How to Buy Online with Food Stamps: SNAP Benefits Accessible for Anyone

The USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Online Shopping Pilot Program (OPP) allows households to use their benefits to purchase food online at SNAP-authorized stores. Initially authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, the OPP aimed to evaluate the feasibility of online benefit usage with some pilot retailers in some states in 2019 and 2020 before expanding nationwide as required by the 2018 Farm Bill.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service quickly expanded the pilot program to other states. By the end of September 2020, SNAP online purchase was available in 45 states and Washington, DC. Previous reports from the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) examined the statewide expansion of OPP and the initial growth of online swaps during the pandemic.

Online Shopping Makes Things Easier for Beneficiaries

The OPP helped overcome unprecedented barriers to food access during the pandemic, such as the restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing. To better understand the impacts of online SNAP purchases during the initial critical period of the pandemic, a team of researchers from ERS and three academic institutions examined how the statewide phased implementation of the OPP affected low-income households.

Specifically, the researchers focused on the implementation period from April to July 2020 and estimated the effects of OPP on the prevalence of food insufficiency, indicating that a household reports that it has not eaten enough “sometimes” or “often” during the past week.

Shopping with SNAP Benefits at US Online Stores: A Step-By-Step Guide

To begin with, it should be borne in mind that the availability to buy online with SNAP benefits varies from state to state, including in the same store. You should also consider that not all online stores accept food stamps, and that you can only buy foods accepted within the SNAP program.

The first thing you need to do is check if your state allows online purchases with SNAP, which you can check on the USDA website or the program in your state. Then, choose a participating store, such as Amazon, Walmart, Albertsons or Instacart. Then, follow the standard process to purchase on the e-commerce site as if you were going to pay with any other credit or debit card.

When you get to the checkout, add your EBT card, which is accepted by the retailer as a normal card. When shopping, look for products labeled as SNAP eligible. Make sure not to add any ineligible items such as tips, shipping fees or inedible food.

We have collected two lists of online stores that accept EBT cards as a form of payment, one from the state of California and the other from the state of New York, two of the states with the largest number of people using this social benefit.

For a list in your state, we recommend you to contact your local SNAP office for further information.