Does Instacart Take EBT or Food Stamps?

Originally posted on September 21, 2022 @ 2:36 pm

The problem with avoiding the grocery shop is that it frequently leaves you with only the nutritionally deficient fast foods as options. Thankfully, supermarket delivery applications like Instacart are becoming more popular. These platforms make it possible for people who are physically unable to shop or are busy to do their food shopping.

We can provide you with the information you need to answer your question of “Can I use EBT with Instacart?” if you have an EBT card. Here is all the information you need to use Instacart and the SNAP program.

What Is Instacart?

Customers can shop at nearby grocery stores via the Instacart website or mobile app, building a virtual shopping cart that will be filled by a “personal shopper” on a particular day. Customers who want their goods delivered the same day, usually within five hours, can do so through Instacart. You can plan to place an order in advance for delivery on a different day, or shoppers can visit the store of your choosing and deliver the item within a day in their own vehicle.

Since Instacart doesn’t sell groceries, when an item you’ve ordered is out of stock or unavailable, your shoppers will let you know via the app and will work with you to locate a suitable replacement.

Does Instacart Accept EBT?

At participating retailers like ALDI, Food Lion, Publix, Giant Food, Hannaford, Stop and Shop, Piggly Wiggly, Martin’s, Brookshire’s, Super 1, Food Bazaar, United Supermarket, etc., Instacart accepts EBT in some states. Instacart has added more grocery retailers to this list as it broadens its PBT coverage.

Does Instacart Accept EBT Online?

If you receive federal food assistance through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), you may already be aware of the difficulties associated with ordering groceries online. The majority of supermarkets in the United States accept EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) cards directly. However, using an app to order and make a purchase is more recent ground.

Due to this, Aldi and other grocery stores are taking part in a government trial program that allows customers to use their EBT cards to make purchases online. The majority of US states have the program in place, but you should double-check. Aldi is the only business that now accepts EBT purchases through Instacart, despite the fact that other merchants like Wal-Mart and Amazon are also enabling EBT transactions online.

Related:

•  Does Ralphs Take EBT, Food Stamps?
•  Does Family Dollar Accept EBT, Food Stamps?

Does Instacart Take Food Stamps?

The US government has given Instacart permission to take EBT SNAP as a form of payment for EBT SNAP-eligible items in a few states. Customers can currently utilize their SNAP dollars on Instacart, subject to government restrictions, in all states besides Alaska, Louisiana, and Montana if they have a valid SNAP EBT card.

What Stores Accept EBT With Instacart?

On the Instacart platform, more and more merchants are beginning to accept EBT, but not all of them let you use your EBT card. Depending on the store you’re buying at and the state you’re in, you might be able to use SNAP support with Instacart.

Aldi

Families looking for low-cost food assistance should consider Aldi.

Food lion

Food Lion is a popular grocery store as well. A significantly more limited SNAP program is accepted by Food Lion.

Publix

Although Publix is well-known for being a Florida institution, you can also locate this fantastic, low-cost grocery store elsewhere.

Lucky Supermarkets, Save Mart, and FoodMaxx 

Use your EBT card at Lucky Supermarket chains like Save Mart and FoodMaxx if you reside in California. In the state of California, you can use your EBT balance to place a grocery order on Instacart.

However, only California presently uses Instacart at these locations to take EBT. Make sure you are aware that a standard debit or credit card will be used to bill your order if you are placing it from one of these stores in a different state.

Price Chopper

Another grocery store that is ideal for East Coast customers who want to use EBT with their Instacart accounts is Price Chopper.

Market 32

Market 32 is another well-liked supermarket on the East Coast. In any of the following states, this store will accept EBT through Instacart:

• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Vermont

Market Bistro

Market Bistro, not to be confused with Market 32, is a New York institution that is present all over the city. Only in the state of New York may you purchase groceries delivery from this local shop using your EBT card on your Instacart account.

How To Use EBT On Instacart Step By Step?

It’s time to get started once you’ve determined that utilizing your EBT card to get goods through Instacart is a good choice for you. The first step is to link your EBT card to your Instacart account.

Prior to actually adding it to your account, you must verify on the platform that the data on your card is accurate and current. A debit or credit card must be connected to the account as well. This money covers expenses that SNAP does not, such as taxes, tips, and bottling deposits.

You can begin adding your EBT card to your account and using it to buy groceries once you’ve completed these procedures. To effectively add your EBT card, adhere to the following steps:

1. Visit the Instacart website or launch the Instacart mobile app.

2. You must access your account once you are on the platform. You should specify three horizontal lines in the upper left corner of your application. Then select “Account Settings.” Your Account can be accessed by clicking on your name and choosing it from the website’s menu.

3. Click “Payment methods” while you are on the account page.

4. You can notice a label that reads “SNAP EBT Card” on this page. Click this link and choose “Add.”

5. Enter your account name and number on the new screen that will appear.

6. When finished, save your information.

Refer: https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/does-instacart-take-ebt

Conclusion

It is anticipated that Instacart will continue to add additional food retailers to its roster in order to increase its EBT/SNAP coverage. While using EBT on Instacart is rather simple, be sure to create a second payment method to cover extra costs like tips, shipping, and service fees.

Make sure you have the most recent version of the Instacart app if you don’t see SNAP EBT listed as a payment option for your neighborhood business. If EBT SNAP is still not available, keep checking Instacart as it continues to add more merchants and states.