Use your benefits in a way that works for you.

You can use SNAP EBT to pay for groceries ordered online.

At many stores, you can order groceries for delivery or in-store pickup and pay for the food with your SNAP EBT card - just like if you were shopping in person.

The Online Purchasing Pilot (OPP) is a program by the USDA which allows approved grocery stores, farmers markets, and other food retailers to accept SNAP EBT in an online ordering system, so that customers can get groceries delivered or made available for pickup at the store. The OPP was first approved in 2014 and expanded widely during the COVID-19 pandemic so that SNAP users could social distance while still getting groceries. The program now covers all 50 states in the US and the District of Columbia, including many retailers in Washington.

Ordering online can be a great option for getting food, especially if you live far from a grocery store, have a busy schedule, lack transportation, or have a disability which makes shopping in person difficult or unsafe. Use of the program isn’t restricted, so anyone who wants to shop online with their SNAP EBT card can do so.

Where can I use SNAP EBT online in Washington?

Membership fees cannot be paid for with your SNAP benefits. Fortunately, some companies offer free or discounted rates to SNAP users.

Amazon Prime Access provides free deliveries, extra discounts, video streaming, and all other Amazon Prime services to SNAP users at about half the cost of a regular Prime membership: $6.99/month instead of $14.99/month.

Instacart+ gives you free delivery on orders over $35, and is available at a lower price of $4.99/month for 12 months for anyone who has used SNAP EBT on an order in the last six months. Although Instacart is not listed in the online retailers above, you can use SNAP EBT to pay for the groceries in your order if it is placed at a participating retailer.

Thrive Gives offers a free membership to Thrive Market, which is required to shop on the online platform, for EBT users and low-income families.

Shipt is a delivery service that can deliver groceries from other companies, including stores where you can use SNAP EBT to shop online. In Washington at the current time, this includes only Target. SNAP can qualify you for a reduced price membership to Shipt, at $4.99/month.

Walmart+ Assist provides free grocery delivery on orders over $35, free shipping on other Walmart orders, fuel savings, a Paramount+ streaming service membership, and all other Walmart+ services for a reduced price of either $6.47/month or $49/year.

Some companies require users to have a membership, or charge higher delivery fees without one.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Ordering groceries online with SNAP works much like other forms of online shopping.

    First, you’ll go to the store’s website, and choose a location. Some websites may ask for your zip code or address up front, to make sure you're in the area they can deliver to.

    Then, you can select foods and add them to your digital cart.

    When you’re ready to check out, you can input your SNAP EBT card details and use your benefits to pay for the food. SNAP benefits cannot be used to pay for delivery or convenience fees, however, so you may need to have another credit or debit card on hand to pay for those.

    An employee or contractor from the store will pack up your order and send it for delivery, shipping, or in-store pickup as applicable.

  • Different stores handle this situation differently. Some may choose a similar item as a replacement, or just leave the item out of your order. Others may contact you to ask if a certain replacement is acceptable. Make sure you understand the policies of the individual store you're shopping at, and check your order and receipt to make sure you have received all the items you paid for.

  • No. You can only use SNAP EBT to pay for the food itself. Some stores may waive the fees associated with online shopping, such as delivery fees or convenience charges, for SNAP customers, but others don't. You will need to have an additional credit, debit, or gift card to pay for these fees. An additional card may also be necessary to pay for the difference between your original and final orders if any substitutions are made.

  • Yes. All approved online SNAP retailers are required to maintain website security, and you will also use your PIN number when checking out as you would in the store to make sure it's really you using the card.

  • Yes, at certain stores. Currently, SNAP Produce Match is available online for Amazon Fresh and Safeway customers. See the Department of Health Produce Match FAQ for more details.

Last updated: October 29, 2024