Electronic Benefits Transfer or EBT cards, formerly known as food stamps, help millions of families across the US buy healthy, nutritious food every month.
If you like to shop for food and grocery items at discount stores, you may be wondering if Family Dollar stores take EBT cards. I wondered the same thing and decided to research the topic. Here’s everything I found out!
Does Family Dollar Take EBT In 2024?
Family Dollar stores take EBT to pay for SNAP-eligible food items as of 2024. You’ll find a range of food and drinks as well as snacks that are SNAP-eligible at Family Dollar stores. There are limits to what items you can purchase with EBT cards. Further, you use EBT cards exactly like debit cards at the Family Dollar checkout.
If you have more questions about using EBT cards at Family Dollar stores, such as which items are eligible and which are not, carry on reading. You’ll find all your questions answered below!
Can I Use An EBT Card At Family Dollar?
Yes, you can use an EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card at Family Dollar to pay for SNAP-eligible food items.
Also, most grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and even some farmer’s markets accept EBT, and Family Dollar is no different.
Further, SNAP-eligible foods you can find at Family Dollar include:
- Dairy products
- Frozen entrees
- Ground beef
- Bacon
- Hot dogs
- Frozen entrees
- Canned pasta
- Snack foods
Additionally, keep in mind that there are limits to what kinds of food and drink items you can buy with an EBT card.
What Can I Buy With EBT At Family Dollar?
Discount stores like Family Dollar now carry a range of refrigerated, frozen, and packaged foods along with household and gift items, making it possible to do most of your shopping under one roof.
There many SNAP-eligible food and drink items you can find at Family Dollar, including:
- Meat
- Vegetables
- Dairy products
- Fruit
- Frozen foods
- Bread
- Cereal
- Snacks
- Seeds and plants that will be used to produce food for your household
- Non-alcoholic beverages
For more information, you can find a complete list of SNAP-eligible items online.
In general, if a food item has a Nutrition Information or Nutrition Facts label, it’s eligible for SNAP.
That said, the purpose of SNAP is to make nutritious food available to families, and you’ll find plenty of choices at Family Dollar stores.
However, items classified as supplements, which will have a Supplemental Facts label, do not qualify for SNAP and cannot be paid for with an EBT card.
What Can’t You Buy With EBT At Family Dollar?
Keeping in mind that the purpose of SNAP is to enable families to buy healthy and nutritious foods, there are limits to what kinds of food and drinks you can buy with an EBT card.
With that, you cannot use an EBT card to buy the following items at Family Dollar:
- Energy drinks
- Wine
- Liquor
- Beer
- Tobacco
- Cigarettes
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements
- Hot prepared foods
- Foods intended to be consumed immediately outside the home
- Household supplies like cleaners
- Pet supplies
Usually, there’s some confusion about what prepared foods are eligible under SNAP. So, while you cannot pay for hot prepared foods with an EBT card, some deli items are eligible.
For example, you can buy deli foods like cold rotisserie chicken, salads, sliced deli meat, and regular sandwiches with EBT.
It can seem confusing, but you should remember that these limits on eligible items are set by SNAP, not by the retailers.
How Do I Pay With EBT At Family Dollar?
Your EBT card is mailed to you once you have signed up for benefits under SNAP. Then, your monthly benefits will be added to it automatically.
Before using your EBT card for the first time, you’ll have to create a PIN.
After the initial steps are complete, you can use the EBT card at the Family Dollar checkout like a debit card.
To do so, you can swipe your EBT card in the card reader and enter the PIN when prompted.
Also, if you have any items in your shopping cart that aren’t SNAP-eligible, you’ll have to check them out separately and use a different payment method.
Can I Use AN EBT Card To Shop Online At Family Dollar?
Unfortunately, you cannot use EBT cards to pay for online purchases at Family Dollar.
Instead, you can only pay with credit or debit cards, PayPal, and PayPal Credit for online purchases at Family Dollar.
To learn more, you can also see our posts on whether or not Family Dollar accepts PayPal, if Family Dollar takes coupons, and also if Family Dollar takes WIC.
Conclusion
EBT cards issued through SNAP help millions of families to eat healthy and nutritious meals every month.
Fortunately, you can use EBT cards at Family Dollar stores to buy food, beverages, and items like snacks that are SNAP-eligible.
Further, EBT cards can be used like debit cards at the checkout, making it easier to shop for your family’s groceries.
