Frequently Asked Questions

EBT Eligibility and Sign-up

Who is eligible to use EBT on Amazon?

Customers with a valid EBT card can use their SNAP and/or Cash EBT funds on Amazon. We accept SNAP EBT nationwide and Cash EBT in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Washington D.C., West Virginia.

The following delivery restrictions apply for New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island:

1. New Hampshire: Delivery restricted to New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont only.
   
2. Vermont: Delivery restricted to Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York only.
   
3. Rhode Island: Delivery restricted to Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts only.
   

How do I sign up to use my EBT benefits on Amazon?

To shop using your EBT card on Amazon, visit www.amazon.com/ebt and follow the instructions. If you are not already an Amazon customer, you will need to create an account. There are also opportunities to add an EBT card during checkout or in your wallet.

Do I need a Prime membership to use my EBT card on Amazon?

No. Customers with a valid EBT card issued by a supported state can purchase eligible items using SNAP and/or Cash EBT benefits without a Prime membership.

Can I have more than one EBT card registered to my Amazon account at a time?

No. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, which manages Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, now requires online retailers to limit the number of EBT cards registered per online account to one at a time.

Can I pay with EBT using my Amazon Business account?

Amazon Business accounts are not eligible for EBT payment. You will need to sign into your personal account to use your EBT benefits online.

Eligible Items and Stores

What can I purchase with Cash EBT on Amazon?

Cash EBT benefits can be used to pay for most products and services, including non-food items, shipping fees and items sold by third-party sellers. Cash EBT cannot be used to buy digital items, subscriptions, Prime memberships, drinking alcohol, jewelry, or products related to gambling, tobacco, firearms, adult entertainment or marijuana. Cash EBT is not currently accepted on Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market.

What can I purchase with SNAP EBT on Amazon?

SNAP EBT funds can be used for SNAP-eligible food items that are shipped and sold by Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, or Whole Foods Market. SNAP cannot be used to pay for tips, delivery, shipping, and service fees, gift wrap, food items sold by third-party sellers, or non-eligible grocery items, or regulatory fees like sweetened beverage taxes (where applicable). You can identify which items on Amazon are eligible for purchase with SNAP by looking for the “SNAP EBT eligible” label near the product name. Visit the USDA’s website (www.fns.usda.gov) for more information on eligible food items.

What are the differences between groceries on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market?

Customers can use their SNAP EBT benefits to purchase groceries on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market (available in select regions).

Amazon Fresh

Amazon Fresh is similar to your typical grocery store, delivering perishable, shelf-stable and household products in everyday package sizes, available in select regions. Customers with a registered EBT card on Amazon get free unlimited delivery with Amazon Grocery Subscription on orders over $35 for $4.99/month (vs $9.99/month). Regular delivery orders (without subscription) below $100 include a service fee ranging from $6.95 to $9.95. Pickup in Amazon Fresh stores is free. Where available. Learn more about Amazon Fresh. Your SNAP EBT card cannot be used to pay for the shipping fee if you do not meet the order minimum and you will need to provide an alternate form of payment. Customers can schedule their preferred delivery time within a 1 or 2-hour delivery window, as early as same day. Please visit About Amazon Fresh Delivery for more information. For more information on Amazon Fresh, visit About Amazon Fresh.

Groceries on Amazon

Groceries on Amazon feature pantry staples, shelf-stable food and household items, available nationwide. There is no minimum spend for Prime members to receive free shipping. If you are not a Prime member, you can receive free delivery on Amazon.com grocery orders by purchasing $35 or more of eligible items. You can also place a smaller order and pay a shipping fee. Your SNAP EBT card cannot be used to pay for the shipping fee if you do not meet the order minimum and you will need to provide an alternate form of payment.

NOTE: We strive to keep costs low for you by shipping in the most efficient way possible. Therefore, the minimum order size for shipping is calculated separately for Amazon Fresh and Amazon.com groceries.

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market is the world’s leading natural and organic foods retailer. Whole Foods Market on Amazon offers many of the same great products found in Whole Foods Market stores. Customers with a registered EBT card on Amazon get free unlimited delivery with Amazon Grocery Subscription on orders over $35 for $4.99/month (vs $9.99/month).

Grocery pickup is free on orders $35+. Regular delivery orders (without subscription) include a $9.95 service fee. Grocery pickup is free on orders $35+. Where available. Your SNAP EBT funds cannot be used to pay for the service fee. Available in select regions. For more information on Whole Foods Market on Amazon, visit About Whole Foods Market on Amazon

Can I add a tip to an Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market on Amazon order when I pay with SNAP EBT?

SNAP funds can only be used for select food items and cannot be used for fees or tips. To add a tip to an Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market on Amazon order, a separate credit or debit card must be used.

Discounted Amazon Grocery Subscription

Which stores participate in the Amazon Grocery Subscription?

Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market.

What is the discounted Amazon Grocery Subscription?

Amazon Grocery Subscription offers: unlimited FREE delivery on orders over $35 from Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market, FREE 30-minute pickup from Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh with no order minimums, and FREE access to 1-hour delivery windows. Amazon is making this discounted offer available to EBT participants for $4.99/month (vs. $9.99/month regular) in eligible regions without Prime membership fees. You can start your 30-day free trial here and renew automatically.

How do I qualify to the discounted Amazon Grocery Subscription?

To qualify register an EBT card to your Amazon account. You can learn more about the discounted Amazon Grocery Subscription here and start your 30-day free trial.

Can I pay for the grocery subscription with my EBT card?

No. The grocery subscription cannot be paid for with EBT, you will need and alternative payment method such as a debit or credit card.

Eligible Items

What items are eligible for purchase with SNAP EBT funds?

According to government requirements, SNAP EBT funds can only be used for SNAP-eligible food items that are shipped and sold by Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, or fulfilled by Whole Foods Market. You can identify which items on Amazon are eligible for purchase with SNAP by looking for the “SNAP EBT eligible” label near the product name.

Can I buy non-SNAP eligible items with an alternative form of payment?

Yes, you can buy non-SNAP-eligible items with other forms of payment. Simply add an additional payment method, such as a gift card, credit card or debit card at checkout. With Amazon PayCode, you can pay for Amazon orders with cash by visiting a participating location near you. Visit Amazon PayCode to learn more.

Why do similar grocery items have different SNAP eligibility? Ex. One flavor or size is eligible while another is not.

According to USDA requirements, food items must be shipped and sold by Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh or fulfilled by Whole Foods Market to be eligible for purchase with SNAP EBT funds. Since Amazon allows third parties to sell items in the Amazon store, a product may have multiple offers by multiple sellers. In that case, only the grocery offer that is sold by Amazon will be eligible for purchase with SNAP EBT. These offers indicate that they are “Shipped and Sold by Amazon” on the product detail page.

Why can’t I pay for my ‘Subscribe & Save’ item with my SNAP EBT card?

According to government requirements, SNAP purchases require customers to authorize the transaction by entering their PIN. Since “Subscribe & Save” orders are automatic recurring orders, this authorization is not possible. You may still subscribe to items using an alternative form of payment, such as a debit or credit card.

Shipping and Delivery

Can I use EBT funds to pay for shipping or delivery?

SNAP EBT funds can only be used to buy eligible food items on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market (where applicable). Cash EBT funds can be used to pay for fees. Cash EBT is not currently accepted on Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market.

If I place a grocery order without using my SNAP EBT benefits, can I still get free shipping (provided I meet the minimum order size for free shipping)?

Yes. You can order from Amazon without using your SNAP EBT benefits and still receive free shipping if you spend the minimum amount to qualify for free shipping on your Amazon Fresh or Amazon groceries order. You can get unlimited FREE delivery on orders over $35 from Fresh and Whole Foods Market with Grocery Subscription for $4.99/month. Whole Foods Market does not qualify for free shipping. Amazon Fresh delivery orders include a service fee ranging from $6.95 to $9.95 on orders under $100. Amazon Fresh delivery orders over $100 and pickup orders are FREE with for customers with an EBT card or a Prime membership. Learn more about free shipping on Amazon Fresh.

What if I don’t meet the free shipping minimum? Can I still buy my items?

Yes. You can still buy your items, but you will be charged a shipping fee and you will be asked to provide an alternate form of payment to cover the shipping fee. If you are paying with SNAP EBT, you will be asked to provide an alternate form of payment to cover the shipping fee. If you are paying with Cash EBT, you can use Cash EBT funds to pay for shipping fees.

Do non-SNAP eligible items help me qualify for free shipping?

Yes, both SNAP-eligible and non-SNAP eligible items on your Amazon Fresh and Amazon groceries orders will count toward the free shipping minimum regardless of payment method or SNAP eligibility. You can order from Amazon without using your SNAP EBT benefits and still receive free shipping if you spend the minimum amount to qualify for free shipping on your Amazon Fresh or Amazon groceries order. You can get unlimited FREE delivery on orders over $35 from Fresh and Whole Foods Market with Grocery Subscription for $4.99/month. Whole Foods Market does not qualify for free shipping. Amazon Fresh delivery orders include a service fee ranging from $6.95 to $9.95 on orders under $100. Amazon Fresh delivery orders over $100 and pickup orders are FREE with for customers with an EBT card or a Prime membership an EBT card or a Prime membership. Learn more about free shipping on Amazon Fresh.

Balance and Payment

How can I view my EBT card balance?

Customers can check their EBT balances from your Amazon account or at check out and see Cash and SNAP balances side by side. To view your EBT balance, go to your Profile, then Account, then Your Payments.

Do I need to have a credit or debit card to shop on Amazon?

When shopping for EBT-eligible items, you do not need to have a credit or debit card. However, it helps to have a credit or debit card on file for when you want to pay for items that are not EBT eligible when your order does not meet the minimum and shipping fees are charged, add tips or when your EBT funds run out. A credit or debit card is required to pay for the service fee when shopping delivery on Whole Foods Market on Amazon using your SNAP EBT benefits. If you are paying with SNAP EBT, you will be asked to provide an alternate form of payment to cover the shipping fee. If you are paying with Cash EBT, you can use Cash EBT funds to pay for shipping fees.

Can I have my purchase made from my EBT card get refunded to a Gift card?

No. EBT refunds can only be returned to the original payment method. If the order was split between other payment methods, the payment for those items and fees will be refunded to the payment method used.

Why am I being charged tax on my SNAP EBT order?

Per USDA rules, fees are not eligible for payment with SNAP funds, including taxes on sweetened beverages charged in Boulder, CO, Philadelphia, PA and Seattle, WA. Customers must use another form of payment, such as a credit or debit card, to pay for fees.

Discounts

Do I qualify for Access Discounts?

Customers who qualify for the following government assistance programs, including SNAP and/or Cash EBT, can shop exclusive discount and offers with Access Discounts: SNAP EBT, Cash EBT, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Direct Express Prepaid Debit Card Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), Puerto Rico's Nutrition Assistance Program card (NAP) Visit www.amazon.com/accessdiscounts to learn more.

Can I use coupons on my EBT purchase?

Amazon.com offers online coupons that are available for all customers, including customers using EBT. Look for the “Save $X.XX” flags while you are shopping. Visit www.amazon.com/accessdiscounts for more information.

Can I qualify for select discounts with an Amazon Business account?

No. Only personal Amazon accounts can qualify for select discounts with an EBT card.

Other

Can I use coupons on my SNAP EBT purchase?

Currently, Amazon does not accept paper coupons (like those from newspapers). However, we have our own online coupons on Amazon.com that are available for all customers, including customers using SNAP. Look for the “Save $X.XX” flags while you are shopping. Please visit our Coupons page for more information.

Can I qualify for select discounts with an Amazon Business account?

No. Only personal Amazon accounts can qualify for select discounts with an EBT card.