The federal program called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income families purchase and put food on their tables.
Sam’s Club is well-known for the low prices and large quantities their products are sold in, so you may be wondering: does Sam’s Club take EBT? Here is what I discovered!
Does Sam’s Club Take EBT?
Sam’s Club does accept EBT as a form of payment in all of their 600+ stores to buy federally approved food and beverage items with EBT. Unfortunately, you can only use EBT in-stores and not on Sam’s Club’s online shopping portal or through Instacart.
To learn what products you can and cannot buy with EBT at Sam’s Club, continue reading!
What Can You Buy With EBT At Sam’s Club?
Using your SNAP benefits at Sam’s Club will allow you to stock up on some of your favorite nutritional foods.
The warehouse retailer is best known for the large volumes of food sold at a price that saves you money in the long run.
A lot of the food products at Sam’s Club qualify for SNAP under federal guidelines. The food you can buy with EBT at your local Sam’s Club store includes:
- Frozen, canned, and fresh fruits and vegetables
- Frozen, canned, and fresh meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Bread and cereals
- Snack food items like nuts and chips
- Soda and juice
- Freezer aisle items like breakfast foods and pizza
- Seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat
With this extensive list, you will likely be able to use your SNAP benefits for everything on your grocery list!
What Products Can’t You Buy With EBT At Sam’s Club?
Even though there are several items you can buy at Sam’s Club with EBT, it is essential to understand that there are some restricted items too.
Some of the food products that EBT does not cover include foods that are hot at the point of sale and any live animals.
If you purchase any fresh fish or meat products at Sam’s Club, they will be covered by your SNAP benefits.
EBT prevents any purchase of wine, beer, liquor, cigarettes, and tobacco products.
Any vitamins, supplements, or medicines are also ineligible. An easy way to determine if the product is considered a supplement is to observe the label.
If an item has a ‘Supplement Facts’ label, it is not eligible for SNAP purchase.
Finally, any nonfood item is not covered by SNAP benefits. These products include pet food, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, cosmetics, paper products, and household supplies.
Additionally, baby formula is not covered.
How Do You Use EBT At Sam’s Club?
Before using EBT at your local Sam’s Club store, you must register a SNAP account in the state where you reside.
After making an account, you receive a card with a self-created PIN (similar to a debit card) you use when purchasing groceries.
Before checking out at Sam’s Club, it is helpful to know the balance on your EBT card to know how much money you have to spend.
For example, if there is not enough money to cover your purchase, the transaction will be canceled.
After your Sam’s Club cashier rings up all of your items, let them know you are using EBT so they can enter the eligible amount.
If any of your items are not covered by SNAP, your Sam’s Club cashier will let you know your new total, which you have to pay with an alternative payment option.
Fortunately, there are several payment options at Sam’s Club.
When the Sam’s Club employee gives you your receipt, it will show your SNAP balance!
Can You Use EBT For Online Purchases At Sam’s Club?
Unfortunately, Sam’s Club does not accept EBT for any online purchases, including orders done through the Instacart app.
Only recently did Instacart start accepting EBT, and it only applies to a limited selection of grocery stores and states.
If you want to purchase any items that SNAP benefits do not cover, you can certainly use Instacart or Sam’s Club’s online portal to do so.
Sam’s Club offers curbside pickup through the Sam’s Club app to make your shopping experience quicker.
What Grocery Stores Accept EBT Through Instacart?
Before using EBT through Instacart, check to see if your state qualifies by clicking here.
Paying with EBT on Instacart is a recent option the company introduced to its customers.
With Instacart, you can have your groceries ready for pick up or delivered directly to your front door while also using EBT as a form of payment.
Some of the grocery stores that accept EBT through Instacart include:
- Aldi
- Brookshire’s Food & Pharmacy
- Food Lion
- Publix
- Save Mart
- Foodmaxx
- Lucky Supermarkets
- Strack and Van Til
- Price Chopper
- Market 32
- Market Bistro
- Neimann Foods
Again, Instacart has only recently expanded its payment options in 2020, so make sure to check if your state qualifies for EBT payments through Instacart.
Does Sam’s Club Take WIC?
Unfortunately, Sam’s Club is not an authorized WIC retailer and does not take WIC.
WIC is similar to SNAP in the sense that it helps lower-income families purchase food. However, WIC is considerably more strict when it comes to the products that qualify.
For example, WIC covers food items like fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, cheese, whole-grain items, and baby formula.
The purpose of WIC is to ensure women and their children have access to healthy food options.
Although Sam’s Club does not take WIC, its parent company, Walmart, does. Walmart’s famously low prices make it a great place to use WIC benefits, as you will be getting the most bang for your buck!
If you are looking to use EBT benefits elsewhere, you can see our related posts on using EBT at CVS, using EBT at Aldi, using EBT at Safeway, and using EBT and Kroger.
Conclusion
Sam’s Club does accept EBT as a form of payment. However, you can only use EBT at Sam’s Club in-stores and not online.
Using EBT at Sam’s Club is an excellent way for customers to buy in bulk and stock up for the future.
