Does Sam’s Club Take Food Stamps?
The information in this article is current as of February 9, 2022.
Did you know that, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the most important anti-hunger program in America? If you’re a SNAP recipient, you might be wondering, “Will Sam’s Club take food stamps?”
Yes, Sam’s Club has eligible items you can buy with your SNAP benefits. As long as you purchase the eligible items set by the USDA, you can buy many things, including dairy products, meat, poultry, and more. Sam’s Club takes the EBT card, but be aware that you can’t use your SNAP benefits to make purchases at Sam’s Club online stores.
Does Sam’s Club Take Food Stamps?
The short answer to this question is “yes.” The US government’s food stamps program, which once was called the Food Stamp Program but is now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), has SNAP benefits accepted at Sam’s Club.
What You Can Buy With Food Stamps at Sam’s Club
Now that you know that the answer to the question, “Does Sam’s Club accept food stamps?” is “yes,” you might be wondering what you can buy there. Sam’s Club has to follow the food stamps rules set by the USDA when you’re using your SNAP benefits to buy from them.
Typically the things you’re allowed to purchase while following these rules are essentials or food staples.
Specifically, they’re ones you can either immediately eat or take home to prepare as part of one of your meals. Some of the items you can buy with food stamps at Sam’s Club include:
- Dairy products
- Meat
- Poultry
- Seafood and fish
- Nonalcoholic beverages
Additional items include vegetables and fruits, snack food, soft drinks, cereal, and bread. You can also buy seeds for plants you plan on growing at your home, which provide you with food to eat—or plants themselves that you can eat.
What You Can’t Buy With Food Stamps at Sam’s Club
If you want to buy groceries that could be considered prepared food, you can’t use your SNAP benefits. You also can’t buy medicine, vitamins, or other non-food items.
Does Sam’s Club Take EBT Cards?
If you’re thinking of using your card for EBT at Sam’s Club, you’re in luck. You can use your SNAP/EBT card to pay for SNAP-eligible purchases made in-store at all of their warehouse locations.
However, there’s a catch. Sam’s Club operates on a membership-only model.
This means that if you want to enjoy the perks and discounted prices you get when you shop at Sam’s Club, you need to be a member of Sam’s Club.
The cost of becoming a member starts at $45 a year. However, if you pay for this expense, you’ll be able to spend the funds you have through SNAP on SNAP-eligible purchases there.
Because Sam’s Club has many SNAP-eligible items available, it can be a good choice for you if you want to do most of your shopping in one trip.
Additional Benefits of Being a Member
You can save quite a lot by being a Sam’s Club member, which might make it a good choice despite having to pay for your membership. Once you’re a member, there are many benefits you get, including:
- Cash rewards
- Free shipping on a large number of items
- A car buying program (through a dealer)
- Fuel savings
- Free air for your tires
You can also get filtered water and free health screenings. The benefits you get from being a member are so great that you can work toward financial goals. For example, you could save up to $10,000 annually with cashback.
Additionally, there are so many products available at Sam’s Club at discounted prices. There are great deals on beauty products, health products, electronics, and home decor—not to mention the SNAP-eligible items you can buy.
Sam’s Club also has more than 610 locations in 47 states, making it likely that you’ll be able to find a store near you.
Does Sam’s Club Take Food Stamps Online?
Considering that you can use your EBT card at physical locations of Sam’s Club stores, you might be wondering whether they take food stamps online. You also might be curious about whether it’s possible to complete payments at Sam’s Club online for:
- In-store pickups
- Curbside pickups
- Grocery delivery
Unfortunately, however, this isn’t possible. If you plan on purchasing SNAP-eligible products at Sam’s Club with your SNAP/EBT card, you need to do so in a physical store. To find one near you, use the Sam’s Club locator so you can find a Sam’s Club physical store that accepts EBT.
Can I Use My EBT Card With Sam’s Club Scan & Go?
Something else you might be wondering is whether it’s possible to use your EBT card to go through Scan & Go at Sam’s Club. This is a feature Sam’s Club members can use to skip waiting in the checkout line. Instead, they scan items while adding them to the cart.
Then, when they’ve finished making their purchases, they can pay in the Scan & Go app with their preferred method.
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to use your EBT with Sam’s Club Scan & Go. You can only use supported prepaid cards, gift cards, cash rewards, debit cards, or credit cards.
How to Use Your EBT Card to Make Purchases at Sam’s Club
When it comes to using your EBT card to make purchases at Sam’s Club, the process is relatively straightforward. First of all, you have to enter the SNAP program, after which you’ll be issued your EBT card, as it makes using your SNAP benefits easier.
When you receive this card, you’ll also have a secret four-digit PIN that you enter so you can authorize your purchases.
To use your EBT card when paying at Sam’s Club, bring it to the store’s point-of-sale register after you’ve finished shopping. Then, swipe the card.
After this, you’ll be required to input your EBT card’s four-digit PIN. Make sure you know what it is, as you won’t be able to complete your EBT card transaction without it.
Tips for Using Your EBT Card at Sam’s Club
Before you go to Sam’s Club and pay for your purchase with your EBT card, it’s a good idea to check your SNAP balance. This way, you won’t end up in an awkward situation when you’re paying at the register at Sam’s Club.
Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to check the balance. All you have to do is go to an ATM near you that dispenses $10 or $5 bills. Another option is to contact a SNAP agency in your local area and ask them.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to bring another form of payment with you. This is useful if you:
- Run out of your SNAP funds
- Want to buy items that aren’t SNAP-eligible
Other payment methods that Sam’s Club accepts include Sam’s Club and Walmart credit cards, Sam’s Club and Walmart eGift cards and gift cards, prepaid cards, checks, cash, credit cards, and debit cards. So bring at least one of these with you, too.
Another important tip is to get in touch with the Sam’s Club stores in your area before you go in to use your SNAP benefits.
This way, you can confirm that the specific stores you’re thinking of going to are ones where you can make eligible purchases using these benefits.
Using Food Stamps at Sam’s Club
In this article, we’ve answered the question, “Will Sam’s Club take food stamps?” We’ve also reviewed what you can and can’t buy with food stamps at Sam’s Club, whether Sam’s Club takes the SNAP/EBT card, and whether Sam’s Club takes food stamps online.
We’ve also reviewed whether you can use your EBT card with Scan & Go and how to use your EBT card at Sam’s Club.
Finally, you can benefit from being a Sam’s Club member and use your SNAP benefits at their physical stores.
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If you qualify for SNAP, you also qualify for Lifeline service. This federal benefits program gives low-income consumers free or massively discounted communication services.
Lifeline helps subsidize the cost of wireless cell phones and internet services. More than 35 million people qualify for free monthly wireless service. In addition, you may be eligible for Lifeline through income level or participation in other federal programs. It might be a good idea to look into this to help you save on your phone and internet service costs.
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