SNAP

Can you use your EBT card to shop on Amazon?

Updated
Image of Aidan Lovely
Image of Aidan Lovely

Yes, you can use your EBT card (also called SNAP benefits or food stamps) to buy food and groceries from Amazon. But not every item on Amazon is EBT-eligible, so it’s important to know exactly what qualifies for EBT and how to use your EBT card when shopping on Amazon.

There’s more than one way to use your EBT card on Amazon:

  1. If you get SNAP (also called food stamps): Anyone who gets SNAP can use their EBT card to buy eligible grocery items through Amazon, Amazon Fresh, or Whole Foods online.
  2. If you get Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): If you get TANF, sometimes called cash assistance or welfare, through your EBT card, you can spend it on Amazon as long as you live in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Washington D.C., or West Virginia.

What can I buy on Amazon with EBT?

While you can use EBT on Amazon, there are rules about what types of groceries qualify for EBT spending. You can only use your SNAP benefits to pay for food items sold and shipped by Amazon, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods.

This means you can use SNAP benefits on Amazon for things like:

  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Meat, poultry, and fish
  • Bread and cereals
  • Dairy products
  • Snacks and drinks

Just look for the “SNAP EBT eligible” label on specific items.

You can’t use SNAP benefits on Amazon for:

  • Non-food items like clothes, toys, or electronics
  • Tips, delivery fees, shipping fees, gift wrap, or service fees
  • Items sold by third-party sellers (people who sell on Amazon but aren't Amazon)
  • Regulatory fees like sweetened beverage taxes

Using TANF on Amazon

You can use any TANF cash assistance on your EBT card to pay for most things on Amazon (as long as you live in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Washington D.C., or West Virginia).

This includes non-food items, shipping fees, and items sold by third-party sellers (people who sell on Amazon but aren't Amazon).

You can’t use your cash assistance on Amazon for:

  • Digital items, subscriptions, and Prime memberships
  • Alcohol, jewelry, or products related to gambling, tobacco, firearms, adult entertainment, or marijuana
  • “Subscribe & Save” orders (automatic recurring orders)
  • Groceries from Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market

How do I tell if something is EBT eligible on Amazon?

Just look for the "SNAP EBT Eligible" label near the product name on food and grocery items. Remember that this label is for SNAP benefits only and not any cash assistance that’s also loaded onto your EBT card.

Image showing EBT-eligible apple for sale on Amazon

How do I use my EBT Card on Amazon?

To use your EBT card on Amazon, you need to have an active Amazon account and add your EBT card as a payment method. You should note that Amazon only allows users to add one EBT card per account.

You can add your EBT card to your account in two ways:

  • Saving your EBT card: If there isn’t already an EBT card attached to your Amazon account, you can save your EBT card as a permanent payment option. Every time you check out, you must enter your EBT card PIN to submit the order.
  • Paying with your EBT card at checkout. You can add an EBT card as a payment method in the "other payment methods" section at checkout. This option will only appear if you have EBT-eligible items in your cart.

Amazon Prime discounts for benefit recipients

Amazon offers a 50% discount on Prime memberships for people who receive certain government benefits, including food stamps (SNAP). "Prime Access" is the special version of Prime for anyone on SNAP or Medicaid (or low-income people who show proof that their household income is within 150% of the Federal Poverty Guideline).

Prime Access gets you all the same perks as a full-price Amazon Prime membership, including:

  • Free shipping
  • Access to Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Reading, and Prime Gaming
  • Amazon photos for unlimited photo storage
  • 50% off unlimited free grocery delivery on orders over $35 ($4.99 per month, regular price is $9.99 per month), including a 90-day free trial
  • Discounts on prescription medications from Amazon Pharmacy

An Amazon Prime membership with the 50% discount for SNAP and Medicaid recipients costs $6.99 per month as of January 1, 2025.