Does Circle K Take EBT Payment For Food and Groceries? With more than 7200 convenience store locations Circle K is located throughout the United States of America. It is amazing to know that this retailer accepts EBT as a method of payment from customers on SNAP-approved items. Circle K sells a lot of items like beverages, snacks, bakery items, hot food, and essential groceries like milk, butter, eggs etc.
Founded by Fred Harvey back in 1951 Circle K is one of the most popular gas station convenience stores across the globe. In case you are a SNAP recipient you must wonder whether you can use your SNAP/food stamps/ or EBT benefits card at Circle K stores or not. The answer is Yes! You can buy eligible food items with your SNAP Benefits card from Circle K stores. This guide will throw light on how you can use your EBT card at Circle K and what food items you can purchase with the card.
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Highlights of this Post
What Exactly Is SNAP/ EBT?
SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and is the federal initiative that provides funds to every state for providing food assistance benefits to low-income households and individuals throughout the country. The states make use of EBT cards for distributing government funds to eligible participants. At present, there are more than 248,000 vendors throughout the country that accept EBT cards or SNAP Benefits cards.
To receive the EBT card you have to enroll yourself in SNAP or any other food assistance program. You can check the federal guidelines to make sure your household income is falling below a specific limit to qualify. You can contact your local SNAP office or use the USDA online locator to start the application procedure. If you’re already a SNAP recipient and have received your EBT card then you must know the card gets refilled automatically every month with SNAP benefits.
Once accepted and approved into the SNAP program recipients will get the EBT card to receive a particular amount of food benefits every month to purchase from participating retail shops and stores. Using an EBT card is easy and similar to any other debit or credit card. You just have to use your PIN to confirm the purchase of SNAP-eligible food items. EBT cards are also known to be a secure and easy way for low-income families to purchase groceries.
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Does Circle K Take EBT?
Yes, absolutely authorized store locations of Circle K accept EBT payments. Just like any other convenience store available throughout the United States of America, Circle K also accepts EBT as a form of payment for buying SNAP-approved food items and groceries.
In other words, SNAP recipients can use their EBT cards to purchase nutritious groceries like fruits or vegetables, meat, milk etc. at Circle K stores. Out of the 50 states in the country, nearly 47 states in America accept EBT payments at respective Circle K stores. The only three states where EBT payments are not accepted are Utah, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Circle K accepts food stamps or EBT cards at any of their store locations but not for online purchases.
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Does Circle K Accept EBT Online?
Yes, EBT cards or SNAP benefits cards are accepted by Circle K stores in approved store locations throughout the country. Customers at Circle K use the card to purchase wholesome foods like fruits, meats, cereals, vegetables, canned salmon, meals, whole wheat bread, juices and many other items. However, they do not accept food stamps or EBT online. SNAP recipients who want to purchase food items and groceries using their EBT cards at Circle K must visit the Circle K store in person.
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What Can You Buy With Your EBT Card At Circle K?
EBT cardholders who are a part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have to adhere to a few restrictions about the type of food items that they can purchase with their food stamp card at Circle K. You can purchase standard grocery items like produce, canned goods, frozen food items, dairy products and ingredients. The program aims to feed millions of Americans so you cannot buy pet foods or non-edible items with a card.
Generally, EBT cards cover the cost of nutritious and healthy food items and essential groceries. Circle K enables customers to buy a wide array of products. In this way, customers can save money on groceries. Following is the list of EBT eligible food items available on Circle K EBT food packages anywhere throughout the country.
- Serials and crackers
- Milk
- Cakes and cookies
- Cooking oil
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meet and poultry
- Juice non-carbonated and shelf-stable
- Peanut butter
- Soy and tofu products
- Yogurt or cheese
- Pasta, tortillas and rice
- Lentils and canned fish
- Baby formula
- Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants to produce food
It is important to note that some stores of Circle K participate in the Restaurant Meal Program as well, so you can purchase hot prepared food in specific stores located in a particular state or county in America. Depending on your eligibility criteria and your state of residence you can participate in the Restaurant Meal Program.
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What Can’t You Buy With Your EBT Card At Circle K?
Customers shopping at Circle K have to adhere to a few restrictions when it comes to shopping for groceries or food items with the help of their EBT card at Circle K. These restrictions are due to the type of food assistance program you are a part of.
SNAP recipients using the EBT card at Circle K cannot purchase non-edible food items, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and many other items with their EBT card at Circle K since the program makes sure needy families and individuals use the government SNAP funds for purchasing groceries and food to make the most of the government funds. Similarly, vitamin supplements and medicines are not purchasable at Circle K with an EBT card.
Following is a short list of detailed items that you cannot purchase with EBT at Circle K convenience stores.
- Alcoholic beverages like beer, wine and liquor
- Cigarette and tobacco-containing products
- Pet foods
- Drugs, vitamins, medicines and supplements
- Clothing
- Anything bearing a supplement facts label on the bottle
- Cosmetics and skincare products
- Lottery tickets
- Gas
- Household items
- Sanitary and hygiene products
- Live animals (except selfish and fish)
- Paper products
- Cleaning supplies
- Hot-prepared food items.
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Customers 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 at Circle K.
- A three-month ban for the first unapproved purchase
- A year ban for the 2nd and approved purchase
- A 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 foremost payments.
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How Can You Use Your EBT At Circle K?
You need to follow the below-mentioned steps to use your EBT card to pay for SNAP-eligible food items at Circle K.
- Once you reach an operated register you have to separate the eligible SNAP products from the regular items while loading the checkout.
- You have to touch, insert or swipe your SNAP benefit card into the card reader when you’re ready to pay for the food items or groceries that are SNAP approved and then input your PIN from there.
- You have to inform your cashier about the specific amount either in cash or SNAP benefits card from which you want to charge your order.
- You need to re-enter your PIN on the Point of Sale keypad to confirm if the charges are correct. In some cases, a manager or supervisor may ask you to provide photo identification to verify whether the EBT you are paying with is under your name.
The purchase total of your order will be deducted from your cash or SNAP account as per your directions. It is important to note that you have to keep your receipt after shopping as it will prevent missed charges and will help you to know the latest balance on your food stamp or EBT card.
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List of Grocery Stores That Accept EBT For Payment
Following is the list of grocery stores that accept EBT for payment:
- Albertsons
- Aldi
- Big Y Foods
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Costco
- City Market
- Family Food Stores
- Foodland
- Food Lion
- Friendly Foods
- Harris Teeter
- Hometown Foods
- Jubilee Foods
- Kroger
- Market Basket
- Piggly Wiggly
- Publix
- Safeway
- Sam’s Club
- Target
- Amazon
- Instacart
- Kroger
- ALDI
- Walgreen
- CVS
- Rite Aid
- Speedway
- All Stores
- Dollar Tree
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What Is the Circle K Return Policy On EBT?
Circle K has mini-store locations in the United States that enable shoppers to use their EBT benefits to shop in a hassle-free manner. A lot of these stores use WIC labels to help you differentiate the items that you can purchase with your Electronic Benefits Transfer card from the ones that you cannot purchase with the same card. You must use an alternative payment method for purchasing ineligible or unapproved items that do not fall under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Circle K follows a standard 90-day return policy for the items that you have purchased with your EBT card. However, you will not be given any cash refund for the return of EBT items since it is against federal law. Circle K will credit your EBT card in case of a product return or give you a gift card, a store benefits card or any identical item.
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What Are The Common Types Of Payment Accepted By Circle K Apart From EBT?
There are various payment options provided by Circle K besides EBT payments. The different sources of payment come in handy when you purchase any food item that is not covered by your EBT card or SNAP benefits card. Therefore you can use other payment form as a backup for things that are not covered by the SNAP program. Circle K takes the following method of payment from its customers.
- Debit card
- Cash
- Circle K Easy Pay Card
- Circle K Gas Gift Card
- Visa credit card
- American Express
- Discover
- MasterCard
- Fleet card
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Conclusion
Circle K is a popular American chain of convenience stores and gas stations in the US. The store sells snacks, hot dishes, drinks, and grocery supplies like milk, butter, eggs and baked products. All of the authorized stores at Circle K currently allow shoppers to use their SNAP benefits cards or EBT cards for purchasing SNAP-eligible food items and groceries. One of the most important things that you must ensure while shopping at Circle K with your EBT card is to add only about-approved items into the bucket. In other words, you can purchase nutritious and healthy food items and groceries like meat, cereals, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and other items listed above in the article. In case your purchase orders include non-eligible debt items you must pay through cash, debit or credit card.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Circle K Accept Food Stamps Card / EBT Cards?
Yes, there are a lot of Circle K stores located throughout the country that enable shoppers to purchase SNAP-eligible food items with the help of their SNAP EBT cards. Moreover, you can use your SNAP retail locator to identify stores near you that accept EBT cards. Just fill in your zip code or address or tap on the map for directions and details about authorized retailers. However, EBT cards like WIC are not used for online shopping at Circle K.
Does Circle K Take Apple Pay?
Yes Circle K accepts Apple Pay as a method of payment for buying items but presently this facility is available only at a few locations in the United States. Therefore you need to confirm this by contacting your local Circle K location.
Does Circle K Allow Shoppers To Use Their EBT Cards During Self Checkout?
Yes, Circle K allows customers to use their EBT cards on the self-checkouts. It is easier than going to a regular checkout since the computer will apply the EBT discount automatically on the SNAP eligible food items by scanning for every food item therefore you do not need to separate eligible SNAP items from the rest of your shopping.
Can I Use My EBT Card For Online Purchase At Circle K?
No, unfortunately, Circle K does not accept EBT cards as a form of payment for making online purchases. This may be possible in the upcoming days but currently, they accept only credit or debit cards from users for online purchases. In addition to that you cannot use your EBT card at Circle K stores for paying your grocery delivery or curbside pickup. Circle K allows shoppers to use their EBT cards for purchasing items only in-store.
