Can I Use EBT With Instacart? What You Need to Know about SNAP and Grocery Delivery

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These unprecedented times we are living can make dealing with basic necessities seem a harder task than ever. Whether you’re working, caretaking, juggling other obligations and commitments, or just plain exhausted, grocery shopping can seem like an impossible task.

The difficulty with skipping a trip to the grocery store is that it often means your only options are nutritionally lacking fast foods. While it’s tempting to go through the drive-through when tired and hungry, it’s not a sustainable habit.

Luckily, grocery shopping apps such as Instacart are on the rise. These platforms allow busy individuals or physically unable to shop to get their grocery shopping taken care of.

If you have an EBT card and are wondering, “Can I use EBT with Instacart?” we’re here to give you the answers you’re looking for. Here’s everything you need to know about using the SNAP program with Instacart.

Using Your EBT Balance With Instacart Grocery Delivery

Years ago, the federal government implemented a program called SNAP, or The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP was designed to ensure that U.S. residents with low or no income could purchase the food they need to survive.

The way it works is by giving participants in the SNAP program an electronic benefit transfer debit card. This card, which is also called an EBT card, allows them to access funds that they can then use to shop for groceries.

Once customers have their EBT login information and have been provided with a card, they can use it to make online purchases from participating vendors. The only requirement for making a purchase is that the retailer accepts EBT and is a part of the Online Purchasing Pilot.

With the rise of grocery delivery applications such as Instacart, many online delivery services have begun accepting SNAP cards. Instacart is one of the first services that accept EBT as a form of payment for groceries.

Remember, while you can use EBT online to pay for your Instacart groceries, you won’t be able to hand an Instacart shopper EBT cash. That means you’ll need to place your order online or through the app to ensure its success.

How to Use Your EBT Card With Instacart

Once you’ve decided that using your EBT card to buy groceries through Instacart is a good choice for you, it’s time to get started. You’ll have to begin by adding your EBT card to your Instacart account.

Before you can actually add it to the account, you’ll have to confirm on the platform that the information on your card is correct and up-to-date. You’ll also need to link a debit or credit card to the account. This pays for things like taxes, tips, and bottle deposits that SNAP doesn’t cover.

After you’ve taken these steps, you can get started adding your EBT card to your account and using it to pay for your groceries. Follow these steps to add your EBT card successfully:

Visit the Instacart website or open the Instacart app on your smartphone.
Once you’re on the platform, you need to head to your account. In your app, you’ll want to locate the three horizontal lines in the top left corner. Click on “Account settings.” You’ll click on your name and select “Your Account” from the menu on the website.
Once you’re on your account page, you’ll click “Payment methods.”
From this page, you should see a label that says “EBT SNAP Card.” Click on this and select “Add.”
A new screen will appear, which will allow you to input your name and your account number.
Save your details once you have finished.

Voilá! In six simple steps, you’ve added your EBT card to your Instacart account. You’ll now be able to use your balance to pay for any groceries you order through the platform.

How to Remove an EBT Card From Your Instacart Account

Sometimes, you may need to switch out or remove an EBT card from your account. On Instacart, you’re only allowed to connect one EBT card at any given time. That means if you receive a new card, you’ll have to take the old one down to put the new one on your account.

If you need to remove or switch out an EBT card, it’s a fairly straightforward process. All you’ll need to do is follow these simple instructions:

Open the Instacart platform. On the app, you’ll want to click on the hamburger menu in the top left corner. A dropdown menu will appear from which you will select “Account.” On the website, click on your name in the upper right corner and select “Account.”
Next, you’ll be given a new menu with several options for where to navigate to. Select “Your account settings.”
From this page, you can choose “Your payment methods.”
Just like you did to add an EBT card, select “Edit.”
This time, the information on your current EBT card will appear. Select the card that you want to remove.
If you’re on the app, a pencil icon will appear. You can click on “Delete” and “Save” to remove the card. In the web version, click dots next to the card and select “Delete.”
To add a new card, you’ll need to repeat the same process you did to add your original EBT card to the platform.

You may receive a new EBT card if you exit the program and come back in the future. Your old card won’t be valid anymore, and you’ll be issued a new card.

Another instance in which you might receive a new EBT card is if your current card was lost or stolen. Either way, be sure to update your EBT information in Instacart to keep ordering groceries.

What Stores Accept EBT With Instacart?

While more and more stores are beginning to accept EBT on the Instacart platform, not every store will allow you to use your EBT card. Whether or not you can use SNAP assistance with Instacart will depend on the store you are shopping at as well as on the state you’re shopping in.

Aldi

Aldi is a great option for families looking for low-cost food assistance. Aldi accepts EBT in any of the following states:

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin

Food Lion

Another popular store for getting groceries from is Food Lion. Food Lion has a far more limited acceptance of the SNAP program. To use EBT with Instacart at Food Lion, you’ll have to reside in one of the following states:

Delaware
Georgia
Kentucky
Maryland
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia
West Virginia

Publix

Publix is famous for being a Florida staple, but that’s not the only place you’ll find this fantastic low-cost grocery store. Publix can be used in conjunction with an EBT card on Instacart in these states:

Alabama
Florida
Georgia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia

Lucky Supermarkets, Save Mart, and FoodMaxx

If you live in California, you may want to look into using your EBT card at Lucky Supermarkets chains such as Save Mart and FoodMaxx. You’re able to order groceries on Instacart using your EBT balance within the state of California.

However, California is currently the only state that will accept EBT at these stores using Instacart. Make sure that if you’re ordering from these stores in a different state, you’re aware that you’ll be charged via regular debit or credit card.

Price Chopper

Price Chopper is another supermarket perfect for East Coast residents looking to use EBT on their Instacart account. You can use EBT on Instacart at Price Chopper in these states:

Connecticut
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New York
Pennsylvania
Vermont

Market 32

Another common East Coast supermarket is Market 32. This store will accept EBT via Instacart in any of the following states:

Connecticut
Massachusetts
New York
Pennsylvania
Vermont

Market Bistro

Not to be confused with Market 32, Market Bistro is a New York staple and can be found throughout the city. You can use your EBT card on your Instacart account to order grocery delivery from this neighborhood store, but only in the state of New York.

Can You Use Food Stamps on Instacart?

The term “food stamps” used to be much more popular years ago when food assistance programs depended on actual pieces of paper (“stamps”) instead of a card. Nowadays when people say “food stamps” they usually mean SNAP or other EBT programs, so the answer to this question is yes!

Can I Use EBT With Instacart? YES!

While the answer to the question “can I use EBT with Instacart” isn’t quite as simple and straightforward as you might like it to be, the good news is that you are indeed able to use EBT. This is a big help for these unprecedented times.

Save Money on Your Wireless Phone Service

If you qualify for SNAP benefits, you also qualify for Lifeline service. Lifeline is a federal benefit program that makes it possible for low-income consumers to receive access to free or heavily discounted communication services. Click here to find out more and apply for this valuable benefit.