Your Free Guide to Using EBT Cards

Your Free Guide to Using EBT Cards

Introduction to EBT Cards 

An EBT card, otherwise known as an Electronic Benefits Transfer card, is the primary method of receiving some types of government benefits. These include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits.

EBT cards can be used in a variety of ways to purchase items related to food and nutrition. These include groceries, meals, snacks, and other food-related items.

When making purchases with an EBT card, it’s important to check the back of the card for instructions regarding how to use it correctly. Generally, you swipe the card through a point-of-sale machine at a participating retailer or (in some cases) a restaurant. You may also need to enter your PIN (personal identification number) on the keypad provided by the merchant before any transaction is processed.

When using an EBT card, only one payment method may be accepted per transaction – cash, debit, or credit cards are not allowed as secondary forms of payment when using EBT. However, you can simply pay for the rest using cash, a credit card, or a debit card in a second transaction.

Additionally, some retailers may offer discounts or other incentives when making purchases with an EBT card.

Beneficiaries should check with the store in advance to determine if they accept EBT cards and what specific promotions they may have available. Not every store accepts EBT as a form of payment.

EBT cards may be used to purchase items online from certain approved retailers. However, online EBT usage varies in each state.

It’s important to keep track of your purchases and monitor your EBT balance regularly. This can be done by visiting the website of your state’s Department of Social Services. (Keep in mind, the name of your state’s program may depend on your state.) You may call the toll-free customer service number found on the back of your card for more information about balance inquiries and transaction histories. By taking these steps, you can ensure that you are using your card correctly and benefitting from its use in full.

Government Assistance Programs That Use EBT Cards

There are a number of government assistance programs that use EBT cards. These include the following:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 

SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to eligible individuals and families. Also known as food stamps, this program provides low-income households with funds that can be used to purchase food items eligible for the program. These funds are loaded on EBT cards regularly for qualifying families to use at participating stores.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – 

TANF is a federally funded program that provides temporary financial assistance to needy families. It is administered by the states through their own TANF programs, and funds are disbursed via EBT cards. This program helps qualified families with children that have limited income and resources, so they can attain self-sufficiency.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

WIC is a federally funded nutrition program that provides nutritious foods and education to pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children up to five years of age. Like SNAP and TANF, funds are loaded onto EBT cards to be used at participating stores.

How EBT Cards Work

EBT cards are issued by state agencies to people who participate in government assistance programs. The money that is loaded onto these cards can only be used to buy goods and items that are allowed for each program.

You can use your EBT cards in another state.

Funds can be loaded onto EBT cards regularly or at certain times throughout the month, depending on the program and state regulations. Once the card is loaded with money, it can be used at participating stores to buy food, groceries, and other approved items.

When making a purchase with an EBT card, you generally need to enter your PIN into a point-of-sale machine or keypad at participating retailers in order for the transaction to be completed. A PIN is a 4-digit code that is unique to the card; this helps prevent fraud.

Some stores may have restrictions on what can be purchased using an EBT card. Make sure to check with the retailer before making any purchases if you’re unsure whether they accept EBT cards or not.

Where to Use EBT Cards

EBT cards can be used at most grocery stores, food retailers, farmers markets and other locations that are approved to accept them. A list of all authorized retailers can typically be found on the website of your state’s Department of Social Services or by calling the toll-free customer service number found on the back of your card for more information about where you can use it.

You can also find a list of authorized retailers in your state by using the SNAP Retailer Locator tool provided by the USDA here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator 

EBT cards may also be used to purchase items online from certain approved retailers. However, the EBT card will not pay for related charges, such as delivery. 

However, online EBT usage varies in each state. To determine which retailers accept online EBT payments in your state, view the table below. This information is valid as of March 2024.

StateApproved Retailers
AlabamaALDI, Amazon, Costco, Food City ,
Gordon Food Services , Greer’s Cash Saver, Hometown Market of Limestone County, Kroger, Marino’s Market, Piggly Wiggly (Deatsville), Publix ,
Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart
Whole Food, Wright’s Markets, Inc.
AlaskaAmazon, Costco, Carr’s, Fred Meyer, Safeway, Target, Walmart
ArizonaAJ’s Fine Foods, Albertsons, ALDI, Amazon, Basha’s, Cardenas Markets, Costco, Eddie’s Country Store, El Super, Fry’s Food, Basha’s (Food City), Los Altos Ranch Markets, Norm’s IGA, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, Smith’s Food & Drug, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart & Whole Foods
Arkansas10 Box Cost Plus, Albertsons, ALDI, Amazon, Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy, City Markets, Costco, Harps Food Stores, Hays Supermarket, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Super 1 Foods, Target, Walmart & Whole Foods
CaliforniaAlbertsons, ALDI, Amazon, Andronico’s Bel Air, Big Square, Bristol Farms, Brothers Marketplace, Cardenas Markets, Co-Opportunity Market, Costco, El Super, ExtraMile by Jacksons, Food 4 Less (Kroger), Food 4 Less (PAQ), FoodMaxx, Foods Co, Glen Ellen Village Market, Gong’s IGA Market, Island Pacific Market, Jacksons Food Stores, Jimbo’s Naturally, Lazy Acres, Lucky Supermarkets, Mandela Partners, Mar Val Foods, Nob Hill, Northgate Markets, Pavilions, Raley’s, Ralphs, Rancho San Miguel Markets, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, Save Mart Supermarkets, Seafood City, Singing Frogs Farm, Sprouts Farmers Market, Stater Bros, Super King Market, Superior Grocers, Target, The Market by Superior, Thrive Market, Victory Produce, Vons, Walmart & Whole Foods
ColoradoAlbertsons, Amazon, City Market, Costco, King Soopers, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart & Whole Foods
ConnecticutACME, ALDI, Amazon, Big Y, BJs Wholesale Club, Costco, Food Bazaar, Geissler’s Supermarket, Massaro Community Farms, Northwest Corner Farm, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Price Rite, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, ShopRite, Stop & Shop, Target, Walmart & Whole Foods
DelawareACME, ALDI, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Costco, Food Lion, Giant of Maryland, Redner’s, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, ShopRite, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Wegmans & Weis Markets
District of ColumbiaALDI, Amazon, Giant of Maryland, Safeway & Whole Foods
FloridaALDI, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Costco, Earth Fare, Freshfields Farm, Gordon Food Services, Greer’s Cash Saver, Hitchcock’s Markets, Kai Kai Farm, Milam’s Markets, Mt. Plymouth Grocery, Publix, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart & Whole Foods
GeorgiaALDI, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Costco, Earth Fare, Food City, Food Lion, Kroger, Little Giant Farmers Market, Nam Dae Mun Farmers Market, Piggly Wiggly (HAC), Publix, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, Shoppers Value Foods (Macon), Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart & Whole Foods
HawaiiAmazon, Costco, Down to Earth Organic and Natural, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Target, Walmart & Whole Foods
IdahoAlbertsons, Amazon, Broulim’s, Costco, ExtraMile by Jacksons, Fred Meyer, Hoagland Meat, Jacksons Food Stores, Manito Super 1 Foods, INC, Rosauers Supermarkets, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, Smith’s Food & Drug, Super 1 Foods Brookshires, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods & Yoke’s Fresh Market
IllinoisALDI, Alpine Mobile, Amazon, Billy Doe Meats, Capri IGA, Costco, County Market, Dave’s Supermarket, Fairplay Foods, Food 4 Less (Kroger), Gordon Food Services, Harvest Market, HyVee, Jewel Osco, Kroger, Local Market, Mariano’s, Meijer, Metropolis Big John Grocery, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, Schnuck’s Market, Seafood City, Supermercados El Guero, Target, Tony’s Fresh Market, Top Box Foods, Walmart, Whole Foods & Woodman’s Markets
IndianaALDI, Amazon, Costco, Food 4 Less (Kroger), Giant Eagle, Gordon Food Services, Jay C Foods, Jewel Osco, Kroger, Martin’s Super Market, Meijer, Pay Less, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, Schnuck’s Market, Strack and Van Til, Target, Town and Country, Walmart & Whole Foods
IowaALDI, Amazon, Costco, HyVee, Jewel Osco, New Pioneer Food Co-op, Ramsey’s Market, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
KansasALDI, Amazon, Costco, Country Mart, Dillon’s, Harps Food Stores, HyVee, Pyramid Foods, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, The Merc Co-Op, Walmart & Whole Foods
KentuckyALDI, Amazon, Costco, Food City, Food Lion, Gordon Food Services, Kroger, Meijer, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, Target, Walmart & Whole Foods
LouisianaAlbertsons, Amazon, Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy, Butcher Boy, Costco, Mac’s Super Market of Jena, River Queen Greens, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Spring Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Super 1 Foods Brookshires, Walmart & Whole Foods
MaineAmazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Costco, Hannaford, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Shaws, Target, Walmart & Whole Foods
MarylandACME, ALDI, Amazon, Balducci’s, BJs Wholesale Club, Costco, Food Lion, Geresbeck’s Food Market, Giant Eagle, Giant of Maryland, Martin’s, Price Rite, Redner’s, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Seven Mile Market, ShopRite, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Wegmans, Weis Markets & Whole Foods
MassachusettsAdam’s Hometown Market – Adams, Adam’s Hometown Market – Deep River, Adam’s Hometown Market – Milford, ALDI, Amazon, Atkin’s Fruit Bowl, BJs Wholesale Club, Brothers Marketplace, Chaves Marketplace, Costco, Daily Table, Geissler’s Supermarket, Hannaford, Hilltown Mobile Market, McKinnon’s Supermarkets, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Price Rite, Ring Bros. Marketplace, Roche Bros, Shaws, Star Market, Stop & Shop, Target, Walmart, Wegmans & Whole Foods
MichiganALDI, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Bridget Street Market, Capital City Market, Costco, Earth Fare, Garden Fresh Market, Gordon Food Services, Martin’s Supermarket, Meijer, Quality Dairy Co., Rivertown Market, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, SharKar Farm, Target, Walmart, Wesco, Whole Foods & Woodward Corner Market
MinnesotaALDI, Amazon, Cash Wise, Coborn’s, Costco, County Market, Daily Cart, Ernie’s Food Market, Hornbacher’s, Hugo’s Family Marketplace, HyVee, Jerry’s Foods, Lunds & Byerly’s Mackenthun’s Fine Foods, Oasis Foods, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Target, Ukura’s Big Dollar, Walmart & Whole Foods
MississippiALDI, Amazon, Costco, Froogel’s, Greer’s Cash Saver, Roger’s Supermarket LLC, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Superlo Foods, Target, Walmart & Whole Foods
MissouriALDI, Amazon, Blue Parkway Sun Fresh, Bratcher’s Market, Cameron Market, Costco, Country Mart, County Market, FavTrip Independence, FavTrip KCMO, Gerbes, Gordon Food Services, Harps Food Stores, Harter House, Hays Supermarket, HyVee, Kroger, Price Cutter, Pyramid Foods, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Schnuck’s Market, Sliced Bread Market, Sprout’s Farmers Markets, Sweet Springs Market, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods & Woods Supermarket
MontanaAlbertsons, Amazon, Costco, Darlow’s Quality Foods, Manito Super 1 Foods INC, Reynolds Market, Rosauers Supermarkets, Safeway, Smith Food & Drug, Super 1 Foods Safeway, Target, Walmart & Yoke’s Fresh Market
NebraskaALDI, Amazon, Baker’s Plus, Costco, HyVee, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Target, Walmart & Whole Foods
NevadaAlbertsons 
Amazon 
Cardenas Markets 
Costco 
El Super 
ExtraMile by Jacksons 
FoodMaxx 
Island Pacific Market 
Jacksons Food Stores 
La Bonita Supermarkets 
Lin’s Fresh Market 
Mariana’s Supermarkets 
Marketon 
Safeway 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Save Mart Supermarkets 
Seafood City 
Smith’s Food and Drug 
Sprouts Farmers Market 
Target 
Vons 
Walmart 
Whole Foods
New HampshireALDI 
Amazon 
BJs Wholesale Club 
Costco 
Hannaford 
McKinnon’s Supermarkets 
Price Chopper Supermarkets 
Price Rite 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Shaws 
Target 
Walmart 
Whole Foods
New Jersey4th Ave Halal Meat Market 
ACME 
ALDI 
Amazon 
BJs Wholesale Club 
Costco 
Food Bazaar 
Food Circus Super Markets, Inc. DBA Super Foodtown 
Kings Super Markets 
Price Rite 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
ShopRite 
Sprouts Farmers Market 
Stop & Shop 
Target 
TheFreshGrocer 
Walmart 
Wegmans 
Weis Markets 
Whole Foods
New MexicoAlbertsons 
Amazon 
Costco 
El Super 
Ranch Market 
Safeway 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Smith’s Food and Drug 
Sprouts Farmers Market 
Target 
Walmart 
Whole Foods
New York3 Guys From Brooklyn 
ACME 
ALDI 
Alpine Mobil 
Amazon 
Balady Market 
BJs Wholesale Club 
Camellia Meats 
City Acres – Fidi 
City Acres – Long Island City 
Costco 
Dash’s Market 
Duncan’s Fish Market 
Fairway Market 
Ferreira Foodtown 
Food Bazaar 
Foodtown-Freshtown 
Gitto & Sons Health Food Inc. 
Gordon Food Services 
Gourmet Garage 
GreenStar Food Co-op 
Hannaford 
Hub on the Hill 
Manhattan Fruit Market 
Metro Acres 
Moisha’s Kosher Discount Supermarket, Inc. 
My Foodtown 
P&C Fresh – Cortland 
P&C Fresh – Ithaca 
Pioneer Supermarket 
Price Chopper Supermarkets 
Price Rite 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Schneider’s of Kirkwood 
ShopRite 
Skip’s on the Ridge 
Sleeping Lion Farm 
Stop & Shop 
Target 
The Butcher’s Choice Meat Market 
Tops Market 
Walmart 
Wegmans 
Weis Markets 
Whole Foods
North CarolinaALDI 
Amazon 
BJs Wholesale Club 
Carlie C’s 
Compare Foods 
Compare Foods Clayton 
Costco 
Deep Roots Market 
Earth Fare 
Fairvalue Grocery Stores 
Food Lion 
Harris Teeter 
Piggly Wiggly (Kinston) 
Publix 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Sprouts Farmers Market 
Target 
Walmart 
Wegmans 
Whole Foods
North DakotaALDI 
Amazon 
Cash Wise 
Costco 
Hornbacher’s 
Hugo’s Family Marketplace 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Target 
Walmart
OhioALDI 
Amazon 
BJs Wholesale Club 
Brookfield Sparkle Market 
Buehler’s Fresh Foods 
Costco 
Dave’s Supermarket, Inc. DBA Dave’s Supermarket 
Earth Fare 
Giant Eagle 
Gordon Food Services 
Jerky Pro 
Kroger 
Lucky’s 
Meijer 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Seaway Marketplace 
Stark Fresh 
Target 
Walmart 
Whole Foods
OklahomaALDI 
Amazon 
Apple Market 
Costco 
Country Mart 
Doc’s Food Stores, Inc. 
FireLake Discount Foods 
HAC Inc. DBA Cash Saver 
Harps Food Stores 
Homeland Food Stores 
Oasis Fresh Market 
Phelps Market 
Price Mart 
Reasor’s 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Sooner Foods 
Sprouts Farmers Market 
Target 
United Supermarkets 
Walmart 
Warehouse Market 
Whole Foods
OregonAlbertsons 
Amazon 
Astoria Co-op 
Bend Food 4 Less 
Costco 
ExtraMile by Jacksons 
Fred Meyer 
Go-Puff 
Lane County Bounty 
New Seasons Markets 
QFC 
Rosauers Supermarkets 
Roth’s Fresh Markets 
Safeway 
Stop and Go Shell 
Target 
Union Market 
Walmart 
Whole Foods
PennsylvaniaACME 
ALDI 
Amazon 
BJs Wholesale Club 
Burkholder’s Market 
Costco 
Cottman Food Market 
Dave’s Super Duper 
East End Food Coop 
Giant Company, LLC 
Giant Eagle 
Gordon Food Services 
Lake Region IGA 
Martin’s 
Mignosi’s Super Foodtown 
Price Chopper Supermarkets 
Price Rite 
Redner’s Markets 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
ShopRite 
Sprouts Farmers Market 
Stauffers of Kissel Hill 
Target 
TheFreshGrocer 
Tops Market 
Walmart 
Wegmans 
Weis Markets 
Whole Foods
Rhode IslandALDI 
Amazon 
BJs Wholesale Club 
Cartwheel RI 
Price Rite 
Saboriza 
Shaws 
Stop & Shop 
Target 
Walmart 
Whole Foods
South CarolinaALDI 
Amazon 
BJs Wholesale Club 
Costco 
Earth Fare 
Food Lion 
FoodShare SC 
Kroger 
Opie Drive-Thru Grocery 
Publix 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Sprouts Farmers Market 
Target 
Walmart 
Whole Foods
South DakotaALDI 
Amazon 
Buche Foods 
Costco 
HyVee 
Safeway 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Target 
Walmart
TennesseeALDI 
Amazon 
Costco 
Earth Fare 
Food City 
Food Lion 
Gordon Food Services 
H.G. Hill Foods Store 
Hilltop Supermarket 
Kroger 
Memphis Cash Saver 
Piggly Wiggly (Henderson) 
Publix 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Sprouts Farmers Market 
Superlo Foods 
Target 
Walmart 
Whole Foods
TexasAlbertsons 
ALDI 
Amazon 
Brookshire Brothers 
Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy 
Central Market 
Costco 
El Super 
Fiesta Mart 
FRESH by Brookshire’s 
H-E-B 
Harvest Natural Market 
Joe V’s Smart Shop 
Lewis Food Town 
Linda’s Mini Mart 
Little Red Box Grocery 
Pyburn’s Farm Fresh Foods 
Randalls 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Spring Market 
Sprouts Farmers Market 
Super 1 Foods Brookshires 
Target 
Tom Thumb 
Walmart 
Wheatsville Food Coop 
Whole Foods
Utah10 Box Cost Plus 
Albertsons 
Amazon 
Costco 
Dan’s Fresh Market 
Davis Food and Drug 
Dick’s Fresh Market 
ExtraMile by Jacksons 
Fresh Market 
Jacksons Food Stores 
Lin’s Fresh Market 
Macey’s 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Smith’s Food and Drug 
Sprouts Farmers Market 
Target 
Walmart 
Whole Foods
VermontALDI 
Amazon 
Costco 
Footprint Farm 
Hannaford 
Price Chopper Supermarkets 
Shaws 
Target 
Tops Market 
Walmart
VirginiaALDI 
Amazon 
BJs Wholesale Club 
Cooper’s Meats 
Costco 
Earth Fare 
Food City 
Food Lion 
Giant of Maryland 
Martin’s 
Publix 
Safeway 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Sprouts Farmers Market 
Target 
Walmart 
Wegmans 
Weis Markets 
Whole Foods
Washington7-Eleven 
A&J Select Market 
Albertsons 
Amazon 
Costco 
Fred Meyer 
Haggan 
Huckleberry’s Natural Market 
New Seasons Markets 
QFC 
Rosauers Supermarkets 
Safeway 
Seafood City 
Sprouts Farmers Market 
Super 1 Foods Rosauers 
Swanson’s Foods – Aberdeen 
Swanson’s Foods – Hoquiam 
Target 
Walmart 
Whole Foods 
Yoke’s Fresh Market
West VirginiaALDI 
Amazon 
Food Lion 
Giant Eagle 
Martin’s 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Spencer Cash Saver 
St. Marys Galaxy 
Target 
Walmart 
Weis Markets
WisconsinALDI 
Amazon 
Capital Centre Market 
Costco 
County Market (Jerry’s Enterprises, Inc.) 
Gordon Food Services 
HyVee 
Jerry’s Foods 
Lou Perrine’s Gas and Grocery 
Marketplace Foods 
Meijer 
Metro Market 
Miller and Son’s Supermarket 
Monterrey Market 
Pick N Save 
Ptacek’s IGA 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Schnuck’s Market 
Target 
Walmart 
Webster’s Marketplace 
Whole Foods 
Woodman’s Markets
WyomingAlbertsons 
Amazon 
Broulim’s 
Hines General Store 
Safeway 
Sam’s Club Scan and Go 
Smith’s Food and Drug 
Target 
Walmart 
Whole Foods

Checking the Balance of an EBT Card

It is important to check the balance of your EBT card regularly to make sure you have enough money available. Most states reload EBT cards monthly, while others may do so more or less frequently.

To quickly check the balance of an EBT card, you can usually look at the most recent receipt for a purchase you made using your EBT card. Most stores include the balance on the receipt, usually toward the bottom, so that customers can prepare properly.

There are a few other ways to check the balance of your EBT:

  • By phone – you can obtain the balance of your EBT by calling the toll-free customer service number found on the back of your card for more information about balance inquiries and transaction histories.
  • Online – you can visit the website of your state’s Department of Social Services or the website of your state’s EBT company. In most cases, you can log in with an online account that you created during your initial EBT setup. You might also need to provide your EBT card PIN.
  • At ATMs – some ATMs may be used to check the balance of your EBT card. However, not every state approves this method of checking your balance.

If you are having difficulty checking the balance of your EBT card, contact customer service for assistance. The toll-free customer service number can be found on the back of your card.

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