Does 7-Eleven Accept SNAP, EBT, or Food Stamps?
This information is current as of July 2, 2022.
If you are receiving food stamps from the state, it’s easy to assume that the only place you can spend your EBT food stamp benefits is at a grocery store like Aldi or, at the very least, at a Dollar General or something like it. However, you’d be surprised at the number of places such as Sheetz and Circle K accepting food stamps as payment. Question is, does 7-Eleven accept SNAP, EBT, or food stamps?
If you purchase qualified food items, 7-Eleven accepts food stamps at all its participating retail locations, even if some are privately owned.
7-Eleven is one country’s most popular convenience stores/gas stations. If the retailer didn’t accept food stamps, it would cut them off from a sizeable portion of the consumer base who use them to purchase qualified food and beverages.
What Is 7-Eleven?
As popular as they are, 7-Elevens aren’t located everywhere in the continental United States. It’s like Waffle House. Just because you grew up with a Waffle House on every corner doesn’t mean a neighboring state to the north has a Waffle House. It’s more likely to be a Huddle House or a Shoney’s.
If you’re traveling from across the state and encounter a 7-Eleven for the first time, it’s good to know that the convenience retailer does indeed accept food stamps. There are 9,500 7-Eleven stores across the United States and 56,000 worldwide.
7-Eleven is a convenience store chain headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Founded in 1927, the 7-Eleven rose from its humble origins as an icehouse to one of the largest convenience store chains in the entire world.
It’s easy to find a 7-Eleven store since it launched its 7-Eleven app on Android and Apple. The app is called Slurpee®, and not only can you get discounted items and other savings by using it, but you can also find any 7-Eleven store in the country by using the location services within the app.
The Slurpee is what 7-Eleven is known for, after all. Also, you can purchase a Slurpee drink at 7-Eleven with food stamps, as it is one of the eligible items on the 7-Eleven list for food stamp purchases.
What Can You Buy With Food Stamps at 7-Eleven?
7-Eleven is more open and liberal about what they have to offer in terms of EBT-eligible items. For example, most convenience stores won’t allow you to purchase hot pizza with EBT, but 7-Eleven has no problem with food stamps as payment for their hot pizzas.
However, all other hot food items at 7-Eleven are off the table for food stamp recipients. Pizza is the only exception. Outside of hot food, there are plenty of other things that you can purchase from 7-Eleven with food stamps. Most locations are good at clearly labeling those items, so you know what you can buy while in the store.
- Fruits and veggies
- Snacks such as candy bars, potato chips, sour straws, etc.
- Dairy items
- Eggs
- Grains
- Cereal
- Seeds that produce food
- Ice cream
- Frozen foods
Most convenience stores will not accept food stamps for food prepared in the store, except for pizzas at 7-Elevens locations. Fortunately, 7-Eleven Slurpeedrinks made a list, so if you want to spend your food stamps on the famous frosty beverage, you’re more than welcome.
How to Use Food Stamps at 7-Eleven
Nowadays, food stamps are sent out via EBT debit cards, which function like regular debit cards. You place your items on the counter, get your total, and swipe, insert, or tap your EBT debit card to pay for the items.
Like other places, you don’t have to worry about paying for items separately when you have several things, and only a portion of them is eligible for food stamps. For instance, if you place ten items on the counter and only five of them are qualifying food items, you will still get a total due for all items.
You simply swipe your EBT card, which automatically deducts and pays for the qualifying food items. You’re then left with a remaining total which only includes the things that aren’t eligible for food stamps.
Be sure to bring an alternate form of payment to the 7-Eleven because you may have to pay with something other than your EBT card.
What Food Items Are Ineligible at 7-Eleven?
Now that we know all prepared foods are ineligible for purchase with food stamps, what other items can you not buy at a 7-Eleven with food stamps?
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Hygiene products such as toothpaste and Listerine
- Household supplies like toilet paper and napkins
- Any paper products
Technically, you can consume all the above things, even though most of them, especially tobacco and alcohol, would make you ill. However, just because you can eat an item doesn’t mean that federal and state government agrees that they should fall under the food stamps eligibility umbrella.
Also, when we say, “prepared foods,” that’s anything prepared at the convenience store. Some convenience stores have an in-house semi-restaurant where, like any restaurant, 7-Eleven has cooks preparing food like burgers, pizza, and more. These prepared foods are not EBT-eligible and cannot be paid for with food stamps.
Are the Food Stamp Eligibility Rules the Same in All States?
Although the program is federally funded, states are responsible for doling out eligible recipients’ food stamp benefits. During that process, states may have slightly different rules depending on where you live.
However, that usually only pertains to things like eligibility requirements. For the most part, you won’t have to worry about whether you can purchase certain eligible foods at a 7-Eleven in different states because you should be able to use your food stamps at any 7-Eleven.
Of course, if receiving food stamps in New York, you can’t use those stamps at a 7-Eleven in Maine. Although it’s funded with federal dollars, states control EBT and how it’s used, which means they keep everything in-house.
The only other possible difference between the states is how you spend your food stamps in terms of payment methods. That’s about it. As far as 7-Elevens go, your food stamp benefits are welcome at any location, regardless of anything else.
All Things Considered
All 7-Elevens, no matter the location, accept food stamps as payment for eligible food items. Of course, there are a few stipulations, but it’s no different than shopping for food elsewhere.
Save Money on Your Wireless Phone Service
If you qualify for Food Stamps or SNAP, you may also be eligible for Lifeline or the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Lifeline and ACP are government-run programs that help low-income consumers receive free or heavily discounted communication services.
Click here to find out more and apply for this valuable benefit.
Get a Tablet for $10.01
If you qualify, you can get an 8″ tablet for just $10.01. Apply here to get started!
Save Even More With Recommended Resources and Amazon Deals
Are you looking to save on additional items? You may want to check out our Recommended Resources page. For example, you can learn how to save 50% on Amazon Prime membership and use your EBT card.
