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 2023.

State	Approved Online Retailers
Alabama	ALDI Amazon Food City Greer’s Cash Saver Hometown Market of Limestone County Marino’s Market Piggly Wiggly (Deatsville) Publix Sam’s Club Scan and Go Sprouts Farmers Market Target Walmart Whole Foods Wright’s Markets, Inc.
Arizona	AJ’s Fine Foods Albertsons ALDI Amazon Basha’s (Food City) Basha’s Cardenas Markets Eddie’s Country Store Safeway Sam’s Club Scan and Go Sprouts Farmers Market Target Walmart Whole Foods
Arkansas	Albertsons ALDI Amazon Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy City Markets Harps Food Stores Hays Supermarket Sam’s Club Scan and Go Super 1 Foods Brookshires Target Walmart Whole Foods
California	Albertsons ALDI Amazon Brothers Marketplace Cardenas Markets Co-opportunity Market ExtraMile by Jacksons Food 4 Less FoodMaxx Gong’s IGA Market Jacksons Food Stores Jimbo’s Naturally Lucky Supermarkets Mar Val Foods Pavilions Raley’s Rancho San Miguel Markets Safeway Sam’s Club Scan and Go Save Mart Supermarkets Sprouts Farmers Market Stater Bros. Super King Market Superior Grocers Target The Market by Superior Vons Walmart Whole Foods
Colorado	Albertsons Amazon Safeway Sam’s Club Scan and Go Sprouts Farmers Market Target Walmart Whole Foods
Connecticut	ACME ALDI Amazon Big Y BJs Wholesale Club Food Bazaar Geissler’s Supermarket Price Chopper Supermarkets Price Rite Sam’s Club Scan and Go ShopRite Stop & Shop Target Walmart Whole Foods
Delaware	ACME ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Food Lion Giant of Maryland Safeway Sam’s Club Scan and Go ShopRite Sprouts Farmers Market Target Walmart Wegmans Weis Markets
District of Columbia	ALDI Amazon Giant of Maryland Safeway Target Wegmans Whole Foods
Florida	ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Earth Fare Freshfields Farm Greer’s Cash Saver Hitchcock’s Markets JC’s Market and Food Kitchen Mt. Plymouth Grocery Publix Sam’s Club Scan and Go Sprouts Farmers Market Target Walmart Whole Foods
Georgia	ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Earth Fare Food City Food Lion Little Giant Farmers Market Nam Dae Mun Farmers Market Piggly Wiggly (HAC) Publix Sam’s Club Scan and Go Shoppers Value Foods (Macon) Sprouts Farmers Market Target Walmart Whole Foods
Hawaii	Amazon Down to Earth Organic and Natural Safeway Sam’s Club Scan and Go Target Walmart Whole Foods
Idaho	Albertsons Amazon Broulim’s ExtraMile by Jacksons Jacksons Food Stores Manito Super 1 Foods, Inc. Rosauers Supermarkets Safeway Sam’s Club Scan and Go Super 1 Foods Brookshires Target Walmart Whole Foods Yoke’s Fresh Market
Illinois	ALDI Amazon Capri IGA County Market Dave’s Supermarket Fairplay Foods Jewel Osco Local Market Meijer Metropolis Big John Grocery Sam’s Club Scan and Go Schnuck’s Market Supermercados El Guero Target Tony’s Fresh Market Walmart Whole Foods Woodman’s Markets
Indiana	ALDI Amazon Giant Eagle Jewel Osco Kroger Meijer Sam’s Club Scan and Go Schnuck’s Market Strack and Van Til Target Town and Country Walmart Whole Foods
Iowa	ALDI Amazon Jewel Osco New Pioneer Food Co-op Ramsey’s Market Sam’s Club Scan and Go Target Walmart Whole Foods
Kansas	ALDI Amazon Country Mart Harps Food Stores Pyramid Foods Sam’s Club Scan and Go Sprouts Farmers Market Target The Merc Co-op Walmart Whole Foods
Kentucky	ALDI Amazon Food City Food Lion Meijer Sam’s Club Scan and Go Target Walmart Whole Foods
Louisiana	Albertsons Amazon Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy Sam’s Club Scan and Go Spring Market Sprouts Farmers Market Super 1 Foods Brookshires Walmart Whole Foods
Maine	Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Hannaford Sam’s Club Scan and Go Shaws Target Tozier’s Family Market Walmart Whole Foods
Maryland	ACME ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Food Lion Geresbeck’s Food Market Giant Eagle Giant of Maryland Martin’s Price Rite Safeway Sam’s Club Scan and Go ShopRite Sprouts Farmers Market Target Walmart Wegmans Weis Markets Whole Foods
Massachusetts	ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Brothers Marketplace Daily Table Geissler’s Supermarket Hannaford McKinnon’s Supermarkets Price Chopper Supermarkets Price Rite Roche Bros Shaws Star Market Stop & Shop Target Walmart Wegmans Whole Foods
Michigan	ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Earth Fare Garden Fresh Market Martin’s Super Market Meijer Quality Dairy Co. Sam’s Club Scan and Go Target Walmart Wesco Whole Foods
Minnesota	ALDI Amazon Cash Wise Coborn’s Ernie’s Food Market Hornbacher’s Hugo’s Family Marketplace Mackenthun’s Fine Foods Oasis Foods Sam’s Club Scan and Go Target Ukura’s Big Dollar Walmart Whole Foods
Mississippi	ALDI Amazon Froogel’s Greer’s Cash Saver Sam’s Club Scan and Go Superlo Foods Target Walmart Whole Foods
Missouri	ALDI Amazon Bratcher’s Market Cameron Market Country Mart County Market FavTrip Independence FavTrip KCMO Harps Food Stores Harter House Hays Supermarket Price Cutter Pyramid Foods Sam’s Club Scan and Go Schnuck’s Market Sliced Bread Market Sprouts Farmers Market Sweet Springs Market Target Walmart Whole Foods Woods Supermarket
Montana	Albertsons Amazon Darlow’s Quality Foods Manito Super 1 Foods, Inc. Reynolds Market Rosauers Supermarkets Safeway Super 1 Foods Brookshires Target Walmart Yoke’s Fresh Market
Nebraska	ALDI Amazon Safeway Sam’s Club Scan and Go Target Walmart Whole Foods
Nevada	Albertsons Amazon Cardenas Markets ExtraMile by Jacksons FoodMaxx Jacksons Food Stores Lin’s Fresh Market Mariana’s Supermarkets Safeway Sam’s Club Scan and Go Save Mart Supermarkets Sprouts Farmers Market Target Vons Walmart Whole Foods
New Hampshire	ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Hannaford McKinnon’s Supermarkets Price Chopper Supermarkets Price Rite Sam’s Club Scan and Go Shaws Target Walmart Whole Foods
New Jersey	ACME ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Food Bazaar Food Circus Super Markets, Inc. DBA Super Foodtown Price Rite Sam’s Club Scan and Go ShopRite Sprouts Farmers Market Stop & Shop Target TheFreshGrocer Walmart Wegmans Weis Markets Whole Foods
New Mexico	Albertsons Amazon Safeway Sam’s Club Scan and Go Sprouts Farmers Market Target Walmart Whole Foods
New York	3 Guys From Brooklyn ACME ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Dash’s Market Fairway Market Ferreira Foodtown Food Bazaar Foodtown-Freshtown Gourmet Garage GreenStar Food Co-op Hannaford Hub on the Hill Manhattan Fruit Market My Foodtown Pioneer Supermarket Price Chopper Supermarkets Price Rite Sam’s Club Scan and Go Schneider’s of Kirkwood ShopRite Skip’s on the Ridge Stop & Shop Target Tops Market Walmart Wegmans Weis Markets Whole Foods
North Carolina	ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Carlie C’s Compare Foods Compare Foods Clayton Deep Roots Market Earth Fare Fairvalue Grocery Stores Food Lion Piggly Wiggly (Kinston) Publix Sam’s Club Scan and Go Sprouts Farmers Market Target Walmart Wegmans Whole Foods
North Dakota	ALDI Amazon Hornbacher’s Hugo’s Family Marketplace Sam’s Club Scan and Go Target Walmart
Ohio	ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Buehler’s Fresh Foods Dave’s Supermarket, Inc. DBA Dave’s Supermarket Earth Fare Giant Eagle Just Dash It Lucky’s Meijer Sam’s Club Scan and Go Target Walmart Whole Foods
Oklahoma	ALDI Amazon Apple Market Country Mart Doc’s Food Stores, Inc. FireLake Discount Foods HAC Inc. DBA Cash Saver Harps Food Stores Homeland Food Stores 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
Oregon	Albertsons Amazon Bend Food 4 Less ExtraMile by Jacksons Rosauers Supermarkets Roth’s Fresh Markets Safeway Stop and Go Shell Target Walmart Whole Foods
Pennsylvania	ACME ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Burkholder’s Market Cottman Food Market Dave’s Super Duper Giant Company, LLC Giant Eagle Lake Region IGA Martin’s Mignosi’s Super Foodtown Price Chopper Supermarkets Price Rite 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 Island	ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Cartwheel RI Price Rite Saboriza Shaws Stop & Shop Target Walmart Whole Foods
South Carolina	ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Earth Fare Food Lion Opie Drive-Thru Grocery Publix Sam’s Club Scan and Go Sprouts Farmers Market Target Walmart Whole Foods
South Dakota	ALDI Amazon Buche Foods Safeway Sam’s Club Scan and Go Target Walmart
Tennessee	ALDI Amazon Earth Fare Food City Food Lion H.G. Hill Foods Store Memphis Cash Saver Piggly Wiggly (Henderson) Publix Sam’s Club Scan and Go Sprouts Farmers Market Superlo Foods Target Walmart Whole Foods
Texas	Albertsons ALDI Amazon Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy Central Market FRESH by Brookshire’s H-E-B Joe V’s Smart Shop Lewis Food Town Randalls Sam’s Club Scan and Go Spring Market Sprouts Farmers Market Super 1 Foods Brookshires Target Tom Thumb Walmart Whole Foods
Utah	Albertsons Amazon 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 Sprouts Farmers Market Target Walmart Whole Foods
Vermont	ALDI Amazon Hannaford Price Chopper Supermarkets Shaws Target Tops Market Walmart
Virginia	ALDI Amazon BJs Wholesale Club Cooper’s Meats 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
Washington	A&J Select Market Albertsons Amazon Rosauers Supermarkets Safeway Sprouts Farmers Market Super 1 Foods Rosauers Target Walmart Whole Foods Yoke’s Fresh Market
West Virginia	ALDI Amazon Food Lion Giant Eagle Martin’s Sam’s Club Scan and Go Spencer Cash Saver St. Marys Galaxy Target Walmart Weis Markets
Wisconsin	ALDI Amazon Capital Centre Market Lou Perrine’s Gas and Grocery Marketplace Foods Meijer Miller and Son’s Supermarket Ptacek’s IGA Sam’s Club Scan and Go Schnuck’s Market Target Walmart Whole Foods Woodman’s Markets
Wyoming	Albertsons Amazon Broulim’s Hines General Store Safeway Sam’s Club Scan and Go 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.