptable, as are synthetic and natural sweeteners if you want to satisfy your sweet craving.

The benefits continue, too. Use your SNAP EBT card to buy seeds and plants if you’ve contemplated planting your vegetable garden. Remember that when you can purchase seafood, you cannot use your benefits to buy live animals like chickens.

So, the next time you shop on Amazon with your SNAP EBT card, remember that many options are available to buy eligible groceries.

Key Takeaways

  • EBT can be used as a payment on Amazon for eligible products. However, eligibility differs by state and type of product.
  •  If you are using EBT as payment, you can even get free shipping on eligible products without having an Amazon Prime membership.
  •  To use EBT benefits on Amazon, you must add your EBT card credentials to your account. If required, you may return the eligible goods for a refund.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How To Use EBT On Amazon-Whole Foods? 

You need to connect your EBT card to your Amazon account, pick your items on Amazon.com or the Amazon mobile application, and then use your EBT card at the Whole Foods checkout to pay for your purchases.

Are Amazon Gift Cards Eligible For EBT?

EBT benefits do not cover gift card purchases. You must link your EBT card details to your Amazon account and use Amazon Fresh, Amazon Pantry, or Amazon Grocery to make eligible purchases if you want to use EBT on Amazon.

Can You Purchase Amazon Prime Membership With EBT?

You are not awarded a free Amazon Prime membership merely because you are eligible for EBT. However, you’ll be saving 50% on your membership and getting access to many Amazon special discounts. To get the Amazon Prime discount:

  1. Go to the Amazon Prime.
  2. Type in your EBT card number.
  3. Upload a picture of your EBT card there.

Does EBT Cover Amazon Delivery Charges?

Your EBT money can sadly not be used to pay shipping or delivery costs. However, if your orders equal at least the minimum cost, you receive free EBT grocery delivery.

Can I Buy EBT And Non-EBT Items In The Same Order On Amazon? 

You can use SNAP EBT to pay for the eligible items and use another method of payment, possibly a credit or debit card, to cover the cost of ineligible items.