Key Takeaways
- Limited Eligibility: EBT can be used only for certain items like fresh produce and pantry staples, excluding hot foods or restaurant deliveries.
- Specific Services: Only select delivery services like Instacart, Amazon Fresh, and Walmart accept EBT for grocery deliveries.
- Convenience: EBT payment for grocery delivery enhances access to food for those with limited mobility or in lower-income households.
- Budgeting is Key: To maximize EBT benefits, careful budgeting and seeking discounts specific to EBT cardholders are recommended.
Understanding EBT-Eligible Food Delivery
Before we get into the specific delivery services, let’s discuss what you can buy using EBT payment.
The program helps people add more groceries to their monthly food budget.
Recently, the program has expanded to include EBT payments for grocery delivery. This means you can order food straight to your door instead of going to a physical supermarket!
However, EBT can only be used for things like fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, and pantry staples. You can’t buy any hot food using the service, which rules out restaurant delivery services.
However, you can still use it for delivery platforms that offer grocery delivery. Most of these services will list the stores you can buy from, and these range from places like supermarkets, convenience stores, and grocers.
List of Food Delivery Services That Accept EBT
Other Food Delivery Services That Accept EBT
Unfortunately, that’s it for food delivery services that offer EBT payments!
As of writing, you can’t use EBT for Grubhub orders as their focus is on hot food delivery.
If Uber Eats accepts EBT, they don’t currently offer it. However, they have recently announced that they’re looking to implement it in the future as they expand into grocery delivery. So, keep an eye out for that announcement!
How to Use EBT for Online Food Delivery
It’s easy to pay using EBT cards for online delivery services. The process may vary between services, but they’re all generally the same:
1. Add your card as a payment method
The first thing you need to do is add your EBT card as your preferred payment method. This will be under a separate tab to your debit/card card, typically a ‘SNAP’ or an ‘EBT’ section.
You just need to enter your card details and add them to your profile.
2. Fill your cart
Next comes the easy part – choosing what to buy!
Remember to only add items that are eligible for EBT payments. This includes things like fresh vegetables or pantry staples. Most services will make it super easy for you and label the products eligible for you to buy.
3. Checkout and delivery
When you’re ready to pay, head to the checkout screen and choose the EBT payment method. From here, the service will take you through the rest of the payment.
You can even choose to nominate a particular amount to pay for with EBT*. This is handy if you want to buy non-eligible EBT products alongside your shop. After this, you’ll need to enter your PIN and complete the payment.
Once you’ve paid, you’ll be able to go through the delivery process and receive your goods!
*Please note that some services might not let you use your EBT card to pay for the delivery cost. If this happens, you can use an alternate payment method.
Benefits of Using EBT for Food Delivery
While you can’t use your EBT card for hot food delivery, you can still use it for grocery delivery.
The introduction of EBT cards to online food delivery has made it easier for people to access food items. Now lower-income households can afford to use the service to make grocery shopping easier.
It also makes food delivery services more accessible for people with disabilities. Individuals with limited mobility or those who need to care for a loved one at home can now use the service with their EBT cards.
Furthermore, it’s a great way to maintain social distancing in our post-COVID world. If you’re sick or have sick family members, getting groceries delivered to your doorstep makes life simpler.
Overall, using EBT cards in food delivery services makes healthy food accessible to everyone, regardless of their income or physical abilities.
Tips for Maximizing EBT Food Delivery Benefits
However, using food delivery services does come at a cost! This mostly comes from the delivery fee, which some services won’t let you pay for using your EBT card.
There are plenty of ways you can try to save money, such as:
1. Make a budget (and stick to it!)
Having a budget makes it easier to not overspend on online delivery services.
You could break it down into categories such as ‘meat,’ ‘vegetables,’ and ‘pantry staples.’ Or just make sure you don’t spend more than a certain amount. There are lots of great budgeting tips to explore on the Internet.
2. Find discounts for EBT cardholders
Did you know some food delivery services offer discounts for EBT cardholders? These can range from cheaper fees to cheaper subscription rates.
If you plan to order your groceries from one service a lot, signing up for a cheaper subscription might be a great way to save money in the long run.
3. Remember to only buy EBT-eligible products
While you can still have non-EBT products on your order, you’ll have to pay for these using a different method.
Things like alcohol and hot food won’t be able to go on your EBT card, so skip those if you want to save yourself the hassle!
Thankfully, each delivery service will have a way of marking out what products you can buy with your EBT cards. This makes it easier to pick out the products you need and can pay for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Buy Hot Food With EBT in California?
California currently operates Restaurant Meals under the Calfresh Program to give access to hot food to those in need.
This means you can pay at certain restaurants with your EBT card. You will, however, need to meet one of the following conditions: if you’re homeless, disabled, or elderly (age 60+).
Does Amazon Take EBT?
Amazon Fresh accepts EBT as a payment method. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to buy things from the normal Amazon online store using EBT. However, you can buy things like fresh vegetables and meat through Amazon Fresh, their grocery supply chain.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, there are a few different services that offer EBT cards as a payment option. These include Instacart, Doordash, Amazon Fresh, and Walmart Online Ordering.
Other places like Grubhub and UberEats don’t currently offer it as a payment method, but they might in the future!
Using your EBT card to order groceries online might make it easier for you to buy essential food items.
With a little research and planning, you can make the most of this program and get access to quality groceries without leaving your home!
