How to use food stamps on amazon

As of 2022, Amazon is part of a pilot run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to accept SNAP EBT benefits online. According to Amazon, customers with a valid SNAP EBT card in all states except Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana and Montana can use their SNAP benefits on Amazon.

See: SNAP Benefits Available in Your State in 2022
Find: Will My State Provide Extra SNAP Money in March?

How Do SNAP EBT Payments Work on Amazon?

To use your SNAP EBT funds, you can add your card information to your Amazon account or you can add an EBT card during checkout or in your wallet. You will need a personal Amazon account to make a purchase with your SNAP EBT card. Amazon Business accounts are not eligible for SNAP EBT payment.

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What Amazon Items Are Eligible for EBT?

Per government requirements, SNAP EBT funds can only be used for SNAP-eligible food items that are shipped and sold by Amazon and Amazon Fresh. You can see which items are eligible for purchase with SNAP by looking for the “SNAP EBT eligible” label near the product name. Delivery fees, tips and items sold by third-party sellers require alternative forms of payment.

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Can I Use My EBT Card To Pay for a Prime Membership?

No, EBT cards can’t be used to purchase a Prime membership; however, Amazon does offer a discounted membership for SNAP households. 

Can I Use Coupons on SNAP Orders?

While Amazon does not accept paper coupons, the company does offer its own online coupons that can be applied to SNAP orders. You can visit the Amazon Coupons page for more information.

Food Stamps: Can You Use Your SNAP EBT Card at Gas Stations?
Learn: Do Unused SNAP Benefits Roll Over Each Month?

Are SNAP EBT Orders Eligible for Free Shipping or Delivery?

SNAP funds can’t be used to cover shipping or delivery fees. However, SNAP orders are eligible for free shipping if you meet the minimum spend requirements. SNAP-eligible and non-SNAP eligible items count toward the free shipping minimum. This is regardless of the payment method or SNAP eligibility.

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By Josephine Nesbit

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About the Author

Josephine Nesbit

Josephine Nesbit is a freelance writer specializing in real estate and personal finance. She grew up in New England but is now based out of Ohio where she attended The Ohio State University and lives with her two toddlers and fiancé. Her work has appeared in print and online publications such as Fox Business and Scotsman Guide.

SNAP recipients in Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming can now use their benefits to shop for groceries on Amazon and other participating retailers—and we are working to expand access to additional states.

With online acceptance of SNAP, Amazon’s selection, competitive pricing, and home delivery can improve the grocery shopping experience for SNAP participants. Customers can shop for groceries across two Amazon services: Amazon Grocery (shelf-stable food and household items in varying sizes), and Amazon Fresh (fresh produce, meat, and more; available in select metropolitan regions)—all with free shipping available. Amazon has waived the Prime membership requirement for SNAP customers to access Amazon Fresh, further reducing barriers to online grocery shopping.

For further insight into the impact of online SNAP purchasing, we spoke with three leading hunger relief organizations fighting to end food insecurity

• "SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is our first line of defense against hunger by serving as a critical safety net for 1.6 million New Yorkers who struggle to make ends meet. By enabling SNAP EBT as a payment method online, low-income New Yorkers now have increased access to healthy food choices with the ability to purchase fresh produce and groceries for their families online." – Food Bank for New York City (FBNYC)

• "The online SNAP purchasing pilot is one important piece of the puzzle for food access for low-income customers. It puts SNAP customers on an equal footing with other consumers and provides new options for them to get food into their hands. SNAP is one of our country’s most vital social safety nets and must continue to play a critical role in reducing hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. Online ordering is important in regular times but especially so when all Americans have been encouraged to practice social distancing and protect individual and public health. The pilot program helps vulnerable households gain greater access to healthy food while staying home." – Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)

• "We are grateful the USDA has been so quick to approve states’ requests to make online SNAP purchases possible for their residents. Online SNAP is an incredibly powerful tool that makes it easier for SNAP recipients to purchase nutritious food, particularly for those who have challenges getting to a bricks-and-mortar store due to myriad barriers, including the unique challenges presented by the current COVID-19 public health crisis. We applaud USDA, the SNAP processors, and the many retailers who have responded to meet this demand in record time during unprecedented circumstances." – Alliance to End Hunger

Amazon is proud to continue to expand online SNAP acceptance to beneficiaries in more states and we remain committed to making food accessible through online grocery shopping, offering all customers convenience, time savings, and low prices delivered straight to their door. Get more information, the current list of participating states, or register for the program.

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