After reading this article, you will know about –
- SNAP EBT Card
- How SNAP EBT card woks
- Whether Kroger accepts EBT card
- States where Kroger Accepts EBT cards
- Kroger policy for SNAP EBT card
- Eligible items for SNAP EBT card
- Products that are not eligible for the SNAP program at Kroger
- The detailed process of using an EBT card at Kroger (Self-Checkout, Online Orders, and Instacart Delivery)
Kroger is America’s one of the largest retailers that accept SNAP EBT cards as a payment method. Kroger has more than 2800 stores across 35 states in the USA and all these stores accept EBT cards. The best part of Kroger is, that you can use the EBT card while shopping online at Kroger.Com or from the Kroger mobile app.
What is a SNAP EBT Card?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program mostly known as SNAP is a federal nutrition assistance program that provides the beneficiaries with a type of card that is known as an EBT card. Here EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer. It is a type of magnetically encoded payment card that SNAP beneficiaries can use to make payments at a discount price at selected stores and retailers’ shops. When you buy foods from the SNAP selected stores and use the EBT card, the purchase amount will be debited from your EBT account.
How does SNAP EBT Card Work?
The USA government introduced this assistance program in 2004 and lots of stores in the USA support SNAP EBT card. The working procedure of an EBT card is quite similar to a credit card. EBT card is a type of plastic card with a magnetic strap on it. Like a credit card the EBT card also has a security PIN. If you become eligible for the SNAP EBT benefit then the government will credit a certain amount of money to the EBT card. All the funds on your EBT card are protected by the PIN. So, for security purposes, you should not share the PIN of your EBT card with anyone. So, if you are shopping in a store that accepts EBT cards then you can use the EBT card, at the point-of-sale terminals of that store.
Does Kroger Accept SNAP EBT Card?
Kroger is USA’s one of the leading supermarkets and multi-department chains and you will be happy to know that Kroger accepts SNAP EBT cards. In fact, Kroger accepts EBT cards in all their stores in the United States. So, if you are a Kroger lover and like to shop at Kroger then you will be able to enjoy the SNAP benefits while shopping at Kroger. Moreover, Kroger also allows the EBT card while making online payments at the Kroger official website or on the Kroger mobile app.
List of States Where Kroger Stores Accept SNAP EBT Card
| Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraska | Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming |
What is Kroger’s Policy for SNAP EBT Card?
Kroger has a customer-friendly policy for SNAP EBT cards. Usually, Kroger has a minimum purchase order to get a discount but for EBT card holders, they don’t have to meet any minimum purchase limit which is very convenient. Moreover, customers don’t have to pay any fees for using EBT at Kroger. At Kroger, you have to use your own EBT card, it is not allowed to use another person’s EBT card to make payments at Kroger. You can only use the EBT card to make payments as long as your SNAP account has a sufficient balance. If your EBT account doesn’t have a sufficient balance then you won’t be able to use the EBT card and make payments at Kroger. This is because the SNAP EBT card is not a credit card! Furthermore, Kroger stores use WIC labels to help you easily find the food items that you can buy using an EBT card. If you pick food items that do not fall under the SNAP program then you have to use another payment method than the EBT card to make the payments.
Items that are Eligible for SNAP EBT Card at Kroger
Not every item is eligible for the SNAP program. Below is a list of products that are eligible for the SNAP EBT card at Kroger –
- Breakfast cereal
- Meats and poultry
- Milk
- Fruit and vegetables
- Pasta, rice, and tortillas
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Canned legumes and fish
- Whole wheat bread and other whole grains
- Juice (shelf-stable, non-carbonated)
- Tofu and soy products
- Peanut butter
- Soft drinks
- Frozen foods
- Non-alcoholic drinks
- Cooking oils
Items that are not eligible for SNAP EBT Card at Kroger
Below is a list of items that are not eligible for the SNAP EBT card at Kroger –
- Beer, wine, liquor
- Tobacco products
- Vitamins and medicines
- Hot foods
- Food items that are intended for immediate consumption
- Live animals
- Non-food items such as pet food
- Personal hygiene items
- Household and cleaning supplies
- Paper products
How to Use EBT Cards at Kroger?
You can use your SNAP EBT card for both online and offline shopping at Kroger. Different shopping method has different process for using the EBT card at Kroger. Let’s check them out below!
Steps to Use EBT Cards on Self-Checkout at Kroger
- Visit the nearest Kroger store and pick the items that you want to buy
- Then take the products to a self-checkout stand or register
- Now, press the “start” button on the checkout machine
- Then scan all the products that you want to buy
- After that select “EBT” as a payment method
- Then enter the EBT card into the machine
- After that you have to select, “Food Stamp” or “Cash Benefit” depending on how you want to use your EBT card’s funds
- Next, enter the PIN of your EBT card
- Finally, click on the “Accept” button displayed on the screen to complete the process
Steps to Use EBT Cards on Pickup of Online Orders
If you shop via the Kroger app and wondering how you can use the EBT card to make a payment then you should follow the below steps –
- First, open the app on your smartphone
- Now login to your Kroger account using the username and password
- Then you have to select the nearest Kroger store or the store from where you want to shop
- Next, pick the products/items that you want to buy
- Then provide your preferred date and time for picking up the products
- In the payment option choose SNAP/EBT as the payment method
- Then provide your phone number
- Finally, click on the Confirm button to complete the process
Steps to Use EBT Cards for Instacart Delivery
- First, open the app on your smartphone
- Now login to your Kroger account using the username and password
- Then choose “Delivery” as your way
- Next, pick the products/items that you want to buy
- After that provide your address including the postal code
- Then select “Checkout delivery”
- Then provide your phone number
- Next, click on “Add a new card option”
- Now provide your EBT card details and your name in the required field
- After that click on the Add button to add the card
- Finally, make the payment and complete the process
FAQs about Does Kroger Accept SNAP EBT Cards
What is the minimum purchase amount for using EBT on Kroger pickup?
There is no minimum purchase amount for using EBT on Kroger pickup. It means you can use your EBT card at Kroger regardless of your purchase amount!
Do the EBT card users have to pay a typical Kroger pickup fee?
You will be happy to know that Kroger has waived the pickup fee of $4.95 for all EBT card users. It means if you make the payment using the SNAP EBT card then you don’t have to pay the Kroger pickup fee.
Can I buy protein powder with EBT at Kroger?
The answer to this question depends on what is written on the protein powder label. If the label has “Nutritional Facts” written then you will be able to buy the protein powder with EBT. However, if the label has “Supplement Facts” written on it then you can’t buy it with the EBT card. This is because the USDA classifies it as a supplement and you can’t buy any supplement with your SNAP EBT card.
Does Kroger accept food stamps in Texas?
Kroger accepts SNAP EBT cards at all its stores in the U.S. states including Texas.
References:
https://www.gobankingrates.com/saving-money/food/does-kroger-accept-snap-ebt-cards/
https://www.yahoo.com/video/does-kroger-accept-snap-ebt-155026294.html
Last Updated on August 7, 2022 by Ana S. Sutterfield
