How can i order food online with ebt

Participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, can pay in store at most major grocery chains — including "specialty" grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's — using electronic benefits transfer cards. But before 2020, EBT wasn't a widely available payment option online.

Related: What You Can and Can't Buy With SNAP Benefits

Now, thanks to the continued expansion of an online purchasing pilot program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, households receiving SNAP benefits in 49 states and the District of Columbia — Alaska is the only state that has not yet joined the program — can use EBT to pay for grocery pickup and/or delivery from a number of retailers (though not for associated service fees).

Below, we've rounded up the grocery stores that currently accept EBT online. While the program was initially slow to expand beyond a few major retailers, many more grocery stores have now made online ordering available to SNAP recipients. Check our list, which includes both large chains and local grocers, to see where you can find EBT grocery delivery near you. We'll continue to update this story as more retailers participate and as active stores expand their EBT pickup and delivery payment policies.

Target, for example, has plans to begin taking EBT payments for online groceries. Target representatives disclosed to Reuters that shoppers soon will be able to use their SNAP benefits to order same-day delivery through Shipt. Drive-up and pickup services will be available as well.

Americans receiving benefits under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children may soon have online payment options too, thanks to a new initiative launched by the FNS in cooperation with the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition. A WIC online ordering pilot will test the program with participating retailers in select states: Walmart (Washington and Massachusetts), Hy-Vee (Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska), SaveMart (Nevada), and Buche Foods (South Dakota).

Does Instacart take EBT?

Yes, Instacart does take EBT. The popular grocery delivery service has been instrumental in making online grocery shopping available to SNAP beneficiaries, partnering with a number of smaller retailers nationwide. (Food delivery services such as DoorDash, GrubHub, Postmates, and UberEats typically do not accept EBT as a payment option.) Instacart began introducing payment options for SNAP EBT beneficiaries late last year, and the list of stores covered has been growing steadily. Participating retailers now include Aldi, Food Lion, and Publix, Stop & Shop, and numerous smaller chains. Instacart has pledged to continue to expand the EBT online payment option to more states and retailers in the future.

When ordering with EBT on Instacart, customers must use a credit or debit card for non-eligible costs, including delivery and service fees, taxes, tips, and bottle deposit fees in some states. (Instacart offers an Instacart Express membership for $99 annually or $9.99 monthly that provides free delivery on all orders over $35, along with other perks.) Customers over 60 who may be new to online grocery shopping can take advantage of Instacart's Senior Support Service, which offers help with everything from setting up an account to placing an order.

Through the end of June, shoppers paying for Instacart orders with EBT SNAP at select retailers can get free delivery or pickup on their first three orders of $35 or more.

With more Americans claiming food assistance amid the pandemic, more states and stores are letting consumers use their benefits when ordering groceries online for pickup or delivery.

Participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, can pay in store at most major grocery chains — including "specialty" grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's — using electronic benefits transfer cards. But before 2020, EBT wasn't a widely available payment option online.

Related: What You Can and Can't Buy With SNAP Benefits

Now, thanks to the continued expansion of an online purchasing pilot program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, households receiving SNAP benefits in 49 states and the District of Columbia — Alaska is the only state that has not yet joined the program — can use EBT to pay for grocery pickup and/or delivery from a number of retailers (though not for associated service fees).

Below, we've rounded up the grocery stores that currently accept EBT online. While the program was initially slow to expand beyond a few major retailers, many more grocery stores have now made online ordering available to SNAP recipients. Check our list, which includes both large chains and local grocers, to see where you can find EBT grocery delivery near you. We'll continue to update this story as more retailers participate and as active stores expand their EBT pickup and delivery payment policies.

Target, for example, has plans to begin taking EBT payments for online groceries. Target representatives disclosed to Reuters that shoppers soon will be able to use their SNAP benefits to order same-day delivery through Shipt. Drive-up and pickup services will be available as well.

Americans receiving benefits under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children may soon have online payment options too, thanks to a new initiative launched by the FNS in cooperation with the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition. A WIC online ordering pilot will test the program with participating retailers in select states: Walmart (Washington and Massachusetts), Hy-Vee (Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska), SaveMart (Nevada), and Buche Foods (South Dakota).

Does Instacart take EBT?

Yes, Instacart does take EBT. The popular grocery delivery service has been instrumental in making online grocery shopping available to SNAP beneficiaries, partnering with a number of smaller retailers nationwide. (Food delivery services such as DoorDash, GrubHub, Postmates, and UberEats typically do not accept EBT as a payment option.) Instacart began introducing payment options for SNAP EBT beneficiaries late last year, and the list of stores covered has been growing steadily. Participating retailers now include Aldi, Food Lion, and Publix, Stop & Shop, and numerous smaller chains. Instacart has pledged to continue to expand the EBT online payment option to more states and retailers in the future.

When ordering with EBT on Instacart, customers must use a credit or debit card for non-eligible costs, including delivery and service fees, taxes, tips, and bottle deposit fees in some states. (Instacart offers an Instacart Express membership for $99 annually or $9.99 monthly that provides free delivery on all orders over $35, along with other perks.) Customers over 60 who may be new to online grocery shopping can take advantage of Instacart's Senior Support Service, which offers help with everything from setting up an account to placing an order.

Through the end of June, shoppers paying for Instacart orders with EBT SNAP at select retailers can get free delivery or pickup on their first three orders of $35 or more.

Walmart

Walmart started rolling out the option to pay for grocery pickup with EBT as early as 2017. EBT payments can be made online at most locations in the states approved for the SNAP online purchasing pilot (including Hawaii), although the service has not yet been implemented in the District of Columbia. At eligible local stores, users signing in to their online accounts, or shopping via app, can save EBT card information under "Payment Methods." Approved delivery locations are less widespread than access to grocery pickup, however, and in a handful of states, users ordering groceries online still must swipe their EBT cards at pickup to finalize payment.

Related: I Tried Walmart's Grocery Pickup and This Is What Happened

Amazon

On Amazon, SNAP recipients can order SNAP-approved food items online and pay with EBT in the District of Columbia and participating states (except Hawaii). EBT cardholders can use the Amazon Fresh grocery delivery service without paying for Prime membership, which is usually required, and will also have access to many Whole Foods products through Amazon Pantry, Amazon Grocery, and Amazon Fresh. Qualifying beneficiaries with an EBT or Medicaid card who wish to sign up for Amazon Prime membership are eligible for a 50% discount.

BJ's Wholesale Club

BJ's is the first of the major warehouse clubs to accept EBT for online grocery orders. Now, BJ's members in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island can use EBT cards to order on BJs.com for in-club purchases, shipping, contactless curbside pickup, and same-day delivery. The company plans to make the pickup option available in more states participating in the SNAP online purchasing pilot in the coming months. 

(As for other wholesale options, Costco accepts EBT in-store, and Sam's Club also takes SNAP at all locations, but neither warehouse club allows shoppers to pay with EBT for online orders. Sam's Club shoppers paying with EBT (in states other than Alaska) can, however, avoid long lines and take advantage of cashierless checkout options using the store's Scan & Go app. Online wholesale mart Boxed does not accept EBT payments.)

Related: 33 Things Not to Buy at Costco, Sam's, or BJ's

Aldi

Although rapidly expanding discount grocer Aldi does not currently have stores in Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming, if you live in the District of Columbia or any of the other states covered by the USDA's pilot program, you can shop online for EBT SNAP-eligible purchases from Aldi. Instacart accepts EBT for same-day delivery and pickup options at the store. Aldi shoppers can place online orders via Instacart and enter EBT card information at checkout for items covered under SNAP.

Related: Aldi Products That Taste Like Name Brands — and Some That Definitely Don't

Food Lion

Food Lion was the second retailer to partner with Instacart for EBT grocery delivery. Instacart accepts EBT payment for SNAP-eligible items from Food Lion in nine states: Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. SNAP beneficiaries who don't want to pay more out of pocket to have groceries delivered can opt to pick up Instacart orders at the store.

Kroger

Soon after the pandemic lockdowns began, Kroger announced that it would add a SNAP EBT payment option for grocery pickup at its stores. The service is now offered at all locations where pickup is available and has expanded to Kroger-owned Mariano's stores (Illinois) and Jay C Food Stores (Indiana), as well.

Related: 18 Secrets for Shopping at Kroger

Publix

Publix is the largest employee-owned company in the United States, with nearly 1,200 supermarkets in the Southeast. In locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, shoppers can now use EBT on Instacart to order their groceries online. As with the other markets where Instacart takes EBT for grocery delivery and curbside pickup, if you don't find EBT SNAP as a payment option when attempting to order from your local Publix, keep checking back — the coverage areas and list of participating stores continue to expand.

Safeway/Albertsons/Vons

Shoppers paying with SNAP EBT can order groceries for pickup or delivery at a number of Safeway locations in states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming, as well as a single store in the District of Columbia (pickup only). The list should continue to expand, so check the site's Store Locater page and select "Additional Services" to see if your local Safeway is accepting online EBT payments.

Albertsons shoppers using EBT online are covered for delivery or DriveUp & Go at locations in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. EBT can also be used for pickup or delivery at Pavilions and Vons stores in Southern California and Nevada. At United Supermarkets in Oklahoma, also owned by Albertsons, delivery and/or curbside pickup is available for EBT shoppers at select locations via Instacart.

Related: Kroger, Walmart, and Other Grocery Rewards Programs That Will Save You Money

ShopRite

ShopRite accepts EBT for SNAP purchases online at select stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, although some locations may allow EBT payment only for pickup orders. Check your local ShopRite store to see which services are available.

For more helpful shopping tips, please sign up for our free newsletters.

Stop & Shop

Stop & Shop now offers EBT online grocery delivery and pickup at all of its locations using its in-house service. Shoppers who prefer to order through Instacart can also use their EBT cards to pay for Stop & Shop deliveries in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.

Hy-Vee

Popular Midwestern grocery chain Hy-Vee was among the first group of retailers to be accepted into the USDA pilot program. Although it was slower to roll out the service, Hy-Vee is now taking EBT payments for grocery pickup at about 250 of its stores, including Dollar Fresh and Hy-Vee Drugstore locations. Keep an eye on its customer support pages for additional options.

H-E-B

Texans shopping at H-E-B can use SNAP EBT payments for curbside pickup and grocery delivery at all locations that offer the service. The online ordering system accepts split payments for eligible and non-eligible items, and discounts from manufacturers' coupons are credited back to EBT accounts when orders are fulfilled.

Related: 28 Regional Grocery Stores That Shoppers Love

FarmboxRx

FarmboxRx is billed as the first national fresh grocery delivery service to accept SNAP/EBT benefits online. An offshoot of subscription produce delivery service Farmbox Direct, FarmboxRx is primarily focused on providing fresh, healthy eating options to Medicaid and Medicare participants. The company also works with a number of health care plans to make its "food as medicine" available as a qualifying benefit. The service employs FedEx for contactless, free delivery.

Related: I Ordered Groceries From Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods — and Here's How It Went

Walmart

Walmart started rolling out the option to pay for grocery pickup with EBT as early as 2017. EBT payments can be made online at most locations in the states approved for the SNAP online purchasing pilot (including Hawaii), although the service has not yet been implemented in the District of Columbia. At eligible local stores, users signing in to their online accounts, or shopping via app, can save EBT card information under "Payment Methods." Approved delivery locations are less widespread than access to grocery pickup, however, and in a handful of states, users ordering groceries online still must swipe their EBT cards at pickup to finalize payment.

Related: I Tried Walmart's Grocery Pickup and This Is What Happened

Amazon

On Amazon, SNAP recipients can order SNAP-approved food items online and pay with EBT in the District of Columbia and participating states (except Hawaii). EBT cardholders can use the Amazon Fresh grocery delivery service without paying for Prime membership, which is usually required, and will also have access to many Whole Foods products through Amazon Pantry, Amazon Grocery, and Amazon Fresh. Qualifying beneficiaries with an EBT or Medicaid card who wish to sign up for Amazon Prime membership are eligible for a 50% discount.

BJ's Wholesale Club

BJ's is the first of the major warehouse clubs to accept EBT for online grocery orders. Now, BJ's members in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island can use EBT cards to order on BJs.com for in-club purchases, shipping, contactless curbside pickup, and same-day delivery. The company plans to make the pickup option available in more states participating in the SNAP online purchasing pilot in the coming months. 

(As for other wholesale options, Costco accepts EBT in-store, and Sam's Club also takes SNAP at all locations, but neither warehouse club allows shoppers to pay with EBT for online orders. Sam's Club shoppers paying with EBT (in states other than Alaska) can, however, avoid long lines and take advantage of cashierless checkout options using the store's Scan & Go app. Online wholesale mart Boxed does not accept EBT payments.)

Related: 33 Things Not to Buy at Costco, Sam's, or BJ's

Aldi

Although rapidly expanding discount grocer Aldi does not currently have stores in Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming, if you live in the District of Columbia or any of the other states covered by the USDA's pilot program, you can shop online for EBT SNAP-eligible purchases from Aldi. Instacart accepts EBT for same-day delivery and pickup options at the store. Aldi shoppers can place online orders via Instacart and enter EBT card information at checkout for items covered under SNAP.

Related: Aldi Products That Taste Like Name Brands — and Some That Definitely Don't

Food Lion

Food Lion was the second retailer to partner with Instacart for EBT grocery delivery. Instacart accepts EBT payment for SNAP-eligible items from Food Lion in nine states: Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. SNAP beneficiaries who don't want to pay more out of pocket to have groceries delivered can opt to pick up Instacart orders at the store.

Kroger

Soon after the pandemic lockdowns began, Kroger announced that it would add a SNAP EBT payment option for grocery pickup at its stores. The service is now offered at all locations where pickup is available and has expanded to Kroger-owned Mariano's stores (Illinois) and Jay C Food Stores (Indiana), as well.

Related: 18 Secrets for Shopping at Kroger

Publix

Publix is the largest employee-owned company in the United States, with nearly 1,200 supermarkets in the Southeast. In locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, shoppers can now use EBT on Instacart to order their groceries online. As with the other markets where Instacart takes EBT for grocery delivery and curbside pickup, if you don't find EBT SNAP as a payment option when attempting to order from your local Publix, keep checking back — the coverage areas and list of participating stores continue to expand.

Safeway/Albertsons/Vons

Shoppers paying with SNAP EBT can order groceries for pickup or delivery at a number of Safeway locations in states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming, as well as a single store in the District of Columbia (pickup only). The list should continue to expand, so check the site's Store Locater page and select "Additional Services" to see if your local Safeway is accepting online EBT payments.

Albertsons shoppers using EBT online are covered for delivery or DriveUp & Go at locations in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. EBT can also be used for pickup or delivery at Pavilions and Vons stores in Southern California and Nevada. At United Supermarkets in Oklahoma, also owned by Albertsons, delivery and/or curbside pickup is available for EBT shoppers at select locations via Instacart.

Related: Kroger, Walmart, and Other Grocery Rewards Programs That Will Save You Money

ShopRite

ShopRite accepts EBT for SNAP purchases online at select stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, although some locations may allow EBT payment only for pickup orders. Check your local ShopRite store to see which services are available.

For more helpful shopping tips, please sign up for our free newsletters.

Stop & Shop

Stop & Shop now offers EBT online grocery delivery and pickup at all of its locations using its in-house service. Shoppers who prefer to order through Instacart can also use their EBT cards to pay for Stop & Shop deliveries in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.

Hy-Vee

Popular Midwestern grocery chain Hy-Vee was among the first group of retailers to be accepted into the USDA pilot program. Although it was slower to roll out the service, Hy-Vee is now taking EBT payments for grocery pickup at about 250 of its stores, including Dollar Fresh and Hy-Vee Drugstore locations. Keep an eye on its customer support pages for additional options.

H-E-B

Texans shopping at H-E-B can use SNAP EBT payments for curbside pickup and grocery delivery at all locations that offer the service. The online ordering system accepts split payments for eligible and non-eligible items, and discounts from manufacturers' coupons are credited back to EBT accounts when orders are fulfilled.

Related: 28 Regional Grocery Stores That Shoppers Love

FarmboxRx

FarmboxRx is billed as the first national fresh grocery delivery service to accept SNAP/EBT benefits online. An offshoot of subscription produce delivery service Farmbox Direct, FarmboxRx is primarily focused on providing fresh, healthy eating options to Medicaid and Medicare participants. The company also works with a number of health care plans to make its "food as medicine" available as a qualifying benefit. The service employs FedEx for contactless, free delivery.

Related: I Ordered Groceries From Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods — and Here's How It Went

Smaller Chains and Independents

With more stores joining the ranks of those accepting EBT for online shopping, you're almost sure to find EBT food delivery near you.

Where can I pay with EBT fast food?

What stores accept EBT online in Illinois?

Does Instacart take EBT in Louisiana?

Does Instacart take EBT in Colorado?