Does Amazon Fresh Accept SNAP Benefits?
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Since its conception in 1939, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has helped millions of Americans gain access to the food they need to get by. A lot has changed since SNAP launched, including the way many people buy groceries. With online grocery stores like Amazon Fresh establishing themselves as options in the food shopping sphere, it may lead customers to wonder whether their SNAP benefits will keep up with the times. Fortunately, if you have a SNAP electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, you can use it to order groceries via Amazon Fresh.
According to Amazon's Fresh dedicated SNAP FAQ page, the site is taking part in a new United States Department of Agriculture program to allow people across the country with SNAP to use their benefits online. The only requirements are that you must be a customer with Amazon, and you must have an up-to-date EBT card. You do not have to have an Amazon Prime membership if you're using your SNAP benefits to shop with Amazon Fresh. In order to register your EBT card with Amazon, just visit the site and click the box that says "Add your SNAP EBT card."
Use SNAP EBT cards with Amazon Fresh for groceries
Of course, the only items you can buy with your EBT card through Amazon Fresh are those that are SNAP eligible. That includes most common grocery items such as produce, meat and dairy, and snacks, and excludes items like alcohol, vitamins, and cleaning products. If you are unsure what items qualify as being SNAP eligible, check the USDA website.
It is also worth noting that items sold on Amazon from third-party retailers are not eligible to be purchased with SNAP funds. Only SNAP eligible grocery items that are sold by Amazon Fresh directly can be bought with your benefits. Checking for the description of "Shipped and Sold by Amazon" on a product's page is a good way to confirm that you're not buying from a third party.
Amazon Fresh isn't the only online food retailer that's embracing SNAP benefits — DoorDash is also accepting EBT payments. In our modern world, the way groceries are bought and sold will continue to change. For now, it's nice to know that companies like Amazon are accepting SNAP payments to make vital food more accessible to everyone.