Does Wawa Accept SNAP, EBT, or Food Stamps?
This information is current as of July 27, 2022.
You can use SNAP benefits for local grocery store benefits, but you can also use them for food purchases at convenience stores like Wawa.
You can pay for eligible food purchases using your SNAP benefits on your EBT card at your local Wawa.
So, you might be wondering, does Wawa Accept SNAP or EBT? Keep reading to learn everything you know about using SNAP at your local Wawa.
What Are SNAP and EBT?
SNAP is an acronym that stands for “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.” This government-sponsored food assistance program enables recipients to purchase healthy food at local grocery stores and other food stores.
SNAP benefits are accessed via your EBT card, which can be used just like a debit card at checkout. Based on your family size and income level, you will be allotted a certain amount of SNAP money each month that will load onto your EBT card on the same day.
Where Can I Use My SNAP Benefits?
SNAP benefits are meant to be used on grocery and food items. Benefits can be used on purchases at grocery stores, specialty food stores, and many convenience stores.
You can use the benefit money to purchase healthy, nutritious groceries at participating retailers near you. The SNAP website provides an updated list of stores where you can shop with your benefits to make it easy.
What Is Wawa?
Wawa is a convenience store and gas station chain popular on the east coast. You can find them all over the place in Florida, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia.
Wawa offers a variety of convenience items, grocery items, ready-to-eat foods, and beverages. They also boast one of the largest selections of healthy food options in the convenience store space, which is a big reason why many people love them.
What Can I Buy at Wawa With SNAP Benefits?
The main restriction with SNAP benefits is that they can only be used on grocery items rather than prepared or ready-to-eat foods. You can purchase things like milk, eggs, and other snack items at Wawa.
Suppose you try to purchase something like hot prepared food like pizza or sandwiches. You will most likely be unable to use your SNAP benefits. Although these are food, the benefit is meant to be used on things you can use to cook or prepare for your family at home.
Can I Buy Gas at Wawa With SNAP or EBT?
Because Wawa locations also have gas stations, it’s normal to wonder whether you can use your SNAP funds to pay for gas.
Unfortunately, your EBT card will restrict gas purchases. So, you will not be able to fill up before your road trip using your SNAP benefits.
However, if you want to run inside while someone gets gas and pick up some snacks for the road or items to make lunch, you can use your SNAP benefits.
Can I Buy Alcohol at Wawa With SNAP or EBT?
SNAP is a food assistance program meant to give low-income families extra support so they can afford enough healthy food to feed their families. Although there are few restrictions on what types of food you can purchase, you can’t buy alcohol using your EBT card.
If your order at Wawa has some food and alcohol, your EBT card will cover the food items only. At checkout, you can elect to pay for the alcohol purchase with cash or your personal debit or credit card if you wish.
Is Wawa an Excellent Place to Use My SNAP Benefits?
If you are looking to stop quickly to pick up some food either during a road trip or instead of stopping at a busy grocery store, Wawa is a great option. Wawa locations tend to be bigger than most other convenience stores and have a wide variety of food options, including healthy foods.
Although you will get the most variety at a grocery store or local market, a Wawa should have plenty of staples to feed you and your family in a pinch.
There are plenty of available items on which you can use your SNAP benefits, so you should be able to pick up whatever you need using your EBT card.
Can I Buy Prepared Foods at Wawa With SNAP?
The way that SNAP organizes the foods that are restricted is that you cannot purchase “hot foods” with the benefit. This is usually things like hot entrees, pizza, hot sandwiches, and prepared breakfast items.
A small loophole with SNAP benefits is that you can purchase COLD prepared foods. This would include things like some cold drinks, cold subs or sandwiches, frozen entrees, and more.
Because these items are cold, they are not considered ready to eat. SNAP assumes that things that aren’t hot will be consumed at home, which meets their eligibility requirement.
The goal of SNAP is to provide nutritious food items to make family meals that are prepared and eaten at home. Even though this is the program’s goal, some things like those listed above technically qualify for SNAP even though they are considered “convenience foods.”
So even if you purchase a cold sandwich at Wawa with your EBT card and eat it in your car, you won’t have any trouble!
Can I Use SNAP at All Wawa Locations?
Wawa has almost 2,000 locations along the east coast. All locations proudly accept EBT cards. If you are shopping at a Wawa, you don’t have to worry about not being able to use your EBT card.
In addition, they have made it easy for shoppers to look for items they can purchase with their SNAP benefits.
Most Wawa locations use the WIC label on the item tag for any items purchased with EBT. This makes it easy for SNAP shoppers to identify things they can pay for with SNAP and what they might need to avoid or cover with their own money.
Save Money on Your Wireless Phone Service
If you qualify for programs like 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
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.
