Does Smart & Final Take EBT Cards, Snap or Food Stamps – For low-income individuals and families who rely on government SNAP benefits to provide food for themselves as well as their families, it is critical to know which grocery stores are taking EBT. One of the leading grocery stores that operates throughout the United States of America is Smart & Final. Most of the SNAP beneficiaries wonder whether they can use their EBT cards or food stamps at this grocery chain. In this comprehensive guide, we will help you explore all the aspects of using your food stamp benefits or EBT card at Smart & Final.
Highlights of this Post
How Does The EBT/ SNAP Program Work?
Electronic Benefits Transfer or EBT is a government initiative that offers food assistance to low-income families and individuals. The card works similarly to any debit or credit card and enables beneficiaries to use the card at participating stores or convenience markets. Formally known as food stamps, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a popular example of an EBT initiative.
This program covers households who belong to low or extremely low-income categories and enables them to access nutritious and healthy meals. The U.S Department of Agriculture has partnered with various retailers across the country so that the benefits are easily accessible to needy people. The retailers include gas stations, grocery stores, convenience markets, local co-ops and even online retailers. Understanding the different retailers besides EBT benefits can make it easier for SNAP recipients to purchase the food that they need.
Key Takeaways
- Smart & Final accepts EBT in all stores (Arizona, California, Nevada).
- EBT cannot be used online or for delivery fees.
- SNAP-eligible food items can be purchased with EBT.
- Separate SNAP and cash transactions might be needed.
Do you know whether ARCO gas stations accept food stamps or not? Read them in our next guide.
What Is Smart & Final?
Smart & Final is a popular chain of warehouse-style food and supply stores that was founded in 1871 in Los Angeles. This grocery store is headquartered in Commerce CA and also serves other parts of the United States like Arizona, Nevada and Northern Mexico.
Smart & Final stores target both household and food service markets and have also operated smart food service warehouse stores that cater to food service professionals. Following is the list of offerings by Smart & Final grocery chain:
- Bakery
- Beer, spirits and wine
- Beverages
- Bread, tortillas
- Candy
- Dairy products
- Cleaning supplies
- Deli
- Floral
- Dry grocery
- Fresh produce
- Frozen food
- Health and beauty care
- General Merchandise
Also Read : Does wingstop take ebt in california
- Kitchenware
- Meat and seafood
- Specialty deli
- Service deli
- Snack items
- Packaging
- Pet supplies
- Party supplies
- Paper products.
Does Smart & Final Accept EBT?
Yes Smart & Final accepts EBT in all of its store locations. The participating states where you can find a Smart and Final store to use your EBT benefits are Arizona, California and Nevada.
Smart & Final’s EBT Acceptance Policy
Smart & Final is a leading grocery store that accepts food stamp benefits like any other ordinary grocery store and enables SNAP beneficiaries to use the card for both in-store and online purchases. Before heading to your local Smart & Final store to use EBT benefits let’s learn the EBT acceptance policy followed by this grocery chain.
- Customers are required to present a valid EBT card at Smart & Final checkout so that the cashier can process the amount correctly
- Customers must purchase groceries and food items using their EBT card as long as the items are eligible and are in line with SNAP guidelines set by USDA.
- Food items that are eligible for purchase with an EBT card include fresh fruits or vegetables, dairy products, fish, meat, poultry and non-alcoholic beverages like sodas and juices.
Using your food stamp benefits or EBT card at Smart & Final will provide you access to a plethora of good quality food choices and will help you to stay within your budget.
Do you know which retailers in California accept EBT payments? Head over to our next guide to learn about the comprehensive list.
What Are The Benefits of Using Your EBT Your Food Stamps at Smart & Final?
SNAP recipients who use their EBT benefits at Smart & Final, can budget effectively and save a few dollars. Following are the benefits that you can get on using your EBT card at Smart & Final.
Cost Savings
Smart & Final offers an everyday low-price guarantee through which customers can stretch their food budget further and take advantage of the competitive prices available on high-quality items.
Using your EBT benefits will help you to access discounts on a variety of products like bulk-sized groceries and this will result in much more savings in the long run. Recipients can also get special offers that make it easier for them to save money.
Security
Smart & Final offers customers safety and security measures for instance door alarms and cameras that are designed to deter theft on its premises. On entering your 4-digit secret PIN at the checkout you can ensure that the transactions are confidential and secure. Smart & Final aim to make it easier for customers to take advantage of the benefits and deals so that they can make the most out of their budget.
Convenience
With the help of an EBT card customers can eliminate the need to carry checks or cash with them. All the purchases can be made at Smart & Final with an EBT card and can be stored electronically in a secure way. Customers can check out easily when they use the checkout links that are designed specifically for EBT customers.
Diverse Payment Option
Similar to any other American grocery store chain, Smart & Final is accepting different forms of payment to provide flexibility to customers. You can pay your order with a debit card, credit card, WIC card, gift card, cash and e-wallets like Google Pay or Apple Pay.
Credit card payments are limited to Discover, MasterCard, Amex or American Express. Smart & Final also does not require any membership program like Sam’s Club and Costco. You can qualify for the lowest prices even without any subscription fee penalties.
Do you love to shop with Walgreens? Take a look at our next guide to know whether Walgreens accept EBT payments or not.
What Can You Purchase with Your EBT Card at Smart & Final?
There are a wide variety of food items for shoppers to choose from at Smart & Final. Let’s take a look at the following items that are EBT-eligible at the Smart & Final store.
- Milk and Dairy Products: This includes all types of milk, yogurt, cheese and butter
- Fruits and vegetables: All types of fresh, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables are allowed for EBT purchase.
- Bread and cereals: This includes all types of bread, crackers, cereals, pasta, oatmeal and rice.
- Meat, poultry and fish: This comprises all forms of meat such as pork, beef, turkey, chicken, fish and lamb
- Beverages. You can purchase brew-it-yourself tea and coffee using SNAP Benefits including cold beverages like cold drinks, fountain drinks, smoothies, and iced coffees.
- Protein powders, shakes and bars: You can purchase meal replacement shakes, protein powders, bars or any other shakes that come with a Nutrition Facts label instead of a Supplements Facts label
- Plant, seeds and seedlings: You can use your food stamp benefits to pick up plants, seeds or seedlings that can help you produce fruits, vegetables or herbs at your home.
- Baby Formula: You can use SNAP benefits to purchase infant formula including cereals, baby food and juices to feed your baby.
- Live Lobsters and Seafood: You can use your SNAP benefits to purchase live seafood such as lobsters, clams, and shrimp including live fish removed from the water.
- Snack items: This includes bakery cakes, chips, cheese, crackers, and gift baskets comprising eligible food items.
What Can’t You Purchase With Your EBT Card At Smart & Final?
The following is the list of items that you cannot cover with your EBT card at Smart & Final or any other grocery chain.
- Alcohol and Tobacco Products: This includes beer, wine, tobacco, cigarettes, liquor, low-alcohol beers labeled as liquor-filled chocolates, non-alcoholic, Alcoholic wine, e-liquid for electronic cigarettes etc. However, you can use the EBT card to purchase wine vinegar, wine, and vanilla extract as they can be used for cooking ingredients.
- Medicine, Vitamins and Supplements: Any item that comprises the Supplement Facts Label is a supplement and cannot be purchased with EBT or SNAP benefits. You cannot buy vitamins, medicines and supplements with your EBT card.
- Hot Prepared Food: This includes hot cocoa, chili stew, prepared meats or any restaurant meals.
- Live Animals: You cannot purchase live animals using your EBT card however there are exceptions such as live shellfish, live fish removed from water, animals slaughtered before pickup from the store etc.
- Non-Food Items: This includes cleaning supplies from pet food, cosmetics, hygiene items for cooking utensils etc.
People who use their EBT cards to purchase SNAP-approved products have to face severe consequences. Following is the situation that may happen if you use your EBT card to purchase ineligible items from your EBT card.
- A three-month ban for the first unapproved EBT purchase
- A year ban for the second unapproved SNAP purchase
- A two-year ban for the third SNAP unapproved purchase.
If your purchase includes both unapproved and approved EBT items then you need to be a bit organized and separate the items in your card and make two different purchases from two different payments.
Note: The only exception to this rule is the Restaurant Meals Program that allows a few SNAP recipients to use their EBT card for the purchase of hot prepared meals in select states. Know about the participating fast-food restaurants that are authorized to accept EBT in our next blog.
How To Use Your EBT Card At Smart & Final?
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is a method of payment that enables customers to utilize the government SNAP funds for purchasing items in-store. Fortunately, Smart & Final stores accept EBT cards as a method of payment from SNAP beneficiaries at all its store locations.
If you are planning to use your EBT card for eligible purchases at the Smart & Final store locations, follow the below-mentioned steps carefully.
- Once you approach an operating register you need to sort out the SNAP-eligible products from the normal items before filing the checkout
- The cashier at Smart and Final rounds up all the food items and groceries when you wish to pay for the goods
- You need to swipe your EBT card or food stamp at the POS and enter your 4-digit secret PIN
- The next step is to inform the cashier of the particular amount for instance SNAP or cash from which you want to charge your order
- Re-enter your PIN to authorize the charges
- A manager or supervisor at Smart & Final store will ask for the picture or indication to confirm that the EBT that you are showing is in your name.
- The transaction amount will be taken from your cash or SNAP account as per your instruction. Do not forget to take the receipt that will help you to avoid missed charges and show the balance remaining on your EBT card.
What Are The Payment Options Available At Smart & Final?
Smart & Final is dedicated to providing a wide array of payment methods to accommodate the needs and preferences of all its customers. While the grocery chain is embracing digital wallets its focus on other payment options has remained conservative.
Let’s take a look at the following payment methods that are accepted by Smart & Final.
- Cash: Almost all Smart & Final store locations accept cash payments from customers.
- Debit and Credit Cards: All major debit and credit cards such as MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express can be used at Smart & Final physical stores and online.
- Mobile Wallets: Smart & Final provides the convenience of mobile payment options such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
- Checks and EBT: Even though Smart & Final does not accept EBT or checks as a payment method for online purchases, customers can use EBT and checks for in-store purchases provided they are making SNAP-eligible purchases with their EBT card.
Do you love to shop with HelloFresh and want to know whether they accept EBT or not? Learn about HelloFresh and its EBT policies in our next guide.
Do Smart & Final Take Coupons?
Yes Smart & Final happily accepts manufacturer coupons including Smart & Final coupons. You can adhere to the coupon restrictions below:
- Limit one manufacturer coupon per eligible item purchased.
- Limit one store coupon for eligible items purchased.
- Limit five coupons for free items per transaction
- Limit one manufacturer and one store coupon used for the same eligible item
- Customers are responsible for any CRV, taxes or deposit fees incurred to the purchase of the free coupon item
- All coupons should have an expiration date and must be used higher coupon expires
- Coupons must not be used on items that are advertised as free or buy one get one
- Photocopies of coupons are not accepted
- Coupon value must not exceed the price of the item
- Coupons that do not scan, are out of proportion or are blurry are not accepted
- Coupons that involve your buy one get one item are not accepted
- Coupons that are printed should have a serial number and a value that does not exceed $5 with a valid expiration date or valid statement of reimbursement and a scannable barcode.
What Is The Return Policy Followed By Smart & Final Store?
Smart & Final follows the same return policy as any other grocery store. Customers who are not completely satisfied with their purchase can return it for an exchange or refund. However, they need to provide proof of the purchase as well as a form of ID to get returned. A few restrictions can apply to seasonal merchandise, purchases made with checks and equipment product returns.
The refunds will be processed in the same method as the original payment has been made for instance cash, Smart & Final charge card, gift card or credit card. Any items without a receipt where the value exceeds $5 will be credited to a Smart and Final gift card.
Holiday or seasonal items can be returned if the customer has the receipt and if the holiday merchandise is returned a minimum of two days before the holiday. The merchandise must not be defective as a result of misuse or abuse.
Return or exchange of alcoholic beverages is up to the discretion of the store manager. Defective appliances can be exchanged within a period of 14 days of purchase with an original receipt. Items that are purchased by check will be returned for a cash refund. A check-clearing period or restriction may apply in this case.
Can I Use My EBT Card To Order Groceries Online From Smart & Final?
The grocery store chain Smart & Final is not accepting EBT cards or food stamps online. You can use your food stamp benefits at any Smart & Final store by using the physical card and be sure to make in-store purchases.
This is because the supermarket chain is not enrolled in the USDA Online Purchasing Pilot Program like Amazon, Instacart, DoorDash or Walmart. You can however make online orders with Smart and Final using an alternate source of payment like debit or credit card.
You can also read about whether the popular warehouse company Costco accepts EBT or not in our next guide.
Major Retailers That Accept EBT Payments Online
Below are some online retailers that accept EBT payments.
Instacart
Instacart is a popular grocery delivery service that operates throughout America and enables customers to order food from their preferred stores and get the groceries delivered to their doorsteps. Instacart takes EBT as a method of payment in a few areas. You must check whether an Instacart is operating in your area and accept EBT as a payment option.
Amazon
EBT benefits are accepted by Amazon on Amazon Grocery and Amazon Fresh purchases. Amazon provides Electronic Benefits Transfer recipients an amazing opportunity to purchase eligible items on their online platform. Customers often get free shipping if they can meet the minimum order requirements set by Amazon.
Walmart
Walmart provides a subscription-based membership program known as Walmart + that offers a plethora of advantages to its customers including unlimited free delivery on food items. In select states, Walmart + accepts EBT as a method of payment for online grocery orders. This enables SNAP beneficiaries to take advantage of the flexibility and convenience of grocery delivery with their best benefits.
Target
Target accepts EBT payments similar to Amazon. They have been allowing customers to use EBT cards for online payment recently. Customers get the convenience to choose their desired food and grocery items both in-store as well as online.
DoorDash
The latest app is a delivery service that accepts online SNAP payments like Amazon is DoorDash. You can add your EBT card details to your DoorDash accounts and then shop with the DoorDash website or app. Look for products that feature SNAP labels when shopping with DoorDash.
Alternate Grocery Stores That Accept EBT Payments
In this section, we have covered a list of grocery stores that accept EBT payments like Smart & Final.
- ALDI
- Harris Teeter
- HEB
- Wegmans
- Weis Markets
- Whole Foods
- Jewel-Osco
- King Soopers
- Kings Food Markets
- Kroger
- Acme Markets
- AJ’s Fine Foods
- Albertsons
- Speedway
- Associated Food Stores
- Bashas
- Big Y Foods
- Foodtown
- Fred Meyer
- Stater Bros
- Fry’s Food Stores
- Giant Eagle
- Giant Food
- Hannaford Supermarkets
- Lowe’s Grocery
- Sprouts
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Bravo Supermarkets
- Brookshire’s
- City Market
- Dillons Stores
- Meijer
- Piggly Wiggly
- Pick N Save
- Food Lion
- Publix
- QFC Supermarkets
- Raley’s
- Shaw’s
- ShopRite
- Smith’s Food and Drug
- WinCo
- Ralphs
- Save Mart
- Schnucks Market
- CVS
- Stop & Shop
- Super 1 Foods
- H Mart
- Kroger
- Jubilee Foods
- Superior Grocers
- Tops Markets
- Trader Joe’s
- Vons
- Publix
- Fareway Meat & Grocery
- Fine Fare Supermarkets
- Dollar Tree
- Price Chopper
- Food 4 Less
- Food City
Get a comprehensive list of SNAP-eligible goods and grocery stores that accept EBT payments online in our next guide.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Smart & Final accepts EBT payments in all of its store locations however it is critical to note that EBT or food stamps cannot be used to make online purchases nor can be used for covering food delivery costs. Being a popular grocery store, Smart & Final sells bulk products including meal delivery. The grocery store company and online retailer has locations present in 300 locations throughout the United States of America and Mexico. The company has been delivering food items to clients for a network of businesses in prominent cities across New York City, California and Washington D.C since 1871. If you’re unable to find a Smart & Final store near you then you can take a look at the alternate retailers that are accepting EBT both online and for in-store purchases in the above section of our guide.
We hope this article has been informative enough to give you all the details you need regarding Smart & Final and EBT. You can learn more about the government grants and financial assistance program at the Get Government Grants’ blog section today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Smart & Final Take Apple Pay or Google Pay?
Yes absolutely, Smart & Final accepts Apple Pay or Google Pay as a digital payment method. This enables customers to make a secure and swift transaction with the help of Google or Apple devices for instance Apple watches or iPhones. The digital wallet platform provides a secure and convenient option for many smart and final shoppers.
Do Smart & Final Take Credit Cards?
Smart & Final accepts a wide range of payment methods such as MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express like credit and debit cards, cash, EBT, and gift cards. Checks or EBT cards however are not accepted for online orders with Smart & Final.
Do Smart & Final Accept Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)?
Yes indeed! Smart & Final accepts EBT in all of their stores but not online. As per a customer service representative, the company is accepting EBT payments from customers who qualify for government benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women Infants and Children Program (WIC) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF).
Does Smart & Final Accept WIC?
Yes, Smart & Final accept WIC payments for approved items that include yogurt, peanut butter, whole wheat bread, infant food, fruits, soy milk, dry cereals, cheese, eggs, dried beans and many more.