It is not a surprise that most grocery stores or food retailers do accept food stamps, also widely known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The federal government makes the program available to people whose earnings are less than 130 percent of the poverty line.
Over 45 million people in the US are said to benefit from the program, which equals about 15% of the entire population. However, the beneficiaries of this program can only use it to buy eligible food commodities. Grocery stores can easily create accounts online in order to accept SNAP benefits as a payment for items that are eligible.
Let’s quickly look at the ways in which a grocery outlet can qualify to accept SNAP benefits. The first way is by the mix of the commodities that are actually available for sale, such as: meats, grains, produce, and dairy products. A grocery store has to sell at least three variations of food in different groups, starting with perishable foods, which can either be fresh or frozen.
A supermarket may also pass the eligibility test if at least 50% of its sales are gotten from eligible items, even if the required mix is not there. This is why a traditional retail store with a large variety of food is likely to be eligible.
Now let’s go back to the question. The answer to the question is yes, Costco does accept EBT cards. The same answer goes for Sam’s; they also accept EBT cards.
Why doesn’t every grocery store accept SNAP EBT food stamps?
The SNAP EBT cards are actually taken and accepted at so many places across the country, with the inclusion of gas stations, grocery stores, and, for a small part, online grocers. The federal government did not make it compulsory for all grocery stores or private enterprises to accept the EBT as a form of payment, just as stores are not mandated to accept credit or debit cards.
However, it can be in the best interest of a store to accept EBT. A recent study from market research firm IRI actually found out that SNAP purchases account for at least 12% of food and beverage income gotten both online and in stores.
For a store to be eligible for EBT payment, they must first make an application for the program and get authorized by the USDA to be part of it. It is also compulsory for them to meet at least one of these two criteria. They must have at least three different staple food varieties or categories. This is why most small stores can not participate because they do not fit.
Big grocery stores mostly pass the eligibility test compared to small stores because they have to get at least three varieties of food across categories such as:
- bread or cereal.
- Meat, poultry, or fish
- Dairy products
- Veggies or fruits
Also, the varieties stated must include three units of at least one perishable food choice in three categories. Perishable foods include anything that needs to be frozen or refrigerated. So let’s say if a store stocks canned vegetables but does not stock fresh fruit or vegetables, then it does not pass the eligibility test.
So, to answer the question, stores that do not accept SNAP EBT for payment either do not meet the eligibility requirements or do not see the need to go through the approval process.
How can I apply for SNAP?
Food stamps, since their inception, have helped people below the poverty level acquire groceries that would normally be very hard for them to get without the program. There is no doubt that the program has continued to reduce hunger among U.S. citizens.
To apply for food stamp benefits or get the necessary information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP), you should kindly locate your local SNAP office. You can easily locate local offices and state applications via the USDA national map. Local offices are also indicated in the state and local government pages of the telephone book. You’ll definitely find the offices listed under “food stamps,” “social services,” etc.
Each state in the US has its own application form.
If I receive unemployment benefits, will that make me ineligible for SNAP?
Even if one of the core reasons for SNAP is to ensure that no one stays hungry in a country like the United States of America, the rules that govern the program also reflect work and responsibility.
The general work requirements for SNAP are as follows:
There are actually two work requirements for SNAP. If you’re within the age range of 16–59 and are actually able to work, you will have to meet the overall work requirements to get SNAP benefits.
Work requirements include registering for work, being a participant in SNAP employment and training (E&T) or workfare if it is offered to you, and not intentionally quitting a job or shortening your work hours below 30 a week without any valid reason.
You are only excused from the following work requirements if you fall under any of the following categories:
- You work for 30 hours a week.
- You meet the work requirements for another program.
- You’re taking care of a child that is under 6 or you’re disabled.
- inability to work because of physical or mental limitations.
- Taking part in a drug or alcohol treatment program
- A student studying in school or taking a program at least half-time.
So, to sum it up, if you actually need the SNAP but you don’t meet the general work requirements, you are actually disqualified and ineligible. If you met the work requirements before and you stopped meeting them, then you’ll be disqualified for a month. If you meet them again and eventually stop meeting them, you’ll be disqualified for a longer period of time and even have the chance of being disqualified forever.
What groceries can I get with my SNAP EBT?
SNAP recipients cannot deny the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and how much it has helped citizens of the country who live below the poverty line.
The beneficiaries of the program are eligible to get so many different items in grocery stores that accept SNAP EBT payments. However, there’s a limit to the things your EBT card can actually get you. We’ll be looking at the different things you can and cannot get with an EBT card.
Groceries: The supplemental nutrition assistance program was brought to life because of the need to feed people, which means it’s basically for food. You can use your EBT card to get things like produce, meat, dairy milk, and bread.
Diapers and hygiene products: You actually cannot purchase any products that fall under the diaper and hygiene categories. Products such as soaps, deodorants, shampoos, toothpaste, and cosmetics can not be gotten with an EBT card.
Pharmacy commodities: Pharmaceuticals cannot be purchased with an EBT card.
Energy drinks: Some energy drink brands that fall under a particular category can actually be gotten with an EBT card. Energy drinks that come with nutrition fact labels can be gotten with an EBT card, while the ones that do not come with nutrition fact labels will not.
We’ve got bad news for you beer, wine, and liquor lovers. You cannot purchase any beer, wine, or liquor with an EBT card.
Cigarrettes and tobacco products: These are another products that still cannot be gotten with an EBT card because they not need meet the purpose of the SNAP.
Junk food: Junk foods are among the categories of product that the EBT covers. However, there have been calls for restrictions on certain types of food on the EBT program. As the rise of junk food-related illnesses like diabetes and obesity is on the rise in the country, some citizens claim that it is only logical that junk food should not be part of the program.
The general rationale behind the supplemental nutritional assistance program is to enable citizens to get food. So this is why the program does not cover certain categories of products.