Author: Britney Sam
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides financial assistance primarily to low-income and struggling individuals and households.
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is among the financial assistance given. EBT is a system designed to allow people enrolled in SNAP to pay for food using their program benefits.
The system comes with an EBT card that works like a regular debit card to purchase eligible nutritious food items from authorized retailers, such as Target and Costco.
Countless retailers accept EBT cards. This leads to the question if Walmart is part of the list.
Good news—Walmart accepts EBT cards!
You can use your card to buy SNAP-eligible items at Walmart stores across the United States.
SNAP-eligible items you can buy at Walmart
Here’s a quick list of food products you can purchase at Walmart with your SNAP benefits:
- Bread
- Cereals
- Red meat like ground beef, steak, and ribs
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Cold sandwiches
- Desserts like ice cream, cookies, or brownies
- Dairy products like milk, yogurt, cheese
- Salads
- Pork products, such as chops, bacon, tenderloin, and sausages
- Chips
- Snack crackers
- Energy drinks like Red Bull
- Soft drinks like Sprite and Pepsi
- Poultry and other meat products (chicken, ham, turkey)
What products are not allowed to purchase using an EBT card?
SNAP benefits, including the EBT card, were strictly created for those earning low to no income at all. With the primary goal of keeping qualified individuals living a healthy lifestyle. So, if you are enrolled in the program, you must know that there are items you can’t buy using the card.
Some of them are as follows:
- Tobacco products
- Alcohol
- Non-food items (pet food, cleaning products, medicine, hygiene items)
- Foods that are hot when sold
The EBT card is solely focused on helping qualified people live a healthier lifestyle, so it makes sense that unhealthy foods are not allowed.
The EBT card is accepted by many fast-food restaurants, but you are only allowed to purchase cold foods.
Does Walmart Accept an EBT card online?
Luckily, Walmart accepts online payments from EBT cardholders. This means that it can be quite convenient to use the card. The sad part is that it is not available in all states; only 44 states accept online payments.
Here’s how to pay with your EBT card online:
Step 1: If you don’t have a registered account, you need to start setting up your account. Nothing to worry about because this step is simple. You only need to provide some personal details, including your name, address, etc.
Step 2: Once you are done filling up your details, you can proceed with adding a payment method. This is where you need to add your EBT card details.
Step 3: You will see the ‘Payment Method’ tab. Find the ‘Add A Card’ option so you can type the details of your EBT card. Don’t forget to click ‘Save Card.’
Step 4: Once you are all set, you can start adding items to your basket. When you’re done shopping, you can select “Checkout” to complete your order.
Step 5: To pay for your order, go to “Select Payment Method” on your screen and select the checkbox to pay with EBT. Enter the EBT amount you’d like to use and enter your pin as the final step.
Takeaway
With everything said above, it is clear that Walmart does accept EBT cards both in its stores and online. You can use your EBT card to purchase a variety of food products, but with some restrictions. One thing is sure, SNAP and EBT cards are effective ways to promote a healthier lifestyle.