You can use your EBT card at grocery stores, department stores, farmers markets, gas stations with convenience stores, online retailers (with limitations), and select restaurants in some states. Let’s find out how and where you can use it
There are nearly 248,000 retailers across the United States that participate in government food assistance programs. These stores meet federal standards to participate in the SNAP program and are overseen by the USDA to make sure SNAP continues to meet the needs of the people who use it. In addition to grocery stores, many other places accept EBT to serve SNAP recipients.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll help you find out which places accept EBT so you can access healthy, nutritious food with your SNAP benefits and stretch your food budget even further.
What Places That Take EBT Payments Near Me
EBT cardholders may be surprised by the number of places around them that accept EBT payments. According to statistics, over 80% of EBT benefits are used at large retailers across the country. You can use the SNAP Retailer Finder tool provided by the USDA to find a store near you that accepts EBT SNAP payments. Food benefits are accepted everywhere you can see the Quest logo. EBT SNAP benefits are widely accepted at a number of locations for eligible food items, such as the following:
- Grocery and supermarket stores
- Supermarkets
- Discount retail chains
- Wholesale stores
- Online retailers – delivery app
- Farmers markets
- Local food co-ops
- Pharmacies and drug stores
- Gas stations and convenience stores
- Select restaurants and fast food chains
In the next section of the guide, we will discuss in detail the places where you can use your EBT benefits.
1. Grocery Stores/ Supermarkets
Most grocery stores located in the United States of America participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program, from small neighborhood mom-and-pop stores to large, expanding supermarkets. Let’s take a look at the top grocery retailers that accept SNAP EBT cards.
ALDI
ALDI is a large grocery chain in the United States that accepts EBT payments and has also collaborated with Instacart to accept EBT payments online. Not only is it affordable for its reasonable pricing on groceries and household items, but it has also gained recognition for its dedication to providing healthy food options.
Safeway
Safeway is a large grocery chain with nearly 900 shopping centers located in the United States of America. Being one of the largest and most popular grocery retail chains, Safeway accepts EBT or food stamps at all of its locations across the United States. However, Safeway does not accept food stamps or EBT payments online.
Publix
Publix has a strong reputation in the market for providing a wide range of high-quality products to all of its customers. Fortunately, the supermarket giant accepts EBT as a payment method from SNAP recipients at all of its stores. Accepting EBT at Publix not only provides transactional convenience, but also highlights the brand’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods is a popular supermarket that serves natural and organic foods to all of its customers. Whole Foods accepts food stamp benefits or EBT cards from SNAP recipients. Those who receive EBT benefits can enjoy nutritious and organic options at Whole Foods without breaking their budget.
Piggly Wiggly
Piggly Wiggly is one of the US supermarket chains that accepts electronic benefit transfer or SNAP benefits as a form of payment. Customers can pay for food stamps with their reloadable EBT cards. Almost all Piggly Wiggly stores are equipped to accept EBT, as Piggly Wiggly aims to serve as many customers as possible.
Read Also: What Stores Accept EBT Payment Online Near Me
Sprouts
Sprouts Farmers Market is a well-known supermarket chain in the United States that is known for selling fresh and healthy produce. The company is known for offering a wide collection of products that are free of artificial flavors or preservatives, colors, and synthetic ingredients and are also minimally processed foods.
Below are some grocery stores and supermarkets that accept EBT:
HEB
Thrive Market
Harris Teeter
Wegmans
Weis Markets
Jewel-Osco
Family Fare
King Soopers
Kings Food Markets
Kroger
Acme Markets
Grocery Outlet
AJ’s Fine Foods
Meijer
Food City
Food Lion
QFC Supermarkets
Raley’s
Speedway
Associated Food Stores
Bashas
Big Y Foods
Foodtown
Fred Meyer
Stater Bros
Fry’s Food Stores
Giant Eagle
Giant Food
Hannaford Supermarkets
Lowe’s Grocery
99 Ranch Market
Pick N Save
Price Chopper
Fareway Meat & Grocery
Fine Fare Supermarkets
Food 4 Less
Bravo Supermarkets
Brookshire’s
Smart and Final
City Market
Dillons Stores
Shaw’s
ShopRite
Smith’s Food and Drug
WinCo
Ralphs
Save Mart
ARCO
Schnucks Market
Stop & Shop
Super 1 Foods
H Mart
Tops Markets
Trader Joe’s
Kroger
Jubilee Foods
Superior Grocers
Vons
2. Big Box Stores
Big box stores are large retailers like Target and Walmart that are popular shopping destinations for many Americans who want to get their household items, groceries, and other necessities. Big box stores also accept online payments for grocery pickup and delivery orders. Let’s take a look at the major supermarkets or big box stores.
Target
The largest national retailer, Target, accepts SNAP or EBT benefits for grocery purchases both in-store and online. The retail giant started accepting SNAP benefits for online orders recently in 2022 after facing competition from Amazon and Walmart. Target prides itself on selling a wide range of products ranging from reasonable general purpose products and high-end global items to groceries and nutritious foods.
Walmart
Walmart is a popular supermarket chain that accepts EBT payments for both in-store and online grocery delivery and pickup. Customers must first create an account with Walmart and place orders online with their debit card. You can get free curbside pickup for orders over $35, or else you must pay a small pickup fee. You cannot cover the cost of your delivery or pickup fees with an EBT card.
3. Farmers Markets
Farmers markets are amazing places to buy healthy, fresh food with the added bonus of supporting the local economy and community farmers. Many states offer healthy food incentive programs at farmers markets to help low-income families eat better while supporting the local economy.
These incentive programs match EBT dollars spent at farmers markets on locally grown produce. You can check with your local SNAP office to see if there is a healthy food incentive initiative available in your area of residence. For example, Massachusetts has a Healthy Incentive Program that helps EBT recipients with $1 back on their SNAP benefits card for every dollar spent on eligible fruits and vegetables.
Read Also: Does Sam’s Club Take EBT? Check How It Works
4. Online Delivery Apps
Do you want your groceries delivered right to your door or want to save time picking up your grocery order? Many online platforms or delivery apps accept SNAP benefits and allow EBT cardholders to have their groceries delivered to their door. Let’s take a look at the following online delivery apps that accept EBT.
DoorDash
DoorDash accepts EBT or SNAP benefit cards for grocery delivery as well as pickup at participating merchants in select states in the United States. You can use your SNAP benefits on DoorDash by adding your EBT card to your DoorDash account and selecting the SNAP or EBT card as your payment method at checkout. Know What Stores Take EBT On Doordash
Instacart
Instacart is a nationwide grocery delivery service known as Instacart that accepts SNAP benefits or EBT cards from participating merchants in all of the United States of America except Alaska. You can use your SNAP benefits card or EBT card on Instacart by creating an account and adding your EBT card information as a payment method. You can then purchase SNAP-approved groceries online and add them to your cart. Know What Stores Take Ebt On Instacart
Amazon
Amazon is a platform that allows all EBT cardholders to shop online and have the products delivered to their doorstep. Customers do not need to become Amazon Prime members to shop on Amazon. Depending on the type of groceries you need and whether you want to buy in bulk quantities, Amazon offers three options: Amazon Core Groceries, Amazon Pantry, and Amazon Fresh.
5. Discount Retail Chains
Discount retail chains like Dollar Stores offer a wide variety of products at competitive prices, which is not the case with big box retailers or supermarket chains. Let’s take a look at the following discount retail chains where you can buy eligible products at extremely affordable prices.
Dollar General
Dollar General is one of the most popular and go-to dollar stores across the United States. Prices at Dollar General typically range from $3 to $10 for all of its products. The chain is known for its wide selection of cleaning and household products. It is one of the largest dollar stores with 19,000 branches in the United States. SNAP recipients can use their EBT benefits to purchase eligible products at Dollar General.
Dollar Tree
One of the largest and most recognized dollar stores in the United States of America is Dollar Tree, which has been in operation for 35 years and everything available this year starts at $1. You can find everything here from snacks and holiday decorations to cleaning supplies and groceries. Dollar Tree accepts EBT payments from SNAP recipients.
Family Dollar
Family Dollar Stores Inc. is a popular American variety store chain that has over 8,000 branches in every US state (except Alaska and Hawaii). Family Dollar, like Dollar General stores, accepts EBT payments for SNAP-eligible products. This chain is known for offering a wide variety of SNAP-eligible products including ground beef, dairy products, sausages, ground beef, canned pasta, snacks, frozen entrees, bacon, etc.
6. Pharmacies/Drugstores
Many pharmacies and drug stores in the United States accept EBT or food stamps to help SNAP recipients supplement their diet with nutritious and healthy foods. These participating chains are as follows:
CVS
CVS is a leading pharmacy and retail chain with more than 10,000 locations across the United States of America. So far, only 6,660 of the more than 9,900 CVS stores accept EBT payments from SNAP recipients. This company began accepting EBT cards as a payment method in 2013. CVS also launched a pilot program in 2018 for select stores that began accepting EBT payments for eligible products online.
Walgreens
Walgreens accepts EBT payments from SNAP recipients. This popular pharmacy does not accept EBT payments as a payment method online, so SNAP recipients must shop at their physical locations. This is the second largest pharmacy chain in the United States, behind CVS Health.
Rite Aid
Rite Aid Corporation is a popular American pharmacy chain. Rite Aid accepts EBT benefits or food stamps from SNAP recipients as a payment method. However, there are certain guidelines and restrictions on the type of products you can purchase with your EBT card at Rite Aid. The pharmacy allows the purchase of EBT-approved items at all of its branches.
7. Wholesale Clubs
EBT benefits can be used at wholesale clubs to purchase food and other eligible items. Let’s take a look at the following wholesale clubs where you can purchase eligible products.
Costco
Costco allows shoppers to purchase a variety of items in bulk at a reasonable cost. This retailer accepts EBT as a payment method so that more families and individuals can access healthy and nutritious food and groceries.
BJ’s Warehouse Club
BJ’s Wholesale Club accepts SNAP benefits or EBT as a viable payment method. They also accept EBT on their official website and mobile apps for orders with home delivery, pickup at the club, and same-day delivery in all states except Delaware which will be added very soon.
Sam’s Club
The supermarket is popular among Americans for helping shoppers save a significant amount of money. Sam’s Club accepts food stamps or EBT from SNAP recipients at all of its retail stores. Sam’s Club is one of the favorite shopping destinations among Americans to purchase necessary items at affordable prices.
8. Gas Stations with Convenience Stores
Today, many gas stations with convenience stores accept EBT to cater to SNAP recipients. Let’s take a look at the following gas stations with convenience stores that accept EBT payments.
7-Eleven
With over 9000 stores across the United States of America, 7-Eleven is a renowned convenience store. Electronic Benefit Transfer is an invaluable resource for individuals and families struggling to make ends meet. Fortunately, grocery chains like 7-Eleven accept EBT cards at all of their branches.
Circle K
Circle K is a popular American chain of convenience stores and gas stations in the US. The store sells snacks, hot dishes, beverages, and grocery supplies like milk, butter, eggs, and baked goods. Circle K accepts EBT as a payment method from customers on SNAP-approved items.
Kum & Go
Kum & Go is a convenience retailer and gas station chain that operates in the Midwestern part of the United States of America. Kum & Go convenience stores accept EBT, food stamps, or SNAP benefits as a payment method at all of their branches.
QuikTrip
QuikTrip accepts EBT, SNAP, or food stamp benefits from customers in select states across the country. QuikTrip is one of the largest chains of gas station convenience stores in the United States of America. With plenty of beverages, grocery items and snacks to choose from, customers can use their food stamp benefits to purchase approved QuikTrip items.
Sheetz
Sheetz authorized stores allow SNAP recipients to use EBT to purchase eligible items and groceries with the help of their EBT card. However, you cannot pay for products online at Sheetz or finance deliveries. Sheetz is a popular name when it comes to searching for gas stations, truck shops, fast food restaurants, and convenience stores.
Wawa
Wawa accepts EBT benefits or food stamps as a payment method, but there are some limitations by the USDA on the type of food you can purchase with your EBT card. For example, you cannot purchase any luxury or non-edible food items, as SNAP EBT funds are used only to purchase necessities.
Get a full list of gas stations that accept EBT in our upcoming guide.
9. Restaurants and Fast Food Places
In select states, EBT cardholders can participate in the Restaurant Meals Program and use their food stamp benefits to enjoy hot meals prepared at restaurants. Although hot prepared meals are not covered by SNAP EBT cards, the USDA extends SNAP benefits through the RMP for elderly, disabled, and homeless recipients who are unable to cook their own food. You must live in one of the following U.S. states to participate in the Restaurant Meals Program:
Arizona
California
Maryland
Michigan
Rhode Island
Virginia
Massachusetts
Missouri
Restaurants that participate in the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program may vary by state and location. Each state and restaurant must individually enroll in the Restaurant Meals Program to accept EBT benefits. Some restaurants include Burger King, Subway, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, to name a few.
How To Check Participating Retailers Near Me?
SNAP recipients who don’t know if a particular retailer near them accepts SNAP benefits or not can turn to the help of the USDA SNAP Retailer Locator for the list of participating stores in their area of residence.
This amazing tool will make it easier for you to plan your next shopping trip. Not only can you use your EBT benefits to fill your cart at grocery stores and supermarkets, but you can also purchase hot prepared meals at fast food chains that accept EBT at some locations. With the rising cost of food and inflation, you can make the most of your EBT benefits by shopping at SNAP retailers.
Bottom Line
More than 42 million people rely on food assistance programs like SNAP to put food on the table each year. SNAP recipients can use their EBT card at participating retailers to purchase authorized food and beverage items. In a nutshell, you can use your SNAP benefits to purchase food and groceries at supermarkets, farmers markets, gas stations and convenience stores, big box stores, online retailers, wholesale clubs, and select restaurants.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you answer the most frequently asked question among SNAP recipients.