Can You Use Your EBT Card With Scan and Go?

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is a nationwide electronic system allowing state welfare departments to issue food and cash benefits via a payment card. This system functions much like a debit card, providing recipients with convenient access to their allocated funds. Separately, Scan & Go technology has emerged in retail, enabling customers to use their own devices, typically smartphones, to scan items as they shop. This approach streamlines shopping by allowing in-app payment, bypassing traditional checkout lines. The intersection of these two technologies raises questions about their compatibility in everyday shopping.

Understanding EBT and Scan & Go Compatibility

The integration of EBT with true “Scan & Go” systems, where customers scan items with their phone and pay via an app, faces technical and logistical challenges. EBT transactions, particularly for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), require precise item-level verification to distinguish eligible food from ineligible non-food purchases. Retailers must ensure only authorized items are deducted from a customer’s SNAP balance, a process relying on a robust point-of-sale (POS) system.

Current Scan & Go applications, while convenient for general retail, often lack the granular data processing and real-time eligibility checks for EBT. The system needs to accurately identify each scanned item’s SNAP eligibility and correctly apply benefits, which can be complex when a single transaction includes both food and non-food items. EBT transactions typically require a Personal Identification Number (PIN) entry for security, and many mobile Scan & Go payment flows are not designed to incorporate this specific authentication step seamlessly for EBT. Secure PIN entry and strict adherence to USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) regulations for benefit redemption add layers of complexity that most current mobile scanning platforms are not equipped to handle.

Current Availability and Specific Retailers

The direct integration of EBT with full “Scan & Go” mobile applications remains limited across the retail landscape. While many major retailers accept EBT for in-store purchases and some for online grocery orders, implementing it within a mobile self-scanning environment is less common. Some retailers, such as Sam’s Club, have successfully integrated EBT SNAP payments into their in-club Scan & Go service, making them among the first to offer this specific functionality, allowing members to use their EBT benefits while utilizing the store’s mobile scanning and payment system.

For most other retailers, if they offer self-scanning or advanced self-checkout, it typically involves scanning items at a dedicated terminal rather than solely through a personal mobile device for payment. Customers interested in using EBT with any form of self-scanning should consult their preferred retailer’s website or mobile app for specific payment options. Policies can vary by store and may evolve as technology advances and regulatory frameworks adapt. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has been piloting mobile payment technology for SNAP in a few states, including Illinois, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma, which could pave the way for broader adoption of mobile EBT payments in the future.

Using EBT at Self-Checkout

While true mobile “Scan & Go” with EBT is still emerging, using an EBT card at a standard self-checkout terminal is a common and straightforward process in many grocery stores. After scanning all desired items at the self-checkout machine, the first step is to select EBT as the payment method on the screen. The terminal will then prompt the user to swipe or insert their EBT card, similar to a debit or credit card transaction.

Following the card swipe, the system will ask the customer to enter their four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) on the keypad. If the transaction includes both SNAP-eligible food items and ineligible non-food items, the self-checkout system is designed to automatically separate these purchases. The EBT food benefits will be applied to the eligible items first.

If the total cost of eligible items exceeds the available SNAP balance, or if non-eligible items are in the transaction, the system will indicate the remaining balance due. The customer can then use another payment method, such as a debit card, credit card, or cash, to cover the remaining amount. Many self-checkout machines facilitate this “split payment” by finalizing the EBT transaction first, then prompting for the secondary payment. After completing the transaction, a receipt will be provided, showing the remaining EBT balance.