SNAP Benefit Update: Online Stores Accepting SNAP Benefits

Photo courtesy of The Southland Journal/ SNAP BenefitsPhoto byThe Southland Journal

Finally, SNAP recipients can spend their benefits online with popular retail stores.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, provides monthly benefits to low- and no-income households to assist with the cost of groceries. Administered by the federal government, the food benefit is paid by state and local authorities to Americans who would otherwise struggle to reach adequate nutrition levels with their regular income.

These benefits are loaded onto prepaid electronic benefit transfer cards monthly. An online purchasing program launched in 2017 has now expanded to all 50 U.S. states in 2023, so online shopping is now available to SNAP recipients nationwide.“SNAP online is currently available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. There are only two U.S. territories where it was not available like Guam and Virgin Islands that has not implemented online purchasing," a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture told Newsweek.

Per the USDA's website, the following stores accept SNAP payments for online grocery orders:

• Aldi
• Amazon
• Costco
• Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA)
• Hy-Vee
• Jewel-Osco
• New Pioneer Food Co-op
• Ramsey's Market
• Sam's Club Scan and Go
• Target
• Walgreens
• Walmart
• Whole Foods

Grocery stores accepting online EBT payments may vary. For example, Thrive Market, an online-only store, would begin accepting SNAP payment methods on its platform in the 48 states, but not in Alaska or Hawaii. You can view the full list of online retailers accepting SNAP benefits in your state, see the USDA's website.

Most retailers sell more than groceries, SNAP benefits may only be used on eligible food and drink items which include:

• Breads and cereals
• Desserts
• Drinking water
• Dairy products
• Fruit and vegetables
• Meat, poultry, and fish
• Nonalcoholic beverages
• Snack foods
• Spices, condiments, and sweeteners
• Seeds and plants to grow food

Also, when purchasing groceries using SNAP online, EBT cards cannot be used to pay for extra services, such as delivery or processing fees.