Does Amazon take EBT?

Amazon accepts EBT payment in all states of the USA, except for Alaska. So long as you have a valid SNAP EBT card, you can shop for groceries online and in the brick-and-mortar Amazon Fresh stores. 

You can also use your EBT card at Whole Foods Market stores since Amazon owns the stores. If you don’t have an account with Amazon already, you’ll need to create a personal one on the website.

But if you plan to open an Amazon Business account instead, then you will no longer be eligible to use your EBT card on the Amazon website. Amazon only accepts EBT payment for personal accounts.

Keep reading to learn how to start using your EBT card to shop with Amazon.

What items are eligible for purchase on Amazon with EBT?

You can buy any of the food items that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has approved. 

The food items include fresh produce like fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, dairy products like milk and yogurt or yogurt starters, breads and cereals, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages. You can also buy seeds to plant at home or buy already grown and potted plants. 

As for what you can’t buy with your EBT funds, alcohol, cigarettes or tobacco-based products are included. Read why liquor has strict sales restrictions in the United States of America.

Vitamins, medicines, and supplements, live animals, pet foods and hot food like freshly cooked soups, cleaning supplies, and cosmetics are also not eligible for EBT payment. If you must buy these items, you’ll need to use other payment methods that Amazon accepts.

Amazon typically indicates if a product on the website is eligible for EBT payment. You’ll find the label near the product name as the picture below shows. 

How to add your EBT card to your Amazon account

• Go to the Amazon website and tap Sign in to access your account.
  
• Once you sign in, tap on your name next to the profile icon and a menu will pop up. Scroll up and select See all account to expand the menu and view more options. 
  
• In Your Account menu, scroll up and tap Your Payments under the Payment section.
  
• Tap Add a payment method, then select Add an EBT card. You’ll need to key in the name on the card and the card number. After entering your card details, tap Add your card to save it. 
  

Can you use your EBT card to pay for shipping or delivery on Amazon?

According to Amazon, you can pay for all SNAP-eligible grocery items that Amazon sells and ships. So long the company is in charge of its distribution, then your EBT card can pay for the delivery or shipping.

But if the items in your cart are from third-party sellers on the Amazon website, then you can’t buy them or pay their delivery fees with your EBT card. You may be considering using Whole Foods Market as an alternative. 

Unfortunately, Whole Foods Market handles its deliveries through Amazon since the official website doesn’t give you delivery options. Even then, you’d need to add your debit or credit card along with your EBT card to pay for the service fee. 

What you can do if you don’t have credit or debit cards

In a scenario where you have SNAP-eligible and non-eligible food items in your cart, you can split the payment by adding another payment method. That way, your EBT card will cover the costs for the eligible items, while the other payment method will settle the non-eligible items. 

If you don’t have a debit or credit card, what you can do is use Amazon Cash. Amazon Cash is a service that allows you to add money into your Amazon account and use it to shop on the website.

How Amazon Cash works as alternative to bank cards

How Amazon Cash works is simple. First, you create a personal Amazon account or sign into an existing one. Then you’ll need to generate your barcode from the Amazon Cash info page. The next time you visit any store that offers the service, the barcode is what you’ll present to the cashier along with your money. The cashiers will deposit the money into your Amazon Gift Card balance, then you can begin shopping with it. You can deposit between $5 to $500. 

Do you need a Prime membership to use your EBT card on Amazon?

You don’t need a Prime membership to shop on Amazon with your EBT card, unlike Sam’s Club where you’re forced to become a member first. All you need to do is create a personal Amazon account and you’re good to go.

But if you want to become a Prime member, you can get a discount with your EBT card. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month, but it costs $6.99 for select EBT card holders.

Amazon Prime offers plenty of benefits such as free deliveries, access to award-winning movies and TV shows, and special savings offers. 

Conclusion 

Amazon is the largest online retailer in the world, having 50% more market share than others. The website store’s website is also home to third-party sellers that offer varieties of products. That said, it’s where you need to look for the best shopping experience.

However, since Amazon only accepts EBT payment for items that they sell and deliver themselves, you may not have the luxury of choosing from varieties. Fortunately, there are other popular grocery stores that accept EBT online and in their physical branches.