In California, what stores accept EBT online? – SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot program was launched in 2019 to allow households in eight US states to make online grocery purchases from authorized retailers using their SNAP benefits.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing, the pilot program was substantially expanded to additional States, allowing more SNAP recipients access to EBT Online.
The pilot program was implemented in California on April 28, 2020. It enables CalFresh-eligible individuals and households to use their EBT cards to buy groceries online in participating store locations.
Here is a list of select retail stores that accept EBT online in California:
Amazon
CalFresh recipients can use their EBT benefits to buy food from Amazon grocery, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market. To make EBT payments, you can save your card information to your personal Amazon account or directly add an EBT card at checkout or in your wallet.
The CalFresh-eligible items in the Amazon grocery list are labeled as SNAP EBT Eligible, making it simple to identify what you can purchase with your CalFresh EBT.
You can buy CalFresh-eligible items shipped and sold by Amazon grocery store with an EBT card. It allows you free access to Amazon Fresh and can be used to purchase fresh produce and groceries in everyday package sizes.
Additionally, you can use an EBT card to buy the same products on Whole Foods Market on Amazon as your local Whole Foods Market.
EBT payments do not cover shipping and delivery charges. However, you can get your orders delivered for free on Amazon if you meet the following minimum purchase requirements:
- Amazon grocery orders of $25 or more qualify for free shipping.
- Amazon Fresh orders of $35 or more qualify for free delivery.
- Whole Foods Market on Amazon offers free grocery pickup on orders of $35 and above, yet all delivery orders are subject to a $9.95 service charge.
For further queries about CalFresh acceptance on Amazon, check here or contact Amazon customer service.
Albertsons and Subsidiary Stores
Albertsons and its subsidiary stores Safeway and Vons take CalFresh EBT cards for grocery delivery and DriveUp & Go pickup orders. You can order CalFresh and non-CalFresh eligible items together by using multiple payment methods at checkout.
To use your EBT card at any nearby Albertsons, Safeway, or Vons stores, follow these simple steps:
- Sign in to your account on the store website. You can make a new account if you do not already have one.
- Choose a store location that is near your delivery spot or where you would want to pick up your groceries. On the store locator page, click on ‘Additional Services’ and choose ‘SNAP/EBT Online’.
- Add the groceries you want to buy to the shopping cart. As mentioned, you can add both CalFresh and non-CalFresh eligible items to the cart. Once done, check out.
- Choose between pickup and delivery options. Specify additional information about the order.
- Enter your card details. Add a secondary payment method for the non-CalFresh part of your order or any extra fee.
- Place your order Soon after, you will get the order confirmation.
Visit the Albertsons, Safeway, and Vons store locator pages to find a nearby store.
Walmart
Walmart accepts both EBT benefits and EBT cash for online grocery pickup and delivery orders. Further, you get the choice to split your payment between a CalFresh EBT card and another mode of payment. The Walmart app enables you to browse and shop for groceries at your neighborhood Walmart store anytime, anywhere.
To pay using EBT online at Walmart, adhere to these steps:
- Sign in to your account on the Walmart website or mobile app. If your local store supports EBT, you will get an option to link your EBT card to your account. Within 24 hours, you will be able to use EBT online with no-basket minimums.
- Once the payment method changes are updated, start adding items to your cart. Click ‘Checkout’ to continue.
- Under ‘Select payment method’, choose EBT. If necessary, choose a secondary payment type. Click Continue.
- You will be taken to an external page to enter your EBT PIN. After entering your PIN, you will be directed back to Complete your Order.
In case of any issue, contact the Walmart Help Centre.
Instacart and Participating Stores
ALDI, Food4Less, Save Mart, FoodMaxx, and Lucky Supermarkets are a few retail stores in California that accept online EBT payments for home delivery on the Instacart website and mobile application. At the moment, Instacart does not allow EBT cash payments.
The number of retailers accepting EBT online on Instacart is constantly growing. The complete list of participating Instacart stores is available here.
There are several ways to see which items on Instacart are EBT eligible. You can go to your account settings and enable the ‘Show EBT eligibility by item’ option under the SNAP EBT info section. Alternatively, by choosing Explore > EBT Eligibility, you can add the ‘Only EBT-eligible items’ filter.
Instacart charges $3.99 per order for home delivery and $99 per year for unlimited deliveries. To use your EBT card effectively, you must add a credit or debit card to your Instacart account to cover delivery fees, tips, taxes, and any other non-CalFresh eligible items you wish to buy.
Instacart also allows you to replace and add items to your order after checkout.
Here is a list of items that are eligible for EBT SNAP
The following items can be purchased with an EBT card:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Breads and cereals
- Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat
Some Frequently Asked Questions Regarding CalFresh EBT Online
Can I use my EBT card to pay for delivery or shipping fees?
No, you can not use your EBT card to cover the delivery or shipping fee, tip, and other charges. It can only be used to pay for the CalFresh-eligible food items. You will need a secondary payment method to cover the delivery fee and tip. Your order can qualify for free shipping or delivery if it meets the minimum purchase requirement.
Can I get a refund on my online EBT orders?
Yes, you can request a refund on your online EBT orders, provided that it abides by the store policy.
If the store restricts returns in any way, for instance, imposing a time limit, only refunding ruined products, or prohibiting refunds entirely, the same policy applies to CalFresh EBT purchases. EBT cardholders are entitled to the same refund policy as any other customer.
All food items purchased with CalFresh benefits are refunded directly to your EBT card. Cash reimbursements for any CalFresh EBT return are prohibited.
Can I use CalFresh EBT to get Amazon Prime Membership?
No, you can not use your EBT card to pay for your Amazon Prime Membership. However, if you have a valid CalFresh EBT card, you may be eligible for a discounted Prime membership.
As a CalFresh recipient, you get the Amazon Prime EBT discount of 50% on your Prime membership. You only need to pay $6.99 per month to get all the great EBT Amazon Prime benefits, which include:
- Free shipping on all Amazon Fresh groceries
- Free, same-day, one-day, and two-day delivery on all eligible Amazon items
- Free, two-hour delivery on Prime Now items
- Access to exclusive discount offers and member savings.
- Access to thousands of free movies & TV shows available for instant streaming
- Access to unlimited streaming on Prime Music.
- Free, two-hour delivery on Prime Now items
- To verify your CalFresh EBT card and save with a discounted Amazon Prime Membership, visit the offer page.
Can I use P-EBT for online delivery orders?
Yes. You can use your P-EBT card for online delivery orders at CalFresh authorized retail stores. You can buy the same foods that you usually buy at a store with EBT.
In A Nutshell
CalFresh recipients can use their EBT card to shop for groceries online at Amazon, Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, and Walmart. You can use your EBT card to order food online that you would normally buy in-store and choose home delivery or pick up at participating locations.
EBT online does not cover the delivery, shipping fees, tip, and other additional charges. Therefore, most stores let you use your EBT card in combination with an alternate payment method to cover non-CalFresh eligible items and expenses.
The state of California is constantly working to increase the list of retailers who accept EBT online.
