What Places Accept EBT Food Benefits?
Find out where EBT food benefits are accepted, including online and in-store options. Get clear guidance on eligible purchases and how to locate retailers.
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) food benefits, also known as SNAP benefits, help individuals and families with low incomes purchase nutritious food. These benefits are loaded onto an EBT card, which functions similarly to a debit card. The program supports a healthful diet for eligible households across the United States.
Where EBT Food Benefits Are Accepted
EBT food benefits are widely accepted at a diverse range of physical retail locations across the country. Most supermarkets and grocery stores are authorized to accept EBT, including major chains and smaller, independent establishments.
Beyond large grocery stores, many convenience stores and bodegas also participate in the SNAP program, providing access to food items in local neighborhoods. Farmers markets are another important venue, often offering fresh, local produce and sometimes providing incentives like matching programs to increase purchasing power for EBT users. Specialty food stores, such as bakeries that sell bread and other staple foods, or delis offering cold, take-home items, may also accept EBT. When shopping, look for signage indicating “EBT Accepted Here” or the Quest® logo, which signifies that the retailer is authorized to process EBT transactions.
Using EBT for Online Food Purchases
The landscape of EBT usage has expanded significantly to include online food purchases, offering increased convenience for many beneficiaries. Major online grocery retailers and delivery services now accept EBT food benefits for eligible items. Companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, along with regional grocery chains and platforms such as Instacart, allow customers to use their EBT cards for online orders.
The process typically involves adding the EBT card as a payment method during account setup or checkout. It is important to distinguish between eligible food items, which can be paid for with EBT benefits, and non-eligible items or fees, such as delivery charges, which require an alternative payment method. Retailers often label SNAP-eligible products, making it easier to identify what can be purchased with EBT benefits online.
What You Can and Cannot Buy with EBT Food Benefits
EBT food benefits are intended for most food items meant for consumption at home. This includes fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, breads, and cereals. Snack foods, non-alcoholic beverages, and even seeds and plants that produce food for the household are also eligible.
However, certain categories of items are strictly prohibited from purchase with EBT food benefits. These ineligible items include alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and hot prepared foods ready for immediate consumption, such as rotisserie chicken or hot deli sandwiches. Non-food items like vitamins, medicines, pet food, cleaning supplies, paper products, and household goods also cannot be bought using EBT benefits.
How to Locate EBT-Accepting Stores
The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service provides a SNAP Retailer Locator tool, an easy-to-use online map where users can enter an address, city, or ZIP code to find nearby authorized retailers. This tool is regularly updated to provide current information on participating locations.
Many state SNAP programs also offer their own online tools or mobile applications to help beneficiaries locate stores. Physical stores display clear signage, such as “We Accept EBT” notices, indicating their participation. If uncertainty remains about a store’s acceptance of EBT, it is always advisable to inquire directly with store staff.