If you’re reading this article, you’re probably interested in learning the surprising things you can buy with your EBT card on Amazon. That’s right—you can use your EBT card when shopping on Amazon, and every single one of these items was marked as SNAP EBT eligible.
Shopping on Amazon with EBT
Amazon is the go-to spot for shopping with your EBT card. But did you know that you can get a discount on an Amazon Prime subscription with EBT or Social Security benefits? It’s true—you can get an Amazon Prime subscription for just $6.99 per month (it’s normally $14.99 per month)!
The benefit has grown to include more government assistance programs, such as WIC, TANF, SSI, and more. It’s an awesome deal that helps a lot of people save money.
Ever since Amazon started accepting SNAP EBT years ago, they’ve added lots of hard-to-find items, even extending to EBT-eligible seeds and edible plants!
If you’re a SNAP recipient looking for a simple and quick way to get groceries and household supplies, Amazon Fresh makes it easy.
Why Can You Use EBT on Amazon?
According to the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules, you’re allowed to use SNAP program benefits (also known as food stamps) to buy “any food for the household.” However, you cannot buy non-food items.
The law says that “food” is anything you can eat—with the exception of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and certain imported goods.
How to Use EBT on Amazon
Using your food stamps on Amazon is pretty straightforward. Start by going to the Amazon website and signing up for an account if you haven’t already. Once you’re logged in, you’ll need to add your EBT card to your payment options. You can usually find where to do this in the “Your Account” section of the site.
After your EBT card is set up, it’s time to start shopping. Search for the items you want and make sure they’re eligible for SNAP benefits. Amazon makes it easy to identify these items by putting a “SNAP EBT eligible” label on the product page. Add all the eligible items you want to your shopping cart.
When you’re ready to complete your purchase, head over to the checkout. Choose your EBT card as your payment method. You’ll be asked to enter the PIN associated with your EBT card to finalize the transaction. Once you’ve done that, you’re all set! You’ve successfully used your SNAP funds on Amazon, and your items will be delivered to your door.
Top 12 Most Surprising Things You Can Buy on Amazon with EBT
Alright, let’s jump right in and discuss the most surprising EBT-eligible items we’ve spotted on Amazon.
1. Toys with Food
If you have a family, then you know how important fun learning activities are for entertaining kids. Now, low income families can get in on this too.
Because these kits make food you can actually eat, they seem to be eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. These activity kits include things like the Gross Gummy Candy Lab, a Popin Cookin kits, and even a Candy Chemistry set! Prices for these kits range from $6 to $39.
2. Games with Food
Games that come with food are sometimes EBT eligible. One example is the Truth or Dab hot sauce game. The game is described as, “250 questions that pit players against each other, burn bridges, and bring up past stories we were all trying to forget.”
The hot sauce is super spicy, rated at a 10/10 heat level and more than 2 million Scoville units. So, this game might not be the best pick for a calm family game night, but it’s sometimes marked as EBT eligible on Amazon because it includes a food item—the hot sauce.
3. Kinder Joy Eggs
This could be one of the most surprising things you can buy with EBT on Amazon, depending on where you live.
Kinder Joy eggs create some debate when it comes to EBT. Are they a food item or a toy? Well, it often depends on the grocery store. Some stores say you can buy them with SNAP benefits, and some don’t.
4. Chia Pet
Sure, you can buy seeds and edible plants with your SNAP EBT card, but chia pets? It’s true, we’ve seen a couple chia pets tagged as EBT eligible on Amazon, specifically the Chia Pets Trolls Doll.
This has to be one of the most surprising things you can buy with EBT on Amazon. It’s probably because chia seeds are usually something you can eat.
5. Indoor Plant Kits
You can buy indoor growing kits that allow you to grow food from seeds or little plants. This way, you can keep growing your own fresh food to eat. However, these kits usually don’t have fancy tech stuff, so they will require a bit of maintenance.
If you like to garden, you can use your SNAP benefits to help you get deals on seeds, small plants, seed pods, or even kits to grow organic mushrooms.
6. Weight Loss Products
There are a bunch of weight loss items on Amazon that you can buy with your SNAP EBT card. These are often seen as meal replacements, making them eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits—not just on Amazon but at other stores too.
7. Flowering Tea Set
We have found a flowering tea set that includes a 16-ounce glass teapot and five blooming teas. The tea blossoms open up into amazing shapes when you steep them in hot water. It’s like a show while you enjoy your drink.
This set is tagged as EBT eligible and is even marked as Amazon’s Choice for tea sets you can buy with SNAP benefits.
8. Coffee Pods
You might be surprised to learn that you can actually buy coffee pods with your EBT card on Amazon. Just look for the ones marked as EBT-eligible. Yep, you can use your food benefits to get your caffeine fix, as long as the Amazon listing has the “EBT eligible” label.
9. Energy Drinks
You can buy energy drinks with your EBT card on Amazon, but there are some rules you need to know. The energy drink must be labeled as a “nutritional supplement” to be EBT eligible. That means they need to have vitamins and nutrients. If the drink is just for a quick caffeine boost and doesn’t have those added nutrients, it won’t be eligible for EBT.
10. Baking and Decorating Kits
If you love baking, you may be able to find baking and decorating kits available for EBT purchase on Amazon. These kits typically come with baking supplies like tools, icing bottles, food coloring, and sprinkles. Just make sure the value of the food items in the kit are at least 50% of the kit’s value.
11. Gift Baskets
You can get gift baskets with your EBT card if at least half the value comes from food items. Amazon has a lot of these special gift baskets marked as EBT eligible. Some of these gift baskets include not just food, but things like flower arrangements and keepsake boxes.
12. Emergency Food Supply Kits
Experts recommend keeping up to a week’s worth of food ready in case you’re stuck at home during an emergency. Amazon offers an Augason Farms 4-gallon bucket of lunch and dinner emergency kit that you can buy using EBT.
Amazon EBT FAQs
Can I Pay for an Amazon Prime Membership with my EBT card?
No, your EBT card won’t cover an Amazon Prime membership because it’s seen as a subscription service, which is not an eligible item. But having an EBT or Medicaid card does qualify you for a discounted Prime membership rate!
Do You Need Amazon Prime to Use EBT on Amazon?
No. You can use your EBT benefits on Amazon without having a Prime membership. This also lets you shop at Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market. Plus, you can get free shipping on orders with SNAP EBT-eligible items—no Prime needed.
How Can I Find EBT Eligible Items on Amazon?
You can easily find items you can purchase with EBT on Amazon by using the search filter. Just click the “EBT eligible” filter on the left side of the screen while you’re looking through products.
How Does Amazon Verify EBT?
Amazon verifies your EBT by asking you to type in your EBT number. You have to do this every year to show that you’re still eligible.
Is There a Limit on How Much I Can Spend on Amazon Using My EBT Card?
The spending rules for using your EBT card on Amazon are the same as brick-and-mortar stores. How much you can spend depends on your income and the size of your household.
Is Amazon EBT Available in Every State?
Almost. You can use Amazon EBT in every state except for Alaska. You can also use it in Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington D.C.
Can I Buy Gift Cards on Amazon Using My EBT Card?
No, you can’t use your EBT card to buy gift cards—on Amazon or in any store. EBT cards are for buying items you need for yourself.
Can I Buy Items from a 3rd Party Seller?
No. In order to buy items with EBT, it has to be sold and shipped by Amazon. You can’t use EBT for items from other sellers.
Is the Return Process the Same If I Pay with EBT?
Yes. You can return Amazon Fresh or Amazon Go items and get a refund if you used EBT to pay for them.
Using Your EBT Benefits is More Convenient Than Ever with Amazon
From getting discounts on Amazon Prime to finding surprising items like games and emergency food buckets, your EBT benefits can go further than you may think.
Amazon makes it so easy to spot these EBT-eligible items with their special label. So go ahead, make the most of your benefits and start adding some surprising and useful items to your cart. Happy shopping!