Learn About Using Your EBT Card on Amazon

How SNAP Benefits Work on Amazon

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides funds to help people purchase food. For many years, SNAP only worked at physical grocery stores and farmers markets. In recent years, the program expanded to include online shopping through Amazon and other retailers. This change allows people to shop for groceries from home and have items delivered to their address.

How to Find a Running Board Installation Professional →

Amazon participates in a program called SNAP Online, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture created. Through SNAP Online, customers can use their EBT card to buy groceries on Amazon.com. The program started as a pilot in a few states and has grown significantly. As of 2024, Amazon accepts SNAP benefits in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and some U.S. territories. This represents a major change from earlier years when only certain stores offered online SNAP shopping.

When you use your EBT card on Amazon, the transaction works similarly to using a debit card. The money comes directly from your SNAP account and goes to Amazon to pay for your order. Amazon keeps track of which items are SNAP-approved and which are not. The system automatically stops you from using SNAP funds on items that don't meet SNAP rules, such as hot prepared foods, alcohol, or household supplies.

Understanding how SNAP works on Amazon helps you plan your grocery shopping and budget your monthly benefits. Many people find online shopping through Amazon saves time and effort compared to going to physical stores. You can browse items from home, compare prices, and have groceries delivered.

Practical Takeaway: SNAP benefits can now be used to purchase qualifying groceries on Amazon in all states. Familiarize yourself with which items count as SNAP-approved foods before making your purchase.

What Foods You Can and Cannot Buy

SNAP has specific rules about which foods you can purchase with your EBT card. These rules were created to encourage people to buy nutritious foods that support health. Understanding these rules prevents disappointment at checkout and helps you shop more efficiently on Amazon.

Find a Personal Stylist Free Information Guide →

You can use SNAP to buy fruits and vegetables, whether fresh, frozen, or canned. Apples, bananas, broccoli, carrots, spinach, and many other produce items qualify. You can also purchase meat, poultry, and fish including beef, chicken, pork, salmon, and ground turkey. Dairy products count too, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter. Grains and breads like bread, rice, pasta, and oatmeal are covered. Beans and legumes, both canned and dry, are SNAP-approved. Peanut butter, nuts, and seeds also qualify. Snack foods like crackers and cookies can be purchased if they are unprepared foods rather than hot/ready-to-eat items.

Several categories of items are not covered by SNAP, and Amazon's system will prevent you from using SNAP funds on these items. Hot or prepared foods cannot be purchased, which includes items like rotisserie chicken, deli prepared salads, or heated foods from the grocery section. Alcohol and tobacco products are prohibited. Vitamins and medicines do not qualify, even if they are sold in the food section. Household items such as soap, shampoo, paper towels, and cleaning supplies cannot be purchased with SNAP. Non-food items like utensils, pots, pans, or storage containers are also excluded. Cosmetics and personal hygiene items beyond basic needs are not covered. Pet food does not qualify unless it is meant for human consumption in a specific way.

Amazon's website clearly marks which items are SNAP-eligible. When you shop on Amazon, you will see a label or note indicating whether an item qualifies for SNAP purchase. This makes it easier to identify what you can and cannot buy before adding items to your cart.

Practical Takeaway: Check Amazon's SNAP eligibility labels before adding items to your cart. Stick to whole foods and unprepared items, and avoid prepared foods, household goods, and non-food items.

Setting Up and Linking Your EBT Card

To use SNAP benefits on Amazon, you need to connect your EBT card to your Amazon account. This process involves a few steps that take about 10 to 15 minutes. Once complete, you can shop for groceries just like any other Amazon purchase.

Learn How to Video Call Between Android and iPhone →

First, you need an Amazon account. If you do not have one, visit Amazon.com and create a new account using an email address and password. Make sure you have access to the email you use for your account, as Amazon will send confirmations and updates to that address. Having an account set up before you begin makes the process faster.

Next, you will go to your account settings and look for a section related to payment methods or EBT. On Amazon, this is typically found under "Your Account" or "Account & Lists." Look for an option that says something like "Add a payment method" or "Link your EBT card." Click on this option to start the linking process.

When you select the option to add an EBT card, Amazon will ask for information about your card. You will need your EBT card number, which appears on the front of your card. You will also need to enter your card's expiration date and the security code on the back of the card. Additionally, you will need to provide your name, address, and date of birth. This information is used to verify that the card belongs to you and to confirm your SNAP benefit information with the state system.

After you enter this information, Amazon verifies it with your state's SNAP system. This verification step ensures that you have an active SNAP account and that the information you provided is correct. The verification usually takes a few minutes, but it may sometimes take up to 24 hours. Once verified, your EBT card will be linked to your Amazon account and ready to use.

You can link only one EBT card to your Amazon account. If you need to change or update your card, you will need to remove the old one and add the new one through the same process.

Practical Takeaway: Set up your Amazon account first, then navigate to your account settings to link your EBT card by providing your card number, expiration date, security code, and personal information.

Making Your First Purchase with EBT

Once your EBT card is linked to Amazon, shopping for groceries works much like any other Amazon purchase. The experience is straightforward, though there are a few things to keep in mind that are specific to SNAP shopping on Amazon.

Get Your Free Guide to Missouri DMV Documents →

Start by browsing Amazon for the groceries you want. You can search by specific items like "frozen broccoli" or "brown rice," or you can browse categories like produce, meat, or dairy. As you look at items, you will notice that SNAP-eligible items have a label or badge on the product page. This label makes it clear that you can use your SNAP benefits to purchase that item. Items that are not SNAP-eligible will not have this label.

Add SNAP-eligible items to your cart just as you would with any Amazon purchase. You can add as many items as you want, and you can remove items at any time before completing your purchase. Take your time reviewing your cart to make sure you have selected the right items and amounts. You can also use this time to check prices and compare similar products.

When you are ready to check out, proceed to your shopping cart and review your order. At this point, you will select your delivery address and choose your delivery method. Amazon offers different delivery options for grocery items, including standard delivery and faster options. Some areas may have next-day or same-day delivery, while others may have longer delivery windows. Choose the delivery method that works best for you.

During checkout, you will select your payment method. Since you have linked your EBT card, you should see it as an option. Select your EBT card as the payment method for your SNAP-eligible items. If your order contains both SNAP-eligible items and non-eligible items, Amazon will split the payment. Your EBT card will pay for the eligible items, and you will need to provide another payment method for the non-eligible items.

After you confirm your order, Amazon will process the payment. The money will be deducted from your SNAP account balance. You will receive a confirmation email with your order details and tracking information. Your groceries will arrive on the date specified during checkout.

Practical