Can You Use EBT On DoorDash Orders?

DoorDash is a popular food delivery service in the United States, Canada, and Japan.

But unlike other delivery apps and services, many of which offer items from grocery stores and pharmacies, DoorDash only delivers foods from local restaurants.

This policy may make you wonder, “Can you use EBT on DoorDash orders?” This guide will answer this question and explore some of the essential rules for Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.

That way, you can order food with confidence while enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Can You Use EBT on DoorDash?

Unfortunately, you can’t use EBT cards to pay for DoorDash orders.

However, DoorDash accepts other payment method types, including credit and debit cards, PayPal funds, and DoorDash gift cards.

Why Can’t You Use EBT on DoorDash?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) runs SNAP and makes the rules about which goods you can purchase using SNAP EBT funds.

You can’t use EBT for DoorDash orders because SNAP recipients can only purchase unprepared grocery items with their EBT cards.

Because DoorDash connects customers with local restaurants serving hot food and premade meals, they legally can’t accept SNAP funds.

What Are the Rules for EBT Cards?

EBT cards (formerly called food stamps) come with a strict set of rules and regulations that dictate their use.

These rules vary from state to state.

For example, most states prohibit an EBT cardholder from using SNAP funds to purchase alcoholic beverages, pre-prepared hot foods, pet food, and personal hygiene items like soap.

However, those living in Arizona and California can buy alcohol and tobacco products with their EBT card.

Some states also allow EBT cardholders to use an EBT payment for gambling, lottery tickets, or purchasing firearms.

But paper products like toilet paper fall outside EBT fund allowances, regardless of the state.

Let’s take a moment to explore what you can and can’t buy with EBT cards to ensure your online delivery orders go through without a hitch.

What Can You Buy With EBT?

The types of items you can buy with EBT funds are extremely limited.

Generally, you can only purchase with SNAP funds are unprepared foods.

Eligible food items include:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Bread
• Meats
• Dairy products
• Cereal
• Pasta
• Seeds

The list of non-applicable items is far longer than the list of accepted items.

These restrictions can make it challenging for those who lack access to working stovetops, ovens, or refrigerators to eat wholesome meals.

The small selection of accepted EBT goods can also make it tricky for those with low incomes to maintain adequate personal hygiene or afford household cleaning products.

What Can’t You Buy With EBT?

There are quite a few items that you can’t purchase with SNAP EBT funds.

These goods tend to fall into several broad categories, including:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Tobacco products
• Vitamins
• Prepared food that is served hot
• Pet foods
• Cleaning supplies
• Paper products
• Personal hygiene items
• Cosmetics

Unfortunately, these restrictions make purchasing toilet paper, shampoo, diapers, or laundry detergent with SNAP funds impossible.

Instead, customers must buy these ordinary (and often necessary) household items with cash, debit, or credit card payments.

But not all states restrict EBT cardholders from using their SNAP funds to purchase alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, lottery tickets, or firearms.

Check your state’s specific SNAP restrictions and allowances to determine what items are available for purchase with your EBT card.

You’ll also want to review the online grocery shopping options that accept EBT cards for payment.

What Other Food Delivery Services Accept EBT?

Although you can’t order your favorite restaurant meals using an EBT card, you can use SNAP benefits to purchase groceries for delivery.

Some of the most notable food delivery services that accept EBT SNAP funds include Instacart, Amazon Pantry, and Walmart.

Does Instacart Take EBT?

Most grocery stores on the Instacart app or website allow customers to pay for their groceries with SNAP EBT cards.

You can also order grocery items for pickup via Instacart.

The primary exceptions to this rule are grocery stores located in Alaska, Montana, and Louisiana.

Amazon Pantry

Amazon Pantry was once an exclusive service available only to Amazon Prime members.

It allowed Prime Pantry members to order groceries with free delivery or a discounted delivery fee.

As of 2021, this service is in the process of being discontinued.

Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods deliveries have taken the place of Amazon Pantry.

Both accept SNAP EBT payments!

Walmart

Walmart allows customers to purchase grocery items with EBT cards.

However, the goods must fall within acceptable items lists.

Consequently, you can’t purchase paper products, hygiene items, and pre-prepared hot foods with EBT cards.

Most Grocery Stores

Most grocery stores throughout the United States accept EBT cards as payment for delivered groceries.

For example, grocery stores that allow customers to pay for food items with EBT cards include:

• ALDI
• Earth Fare Market
• Food Lion
• Publix
• Safeway
• Save Mart

Still, rules and limitations vary from state to state.

For example, some states (like Alaska and Louisiana) don’t allow SNAP beneficiaries to use their EBT cards for online grocery orders.

Where Can You Use EBT for Food Delivery?

You can use EBT for online grocery delivery in most of the United States.

The only states that don’t permit SNAP beneficiaries to use their EBT card for food deliveries are Alaska, Montana, and Louisiana.

As such, you can use EBT to order grocery deliveries in:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennesee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

The District of Columbia (D.C.) residents can also order groceries online via Amazon’s food delivery services, including Amazon Pantry and Amazon Fresh.

What Food Delivery Apps Don’t Accept EBT?

Though many grocery-based food delivery apps accept EBT payments, several do not.

Most delivery apps that don’t take EBT payments focus on restaurant orders.

Because SNAP benefits don’t include restaurant meals, these apps typically don’t accept EBT cards as a valid means of payment.

Some of the most popular food delivery services that don’t take EBT cards include Uber Eats, Postmates, Grubhub, and Shipt.

1. Uber Eats

Though Uber Eats offers limited access to convenience stores like 7 Eleven and WaWa, their primary partnerships are local restaurants.

As a result, this food delivery app doesn’t accept EBT cards as a form of payment.

2. Postmates

Postmates delivers groceries, restaurant meals, and alcohol.

However, because they don’t solely deliver grocery items, SNAP EBT card payments aren’t accepted on the Postmates website or via the app.

3. Grubhub

Much like Uber Eats, Grubhub delivers pre-made restaurant meals.

But because these items don’t fall under the accepted range of SNAP-approved goods, Grubhub customers cannot pay for their orders using EBT cards.

4. Shipt

Shipt is a delivery service owned by Target, but it delivers goods from various stores, including CVS, Costco, Petco, and OfficeMax.

Unfortunately, Shipt doesn’t accept EBT cards as a valid form of payment, likely because it delivers far more than groceries.

Final Thoughts

DoorDash doesn’t accept EBT for orders, as EBT recipients aren’t permitted to use EBT funds to pay for restaurant orders.

That said, Instacart, AmazonFresh, and Walmart accept EBT cards as a payment source.

To learn more about delivery services that accept EBT cards for payment, check out this Ridester guide now.