Does Five Below Take EBT Card, SNAP Or Food Stamps – The Electronic Benefits Transfer or SNAP is a government-issued program that helps millions of low-income American families and individuals to purchase staple food and groceries. While EBT cards are accepted in the majority of grocery stores that sell groceries and fresh foods it is always a wise idea to know the type of stores that are accepting food stamps as a method of payment. Have you ever heard of Five Below Inc.? Then you must know this American chain of speciality discount stores sells almost all the products at $5 or less and a small assortment of its products are priced up to $25.
A lot of SNAP recipients are eager to know if this discount retail chain is accepting EBT as a method of payment or not. In this comprehensive article, we will help you discover the ins and outs of the Five Below policies on EBT, how the EBT program works and the list of grocery stores or retail chains that are accepting EBT throughout the country.
Highlights of this Post
Key Takeaways
- Five Below does NOT accept EBT cards.
- They sell mostly non-food items like décor, accessories, and games.
- USDA regulations restrict EBT purchases to authorized grocery stores.
- Explore EBT-friendly alternatives like Dollar General or Walmart.
What Are Five Below Stores?
Five Below is a popular American retail chain that provides a variety of items and products at steep discounts. They are often compared to Dollar General stores that sell higher-value items at competitive prices that do not exceed $5. This is the reason why the company Is popularly known as Five Below.
This renowned high-growth value retailer is a go-to destination among a lot of Americans who are looking for high-quality and trendy products. Almost all the items available at Five Below are priced in the range between $1 to $5 and in some cases extremely valuable items are priced beyond $5 in their ‘Five Beyond’ shop. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Philadelphia PA there are 1200 stores of Five Below in the present date located in 40 U.S. states.
Founded by David Schlesinger and Tom Vellios, Five Below puts its special emphasis on tweens and teens. Following is the list of products that you can generally find add Five Below stores:
- Sports games
- Fashion accessories
- Bath and body room
- Décor
- Candy and beverages
- Stationery and school supplies
- Novelty and gag items
- Smartphone accessories
- Seasonal items
How Many Five Below Stores Are There In the United States Of America?
As of 17th April 2024, there are 1598 Five Below stores located throughout the United States of America. The US state and territory with a maximum number of Five Below store locations is East Texas with 156 stores locations that account for 10% of the overall Five Below stores in America.
The Five Below stores are located in 44 U.S. states and territories and 1141 cities. The top ten states and territories with a maximum Five Below stores are as follows:
- Texas- 156 or 10% of US Five Below stores
- Florida– 156 or 10% of US Five Below stores
- California– 121 or 8% of US Five Below stores
- New York– 109 or 7% of US Five Below stores
- Pennsylvania– 83 or 5% of US Five Below stores
- Illinois– 70 or 4% of US Five Below stores
- Ohio– 61 or 4% of US Five Below stores
- New Jersey– 58 or 4% of US Five Below stores
- Michigan– 55 or 3% of of US Five Below stores
- Georgia– 51 or 3% of US Five Below stores
There are 12 U.S. states and territories without any Five Below store locations: US Virgin Island, Idaho, Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Wyoming, Washington, American Samoa, Oregon Guam And Montana.
The cities with the maximum number of Five Below stores in the United States of America are: Houston, Miami, San Antonio, Orlando, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Chicago, Phoenix, El Paso and Fort Worth.
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.
What Is EBT And How Is It Related To Five Below?
The Electronic Benefits Transfer helps low-income families and individuals purchase groceries and food items. A digital method adopted by the federal government to transfer SNAP benefits to eligible low-income households is known as Electronic Benefits Transfer or EBT card. Both SNAP and EBT are the upgraded versions of food stamps.
Administered by USDA or the United States Department of Agriculture the program helps to improve overall food security and alleviate hunger. You can use the card at authorized retail outlets to purchase SNAP-eligible food that includes meat, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, cereals and many more options.
You can also read about whether the popular warehouse company Costco accepts EBT or not in our next guide.
Does Five Below Accept Food Stamps/ EBT Payments?
Unfortunately, Five Below does not accept food stamps or EBT payments. The only accepted payment options at Five Below are Apple Pay, cash, credit or debit cards and gift cards. Five Below stores are not accepting personal checks for money orders for purchase orders or cashier’s checks. The stores are also not accepting PayPal, or Google Pay in addition to EBT cards at any of their store locations.
The retailer offers discounted prices on non-food items and their inventory comprises sports games, accessories, décor, stationary supplies, novelty, smartphone accessories and seasonal items. Most of the products available here are non-edible and merchandise items that violate the USDA SNAP rules.
Read our next guide to know if Big Lots accepts EBT payments from SNAP recipients in America.
Why Is EBT Not Accepted At Any Five Below Store Locations?
Before delving deep into the reason why EBT is not accepted at Five Below let’s take a look at the USDA set eligibility criteria that grocery stores or retail chains need to fulfill before processing EBT payments.
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USDA Criteria 1
As per USDA guidelines, retailers should have at least 3 stocking units of 3 different varieties for each staple food category continuously. There should be at least one perishable variety for two staple food categories as well.
There are four food categories for EBT-friendly stores: fruits or vegetables, dairy products, meat/ poultry/ fish and bread or cereals. There are 36 food stocking units required to meet USDA Criteria 1. A lot of stores are authorized under this criterion.
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USDA Criteria 2
Retail stores that have at least 50% of its gross total retail stores coming from the sale of staple food that are qualified by the SNAP program. Specialty stores for instance butcher shops are also authorized under USDA criterion 2.
Five Below does not have a proper system to process EBT benefits and has not been authorized by USDA to take food stamps as a method of payment. Unlike other grocery stores, Five Below does not sell fresh produce like fruits or vegetables. The USDA has made these restrictions to ensure SNAP funds are used for the purchase of nutritional food items only.
Read our next guide to know if the popular restaurant Chipotle accepts EBT payments.
What Are The Accepted Forms Of Payment At Five Below?
Following is the list of accepted in-store payments at Five Below store locations throughout America:
- Cash
- Credit or debit cards like Visa, Discover, MasterCard and American Express
- Gift Cards: MasterCard, visa, and Amex gift cards
- E-Wallets like Apple Pay Google Pay Android Pay And Samsung Pay
- Gift cards: Five Below gift cards plastic or E-gift cards
Customers who want to place online orders at Five Below can use the following forms of payment.
Desktop Laptop And Mobile Web Browser
- Credit or debit cards like Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Gift cards like Five Below gift cards, Visa, MasterCard or Amex gift cards
Smartphones: iOS and Android
- Credit or debit cards like Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
- PayPal
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
Five Below is unable to accept the following forms of payment at its physical store or online platform:
- Checks
- Purchase orders
- Money orders
- Venmo + PayPal
- Ebt cards
- International credit cards.
Curious to know whether Grocery Outlet accept EBT payments? Read about the same in detail in our next guide.
What Are The Working Hours Of Five Below Stores?
Five Below opens its stores at 10:00 AM from Monday to Saturday and wraps up store business at 9:00 PM. The chain operates on slightly reduced hours on Sundays and operating hours are from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It is important to note that during special holidays there may be variations to these working hours and timings.
- Five Below remains closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
- The store remains open from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Black Friday, the day known for its shopping frenzies.
- The store operates from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM on New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve.
It is also important to note that the working hours may vary depending on your state of residence so it is a good idea to verify the working hours and timings of your local Five Below store by contacting the store directly or visiting their official website.
Do you know which retailers in California accept EBT payments? Head over to our next guide to learn about the comprehensive list.
What Can I Purchase With My EBT Card At Authorized Retail Stores?
Following is a list of items that you can purchase with your EBT card at any USDA-authorized stores that accept EBT payments.
- Fruits and vegetables: All types of fresh, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables are allowed for EBT purchase.
- Milk and Dairy Products: All types of milk, yogurt, cheese and butter are eligible
- Meat, poultry and fish: This comprises all forms of meat such as pork, beef, turkey, chicken, fish and lamb
- Bread and cereals: All types of bread, crackers, cereals, pasta, oatmeal and rice are allowed
- Snacks and desserts: Chips, cakes, cookies and other snack items are eligible as long as they do not have any vitamins or minerals in them.
- Baking ingredients. This includes flour, sugar eggs flavoring etc.
- Staple cooking ingredients: This includes herbs, seasoning and spices.
- Energy drinks: Specific energy drinks are allowed for purchase using an EBT card if they are labeled as Nutrition Facts.
- Seeds and Plants: SNAP participants can purchase plants and seeds to grow their produce.
What Can’t I Purchase With My EBT Card?
The following is the list of items that you cannot purchase at grocery stores using your EBT card:
- Hot Prepared Food: This includes food items that are ready for immediate consumption such as hot prepared meals and food from restaurants.
- Alcohol and Tobacco: EBT funds cannot be used to buy alcoholic beverages like wine, liquor, beer, cigarettes and any other tobacco products
- Health and Beauty: This includes cosmetics, medications, vitamins, hygiene products and supplements.
- Household Supplies: This includes non-food items like paper goods and cleaning products
- Pet Supplies: This includes pet food, bedding and toys
- Live animals (except fish and shellfish).
Making any unapproved SNAP purchase using your EBT card may result in your SNAP benefits termination. You also have to face severe consequences like a 3-month ban for the first SNAP unapproved purchase, a year ban for the second unapproved purchase and a two-year ban for the third unapproved SNAP purchase.
Alternate Discount Retail Chains That Accept EBT
As you know Five Below is not accepting EBT as a method of payment let’s take a look at the following dollar retailers that are EBT-friendly:
Dollar General
Food stamps or EBT cards are accepted as a method of payment at almost any Dollar General location however it is important to confirm before heading to a local Dollar Store. Generally Dollar Stores that accept EBT issue a notice on the window or door stating “EBT Card Holders are Accepted” or “We Accept EBT Payments”!
A lot of Dollar General prices are comparatively lower than other grocery stores so you can get food items at competitive prices and stretch your food budget further. You can also find amazing frozen food collections at Dollar General Stores located throughout the country.
Dollar Tree
All locations of Dollar Tree accept EBT as a method of payment. With nearly 4000 stores located throughout 48 states, Dollar Trees is an amazing resource for low-income households in America. They have an amazing selection of refrigerated and freezer foods which is uncommon for dollar stores.
They also have a robust food and grocery section to maximize your EBT benefits. Dollar Tree accepts EBT cards or food stamps for both cash benefits and SNAP purchases on your Electronic Benefits Transfer Card. Customers have the option to select whether they want to use EBT food purchases or EBT cash during checkout.
Family Dollar
Family Dollar has nearly 7000 store locations across 45 states in America. They have a wide grocery selection, unlike other dollar stores on the list. Compared to Dollar General these stores sell low-cost merchandise products including higher ticket items such as clothing, BBQ grills, outdoor toys etc. Before heading to a local family to store, be sure to check with their EBT policy.
While some locations are accepting EBT some may not accept so call your local Family Dollar store to find additional details. The chain carries a wide array of products that meet USDA SNAP requirements and serves ground beef, dairy products, frozen entrees, hot dogs, canned pasta, snack food, bacon etc.
Learn about Smart & Final’s acceptance policy on EBT in our next guide.
Major Retailers That Accept EBT Payments
Besides discount retail chains, a lot of grocery stores, convenience markets, farmers markets and online retailers are accepting EBT from SNAP beneficiaries as an acceptable method of payment. Let’s take a look at the following retailers that accept EBT payments:
Amazon
Amazon is an online platform that allows all EBT cardholders to shop online and get them delivered to their doorstep. Customers need not become Amazon Prime members to shop with Amazon.
Depending on the type of food you need and whether you want to purchase quantity in bulk Amazon provides three options such as Amazon Core Groceries, Amazon Pantry and Amazon Fresh.
Walmart
Walmart accepts EBT for both in-store and online delivery. It 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.
Instacart
Instacart is an online grocery delivery service where you can buy SNAP-eligible groceries and products from your favorite retailers for delivery or pick up.
Instead, the card is available in a majority of U.S. states and by getting an Instacart + membership you can receive discounts on your orders. Instacart provides online grocery delivery through the following SNAP retailers: ALDI, Price Rite, Stop & Shop, Price Chopper, Hannaford Supermarket and Market 32.
DoorDash
DoorDash is one of the latest and most popular app-based delivery services that enable people to purchase food and get it delivered to their doorstep. They are available throughout the country and even accept EBT cards as a method of payment. So if you are a SNAP beneficiary you can use your EBT card to order food items and groceries from DoorDash.
A few more EBT-friendly retailers where you can use your food stamp benefits for purchasing SNAP-eligible items are as follows:
- Target
- Whole Foods Market
- Harris Teeter
- Wegmans
- Weis Markets
- Whole Foods
- Jewel-Osco
- King Soopers
- Kings Food Markets
- Kroger
- Safeway
- Acme Markets
- AJ’s Fine Foods
- Albertsons
- Speedway
- Associated Food Stores
- Bashas
- Big Y Foods
- Walgreens
- Foodtown
- Fred Meyer
- Stater Bros
- Fry’s Food Stores
- Giant Eagle
- Giant Food
- Hannaford Supermarkets
- Lowe’s Grocery
- 99 Ranch Market
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Bravo Supermarkets
- Brookshire’s
- Smart and Final
- City Market
- Dillons Stores
- H Mart
- Kroger
- Jubilee Foods
- Superior Grocers
- Tops Markets
- Trader Joe’s
- Vons
- Publix
- Meijer
- Piggly Wiggly
- Pick N Save
- Price Chopper
- Walgreens
- Fareway Meat & Grocery
- Fine Fare Supermarkets
- Food 4 Less
- Food City
- Sprouts
- 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 etc.
Read about the comprehensive list of SNAP-eligible goods and grocery stores that accept EBT payments online in our next guide.
Conclusion
To sum up, Five Below does not accept food stamps or Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards as their acceptable payment method. However, you can use other payment options like debit, credit cards, gift cards, cash and so on to shop with Five Below. The chain is not accepting EBT even for the purchase of SNAP-eligible food items. This is because Five Below is not a typical grocery store that sells staple food items so it is not authorized by USDA to take EBT cards. In this comprehensive guide, we have also mentioned the list of dollar retailers that are accepting EBT and other general stores where you can use your food stamp to purchase eligible food items.
Read our comprehensive guide at Get Government Grants to make the best decision for yourself and your family. Head over to our blog section today to improve the financial situation of your family. We are passionate about helping people find relevant answers to their questions.
