Does HelloFresh Take EBT Cards, Snap or Food Stamps – Meal delivery services such as HelloFresh have gained massive popularity in the recent course of years due to their variety of meal options and highly convenient foods. Their services offer pre-portioned ingredients with easy-to-follow recipes that mix cooking food at home and easy breezy tasks.
If you’re enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program and enjoy the meal delivery services of HelloFresh then you must wonder whether you can use your EBT benefits here. In this comprehensive guide, we will help you explore the possibility of using your SNAP benefits or EBT card at HelloFresh and will also let you know the alternative options if you depend on government assistance programs.
Highlights of this Post
Key Takeaways
- HelloFresh does not accept EBT (food stamps) as a payment method.
- USDA regulations restrict SNAP benefits for hot, prepared meals.
- HelloFresh lacks a physical store, another EBT requirement.
- Explore EBT-friendly grocery delivery services like Instacart or Walmart.
What is HelloFresh?
HelloFresh is a popular meal delivery service in the United States of America that aims to make cooking food at home an enjoyable and simple task. They provide a wide variety of meal plans including family-friendly vegetarian and calorie-smart food options.
HelloFresh has become a household name as the company lays its emphasis on diverse recipes and fresh ingredients. This popular Berlin-based food company serves millions of households across the globe and delivers fresh ingredients and thorough cooking instructions to households belonging to 11 countries.
Do you love to shop with Walgreens? Take a look at our next guide to know whether Walgreens accept EBT payments or not.
What Is EBT And How Does It Work?
Electronic Benefits Transfer or EBT refers to a system in America to deliver federal government assistance benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance For Needy Families Program and the Women, Infants and Children Program. The card works similarly to a debit card and enables beneficiaries to buy eligible food items from participating retailers.
The main objective of the SNAP program is to enable low-income individuals and families to access nutritious and healthy food. EBT cards can be used at grocery stores, local co-ops, farmers’ markets, supermarkets, superstores, convenience stores, pharmacies, gas stations and in some cases at restaurants and fast food chains.
Does HelloFresh Accept EBT?
Unfortunately, HelloFresh does not accept EBT as a payment option due to the USDA federal regulation that restricts benefits for the purchase of hot prepared food which is generally available with meal delivery services. Moreover, USDA requires individual retailers to have a physical location to accept EBT from SNAP beneficiaries which limits the ability of different meal delivery services such as HelloFresh to transact EBT payments.
HelloFresh is a popular meal company that helps people across the globe with their meal plans but they do not accept food stamps and are not actively engaging in the USDA Pilot Program to enable EBT cardholders to make online purchases for groceries with their food stamp benefits.
Why Does HelloFresh Not Take Food Stamps or EBT?
HelloFresh has not declared anything officially about why they are not accepting EBT as a payment method however it is not the only company that has refused to accept EBT payments.
According to SNAP USDA guidelines, retail stores are required to seek approval to enroll in the SNAP EBT program. Any store or grocery chain has to meet any of the two eligibility criteria before accepting EBT payments from customers.
- They are required to meet one of the two staple food criteria to process EBT payments. As per USDA guidelines, any store in America should have at least three stocking units of three 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. Also, stores should show that at least 50% of their gross total retail stores coming from the sale of staple food is qualified by the SNAP EBT program.
Unfortunately, HelloFresh being a meal delivery service fails to fully meet the USDA eligibility criteria so it cannot process EBT payments.
Does HelloFresh Plan To Accept EBT In The Future?
Even though HelloFresh is not accepting food stamps presently they may upgrade their payment system and other forms of payment including Electronic Benefits Transfer or food stamps in the future however nothing has been mentioned officially by the company. The USDA is experimenting with the meal delivery services so that they can continue to participate in the SNAP program and accept EBT as a viable payment method.
What Payment Methods Are Accepted By HelloFresh?
Customers pay for HelloFresh services through flexible weekly subscription service online. Once you sign up for the HelloFresh service you will be scheduled automatically to receive a box each month. You’ll be charged in full 5 five days before the day your delivery is scheduled to take place.
HelloFresh accepts various other payment methods outside EBT payments from their customers and this includes the following option.
Major Credit Cards
HelloFresh accepts major credit cards such as Visa, American Express, Discover and MasterCard. As a customer, you need to provide valid payment information on the app or site to order from an account.
When you order through the account you must agree and authorize your payment method to be charged for all the taxes and fees. HelloFresh may charge an alternative payment method if your primary method is unavailable or gets declined.
PayPal
HelloFresh accepts payments from customers through PayPal. Once you sign up using PayPal this can be an option to pay for your food when you checkout. You can change the mode of payment at any point during your subscription.
Is HelloFresh Cheaper Compared To Normal Grocery Shopping?
HelloFresh is not a cheaper option when it comes to grocery shopping. Even though delivery meal kit service can save you time that would have been spent while going to the store, the weekly charges will not save you dollars.
HelloFresh 3 meals for a household of two members will cost nearly $78.93 or $16.00 per meal whereas on visiting a grocery store you can shop for meals that may range between $4.5 and $7.50 per meal. Even if you’re using a coupon the cost will come down to $3.99 for every meal and you have to pay an extra $10 per box for the delivery cost which is higher compared to visiting a grocery once a week.
Do you know which retailers in California accept EBT payments? Head over to our next guide to learn about the comprehensive list.
Grocery Delivery Services That Accept EBT or Food Stamp Benefits
As you know delivery services like HelloFresh have not been integrated into the SNAP EBT program the best alternative to consider is grocery delivery services that are USDA-approved to take SNAP funds as a method of payment.
Even though it is not the same as meal delivery most of the grocery stores provide a fresh food section that can qualify for EBT payments. Let’s take a look at the following grocery delivery services that you can consider.
Instacart
Instacart is a popular online delivery service that integrates most of the local grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores and has helped people to get their orders delivered to their doorstep.
One of the best alternatives to HelloFresh is Instacart which accepts EBT payments online and provides much more convenience and flexibility to EBT cardholders. They have a wider selection of grocery supermarkets that also include ready-to-eat meals. The process is comparatively easy to set up. Following are the retailers that have collaborated with Instacart
- Publix
- ACME
- Albertsons
- Shaw’s
- Sprouts Market
- Wegmans
- Food Lion
- Price Rite
- ALDI
- Hannafords
- Market 32
- Price Chopper
- Safeway
- Select local Co-ops
DoorDash
DoorDash is another online platform where EBT is accepted as a method of payment online. Stores on DoorDash that accept cards are Pavilions, Vons, Star Market, Albertson, Safeway, ALDI, Meijer etc. You need to create an account with DoorDash to use the online platform to purchase goods with EBT cards.
Walmart
Walmart is a popular online retailer that is available throughout the United States of America. SNAP recipients can use their EBT card to purchase groceries online from Walmart. The retailer is committed to helping SNAP beneficiaries access healthy, affordable and nutritious food by enrolling in the U.S Online Purchasing Pilot Program.
Target
Target accepts online EBT payments through its delivery service called Shipt. You need to create an account on Target to place an order using your EBT card. Shift members get free delivery on orders more than $35 whereas same-day grocery delivery comes with a cost of $9.99.
Amazon
SNAP 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.
Safeway
A widely available grocery store that accepts EBT and has its online delivery service arm is Safeway. The grocery chain is one of the popular attractions for SNAP recipients who are homebound, elderly or do not wish to visit a supermarket in person. The procedure to apply for your EBT card at Safeway is quite an easy task. You can schedule online delivery or in-store pickup at Safeway.
Top Box Food
Top Box Food was designed particularly to address the gap in online delivery options to deliver fresh produce for low-income individuals and families in America. The nonprofit is delivering its services in specific cities such as Chicago or Cook County, Atlanta, New Orleans, Rockford and Baton Rouge.
The company generally offers six to seven different boxes that include soup, fresh vegetables, fish, steak and chicken. SNAP recipients can get the meals delivered to their doorstep using EBT payments if they’re living in one of the eligible metro areas that Top Box Food serves.
A few more retailers include the following:
- Costo
- Harris Teeter
- HEB
- Wegmans
- Weis Markets
- Whole Foods
- Jewel-Osco
- Jubilee Foods
- King Soopers
- Kings Food Markets
- Kroger
- Dollar Stores
- Acme Markets
- AJ’s Fine Foods
- Albertsons
- Stater Bros
- Associated Food Stores
- Bashas
- Big Y Foods
- Foodtown
- Fred Meyer
- 99 Ranch Market
- 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
- Price Chopper
- CVS
- Fareway Meat & Grocery
- Fine Fare Supermarkets
- Food 4 Less
- Food City
- Food Lion
- Publix
- QFC Supermarkets
- Raley’s
- Shaw’s
- ShopRite
- Smith’s Food and Drug
- WinCo
- Ralphs
- Speedway
- Save Mart
- Schnucks Market
- Stop & Shop
- Super 1 Foods
- Superior Grocers
- Tops Markets
- Trader Joe’s
- Vons etc.
Get a comprehensive list of SNAP-eligible goods and grocery stores that accept EBT payments online in our next guide.
What Can You Buy With Your EBT Card At Stores?
SNAP recipients with EBT cards can buy necessary groceries and staple food at any of the SNAP-authorized retailers. The following is the list of food that you can purchase at food stamps retail stores that are EBT-friendly.
- Fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen or canned)
- Cooking oil such as vegetable or olive oil
- Poultry products like eggs and chicken
- Dairy products like almond milk, cheese, milk, butter
- Seafood like fish, lobster, shellfish
- Desert such as cookies, brownies, ice cream
- Snack items include cold sandwiches, candy, chips, snack crackers
- Non-alcoholic beverages and energy drinks
- Pork products like tenderloin, bacon, sausages, chops
- Seeds and plants to produce food.
- Red meat like ribs, steak, ground beef,
- Bread and cereals such as tortillas, rice, bagels, pasta, oatmeal, pita bread, and rye bread.
What Can’t You Purchase With Your EBT Card At Any Stores?
Many items are not allowed for EBT purchase at any retail store in California. Following is the list of items that are not covered by EBT or food stamp benefits:
- Cigarettes or tobacco products
- Vitamins, medicines and supplements
- Alcoholic products like wine, beer, liquor
- Non-food items like cleaning supplies, paper products, cosmetics, hygiene items, pet food etc.
- Live animals (except fish and shellfish)
- Foods that are served hot at the time of sale such as restaurant food.
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.
Do Restaurants Accept EBT or SNAP Payments?
Even though the EBT or food stamp benefits do not cover hot prepared meals, delis or restaurants the USDA has designed the Restaurant Meals Program as an extension of SNAP benefits in select states to help the elderly, disabled and homeless SNAP recipients so that they can enjoy fully prepared meals with the help of EBT benefits. There are national chains that participate in the SNAP EBT program.
States That Participate In The SNAP Restaurant Meals Program
It is important to note that not every state participates in the Restaurant Meals Program. Till now only seven states have applied for it while the other three are pending or under construction. These include the following:
- Arizona: More than 670 fast food chains in Arizona accept EBT from SNAP recipients.
- Alabama: There is limited RMP participation in Alabama so only a few fast-food chains are accepting EBT here.
- California: California has the most robust and largest Restaurant Meals Program and a lot of fast food chains in California are accepting EBT from SNAP beneficiaries.
- Hawaii: Only select Hawaii cities are accepting EBT from SNAP beneficiaries to help elderly, homeless and disabled recipients access hot prepared meals.
- Michigan: A lot of fast-food restaurants in Michigan are accepting EBT from SNAP beneficiaries.
- Maryland: Only one or two restaurants in select Maryland cities accept EBT for restaurant meals from SNAP beneficiaries.
- Missouri: Only a handful of Missouri fast-food restaurants are accepting EBT or will be soon accepting EBT once they get authorized by USDA.
- Massachusetts: A lot of restaurants in Massachusetts are accepting EBT from SNAP beneficiaries statewide.
- Illinois: Illinois has enrolled in the Restaurant Meals Program in 2020 and only a handful of Cook or Franklin and Cook counties throughout the state accept EBT for restaurant meals in Illinois.
- Virginia: The Restaurant Meals Program has been implemented in Virginia recently and only subway restaurants in Virginia accept EBT payments.
- Rhode Island: One Federal Hill Pizza and five Subway restaurants in Rhode Island participate in the Restaurant Meals Program. You can read more details about the list of restaurants that take EBT in Rhode Island including the participating locations in our next guide.
Additional Nutrition Resources For EBT Recipients
As you know HelloFresh does not accept the EBT as a payment method, a majority of families and individuals who are relying on the federal food assistance program like SNAP can enjoy the variety of meal delivery services and convenience from other retailers. Here are some amazing alternative options that you can consider.
Apply For More Government Food Assistance Programs
Individuals or families belonging to the low-income category can opt for many other food assistance programs apart from SNAP this includes WIC, the National School Lunch Program, The Emergency Food Assistance Program, The Commodity Supplemental Food Program, The Child And Adult Care Food Program, The School Breakfast Program, The Summer Food Service Program and so on.
Budget-Friendly Meal Planning
Individuals who want to save dollars on groceries and enjoy home-cooked meals must create budget-friendly meal plans. There are plenty of mobile apps and online resources available that can help you plan meals accordingly, find reasonable recipes based on the ingredients you have on hand and create a shopping list as well.
Local Food Pantries/ Community Programs
A lot of communities provide food pantries, food resources and meal programs for low-income individuals and families throughout the country. These programs will help you to access fresh and nutritious food and supplement your grocery shopping.
Conclusion
In short, the popular meal delivery service HelloFresh is not accepting EBT or food stamps at the present moment however they may have plans to accept this mode of payment to provide more convenience to EBT cardholders. Currently, HelloFresh accepts only major credit cards and PayPal through their app as accepted payment methods. SNAP recipients cannot make EBT purchases on HelloFresh. Nevertheless, our guide has thrown light on some alternative options that you can consider along with other USDA-authorized retailers from where you can shop for eligible staple food, groceries and other ingredients with food stamps to prepare meals at home.
Our comprehensive guide at Get Government Grants will help you 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does HelloFresh Cost A Month?
HelloFresh is a popular meal kit delivery subscription service that delivers weekly boxes containing pre-portion ingredients that will help you to get complete mail. The cost of HelloFresh may range between $8.99 to $12.49 per serving depending on how many means you are ordering from.
Does Any Other Meal Delivery Service Accept Food Stamps?
Yes, Top Box Food is the only meal delivery service that is accepting EBT payments from SNAP beneficiaries. The company is usually EBT-approved and so it is accepted as a payment method here. Other services like Blue Apron and Hello Chef are eligible however they are yet to receive USDA approval to accept EBT payments.
Which Countries Is HelloFresh Available In?
HelloFresh is the largest meal kit provider in the USA that has opened its operation in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom).
