EBT is a card that is linked to the SNAP account, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered at the state level. It provides food assistance to low and no-income households across the U.S. However, SNAP benefits can only be used to purchase certain items.
Now, according to the USDA, EBT can only be used at certain locations to purchase certain products like:
- Fruits and vegetables.
- Meat and fish.
- Diary
- Breads and beverages
- Non-alcoholic beverages and snack foods
Although it is not specifically stated, soda can actually be purchased with the EBT card using SNAP benefits. A research report in 2016 organized by the USDA confirmed that soda is one of the most commonly purchased items by SNAP recipients in the states.
Things like cold drinks, coffee, and smoothies are also eligible for SNAP purchase, especially if the intention is for home consumption.
However, there are certain things that SNAP benefits can not be used for. They can not be used to purchase things like alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, vitamins, medicines, and other supplements, live animals, and non-food items.
It is necessary to take note of the things purchasable with an EBT card and things that aren’t, just to be clear on what you’re doing.
Where can I use my EBT card?
The federal government of the United States of America provides the supplemental nutrition assistance program in order to supplement the food budgets of low-income families and those in need.
This program actually gives its assistance to the populace through an electronic benefits transfer, also known as an EBT card.
This card can actually be used as a debit card that permits you to purchase some particular products that are allowed for the program in authorized retail stores.
You might now care to know the kinds of stores in which you are eligible to use your EBT card to purchase what you want and what kinds of items are available on the program to be purchased. Do visit the nutrition and food service pages to be more informed on this. Walmart is a good place to use your EBT card as they allow it in all their stores nationwide.
Now, let’s quickly look at the items available for you to get in stores where you are allowed to use your EBT card.
- Fresh, dried and frozen food
- Fresh dehydrated or iced vegetables
- Dairy products; eggs
- Red or white meat
- Beans
- Pasta
- Nuts
- Fish
- Cereals
- Bread
- Cooking ingredients such as salt or spices
- Baby formula
- Diabetic food
- Seeds to plant vegetables or fruits
- Non-alcoholic beverages such as soda
- Ice cream
- Water
- Cereal bars
- Water
- Juice
- Compotes
- Pretzels
- Jelly
- Sugar
- Honey, and other sweeteners.
Can I buy candy with EBT?
There have been several calls to ban certain food types available for purchase with the EBT card due to the high growing concerns of so many Americans developing obesity and diabetes due to junk-related foods.
Even if these concerns are still rampant, junk foods like yams or potato chips, snack crackers, ice cream, and soft drinks are still on sale, and even if these junk foods may not be healthy, they are still allowed to be purchased with the EBT card.
However, the several arguments that food assistance recipients should not be allowed to get items like steaks, lobster, and other costly organic foods have somehow been abandoned. This was an initiative led by the Trump administration to cut program costs and replace free-choice shopping with government-issued food boxes.
Low-income earners have the opportunity to get groceries that would be hard for them to purchase.
What can you buy with EBT?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is actually the most important program to curb hunger in the United States of America. According to the Department of Agriculture, SNAP provided food security to at least 41.5 million people in 2011.
The recipients of this program use an Electronics Benefit Transfer card, popularly known as an EBT, to purchase groceries and other items in stores where they’re eligible to use the card.
Let’s look at brief details about some of the things you can get with your EBT card.
Some energy drinks: You can use your SNAP credit to buy energy drinks. However, they have to meet USDA standards. So long as the energy drink has the nutritional facts label, then it definitely makes the cut on one of the energy drinks you can get from the SNAP program. Energy drinks like Rockstar, Red Bull, and Starbucks Double Shot make the cut for the category.
Yes, the famous coffee and tea can actually be gotten from this program. You can use your EBT card to buy a packaged coffee that comes with Keurig style k-cups. However, you cannot buy coffee that is already prepared and ready to drink. This is the same thing with tea.
Seeds and plants: you can buy edible plants like basil or food-producing plants such as tomatoes, vegetables, or seeds for planting with your EBT card. These can be gotten at any SNAP-approved store and at farmers’ markets.
Gift baskets, depending on their content: as long as half of what’s inside your gift basket is edible, it is possible for you to purchase them with SNAP.
Other items that can be purchased using your EBT card are: fresh, dried and frozen food; fresh dehydrated or iced vegetables; dairy products; eggs; red or white meat; beans; pasta; nuts; fish; cereals; bread; cooking ingredients such as salt or spices; baby formula; diabetic food; seeds to plant vegetables or fruits; non-alcoholic beverages such as soda; ice cream; water; cereal bars; water; juice; compotes; pretzels; jelly; sugar; honey; and other sweeteners.
Can you buy protein powder with EBT?
Well, you can actually buy protein powder with EBT. However, not all protein powders are eligible to be purchased with EBT. Only the protein powders that are sold as food can be purchased with food stamps. Protein powders that are sold as supplements are actually not eligible to be purchased with EBT.
Now you might want to know how protein powders can be sold as food.
Protein powders that are actually sold as foods do come with a label that contains their nutritional facts, while protein powders that are sold as supplements actually come with supplement facts on the label.
Let’s look at some of the protein powders you can get with food stamps.
Your protein powder has to contain nutritional facts for it to be eligible for food stamps. The majority of vitamins and supplements are actually not eligible for SNAP purchase.
You might also want to know why some companies decide to use the nutritional facts label.
They use the nutritional facts label more because their protein powder is more like food than a dietary supplement. These particular company protein powders are made with egg whites, coconut, cocoa, and monk fruit.
Next time you’re planning to head to a SNAP-eligible store to get protein powder with your EBT card, do well to check for protein powders with nutritional facts, as this can actually make or mar your decision to get protein powder with your EBT card.
Can you buy energy drinks with food stamps?
Yes, you actually can buy energy drinks with your EBT Card just as stated earlier. However, not all energy drinks are available or eligible to be gotten in SNAP-supported stores. Only energy drinks with a nutritional facts label on their cans are eligible to be gotten.
Emery drinks labeled with supplement facts instead of nutritional facts are not allowed to be purchased with your EBT card.
The main purpose of the program is to help people with low incomes get access to available food resources. You can also call it hunger alleviation. So the main concern is whether the product or item you’re willing to purchase counts as food, as this is only intended to cater to people with food needs, etc.
How do I know I have cash benefits on my ETB?
The easiest way to know if there’s cash in your ETB is by going ahead and withdrawing cash from an ATM using your EBT card. It is mostly recommended that you use an ATM located at a bank, supermarket, shopping mall, or other organization where the use of EBT cards is eligible or allowed.
It is necessary to know that some stores or establishments do not accept or are prohibited from accepting SNAP and TANF benefits.
These businesses also include: casinos and gaming establishments; race tracks; liquor stores; smoke shops; adult entertainment shops; and amusement parks. If you find an ATM at any of these locations, just know that they’ll not be able to pay you.
How long can I use my food stamps in another state?
Actually, if you use your EBT card in another state for more than 30 days, or if your applied-in-state suspects that you have moved, you’ll actually be likely to receive a call or letter about your out-of-state SNAP usage.