DoorDash is the perfect solution if you don’t know what to eat for dinner. With DoorDash, you can order from your favorite restaurant, pay on your phone, and sit back and relax until your food arrives.
But if you use EBT to pay for groceries, you may be asking, does DoorDash accept EBT? I wondered about the same thing, so I looked into the matter further. Here’s everything I found out!
Does DoorDash Accept EBT In [currentyear]?
DoorDash does not accept EBT as a valid form of payment, because EBT does not cover hot, already prepared foods or foods that can be eaten in the store in [currentyear]. However, DoorDash does accept all major debit and credit cards, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and Google Pay to purchase food.
If you would like to learn more about EBT and DoorDash, what foods you can buy with EBT, whether or not DoorDash takes cash payments, and much more, keep on reading! I’ve researched all you need to know!
Can You Use EBT at DoorDash?
Unfortunately, you cannot use EBT or SNAP benefits to pay for food from DoorDash.
Additionally, this applies to other food delivery services like Grubhub, Postmates, and Uber Eats.
Why Doesn’t DoorDash Accept EBT?
DoorDash doesn’t accept EBT because the company isn’t allowed to legally. That said, EBT does not cover restaurant-prepared foods.
Therefore, DoorDash cannot take EBT or SNAP because the delivery drivers bring customers already prepared food.
What Payment Methods Does DoorDash Accept?
Although DoorDash does not accept EBT as an eligible form of payment, the food delivery service does take a variety of other payment types.
For example, you can use any of the following payment methods at DoorDash:
- Credit card
- Debit card
- Google Pay
- Apple Pay
- PayPal
- Venmo
- DoorDash gift card
Also, DoorDash allows you to save multiple payment methods onto one account.
Therefore, you can save your Apple Pay and PayPal information and switch your default payment method whenever you’d like.
Does DoorDash Accept Cash Payments?
Currently, DoorDash does not accept cash payments. That said, DoorDash used to allow customers to pay with cash upon delivery.
However, the company suspended cash payments in 2020 for health and safety concerns regarding items exchanging hands.
There haven’t been any updates about when or if DoorDash will bring cash payments back. Still, you can tip your DoorDasher with cash if you please.
Do Other Food Delivery Services Accept EBT?
Unfortunately, other popular food delivery services like Grubhub, Uber Eats, and Postmates do not accept EBT as a valid form of payment.
How Does EBT Work?
EBT, or Electronic Benefits Transfer, is a system that sends payments to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participants.
With that, the funds are designed to help low-income individuals and families pay for food.
Moreover, an EBT card is similar to a credit or debit card, and it’s what qualifying individuals use to pay for their food.
Of course, there are certain restrictions on what types of foods qualify under the SNAP program.
What Foods Can You Buy with EBT?
Fortunately, the food choice selection is pretty broad for those using EBT. That said, some types of foods you can purchase with EBT include:
- Breads and cereals
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meats, fish, and poultry
- Dairy products
- Seeds and plants that produce food (tomato, apple, cucumber, etc. seeds)
- Bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages
What Foods Don’t Qualify Under EBT?
There are a number of popular food and grocery products that customers cannot use EBT for.
For example, here is a list of grocery items that do not qualify under EBT:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
- Any nonfood items (pet foods, soaps, paper products, and household supplies)
- Vitamins and medicines
- Food that will be eaten in the store
- Hot foods or meals that are already prepared
Can You Use EBT for Grocery Delivery?
One feature several big-name retailers and grocery stores started recently offering is grocery delivery. Fortunately, participants can use EBT for grocery delivery.
Further, some of the stores that accept EBT for grocery delivery orders include:
- Instacart
- Walmart
- Amazon
- FarmboxRx
- Aldi
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Food Lion
- Publix
- Safety
- ShopRite
- Hy-Vee
Still, it’s important to keep in mind that the EBT funds will only cover qualifying products. So, you have to pay for non-qualifying EBT products with a different payment method.
How Do You Add Your EBT Card on Walmart.com?
One of the most popular grocery delivery services is provided by Walmart. Fortunately, Walmart makes it easy to add your EBT card information onto your Walmart.com account.
However, you can only use EBT at your local Walmart if the location accepts the funds (most Walmart locations do).
Further, to add your EBT card to your Walmart account, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Walmart.com account
- Click on “Select Payment Methods”
- Add your EBT card information
- Click on “Save Card”
If you’re not sure whether or not your local Walmart accepts EBT, don’t hesitate to give the store a call.
How Many People Use EBT?
Currently, about 38 million people in the United States use SNAP and EBT to pay for essential grocery items. On a state-by-state basis, about 10 to 15% of the population qualifies for EBT.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether or not DoorDash takes PayPal, if DoorDash takes gift cards, and if DoorDash takes cash.
Conclusion
Although DoorDash cannot accept EBT to pay for orders, this food delivery service takes several other payment methods.
For example, you can use Venmo, credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay on DoorDash. Unfortunately, you currently cannot use cash on DoorDash either due to health and safety concerns.
