How to buy groceries online with California EBT card – People in California, who are eligible for the food stamps program will get an EBT card or Golden State Advantage Card. Those people can use their card to buy eligible food items with the card from the eligible grocery stores, farmers markets, and other places. However, they can also use their EBT cards to purchase groceries online through Walmart and Amazon and other online eligible platforms.
Not only this, but EBT cardholders will get many other discounts and benefits on the purchase of non-food items and services. Such as laptop, desktop, home phone and cell phone services, internet services, and admission in museums, zoos, and lots of more. Today, in this article, you will get info on how to buy groceries online with California EBT cards. If you want to know about how much food stamp benefits are available in your card to do shopping with it, then you can look for a California EBT card balance and then proceed shopping online. Let’s continue and know how to purchase groceries online with a California EBT card.
Highlights of this Post
EBT online purchasing with Pilot Program
The United States Department of Agriculture launched a pilot program for online EBT purchases in 2017. This program helps the EBT cardholders to purchase online groceries for delivery and pick-up. When this program was launched some states are approved to participate in it, and these are:
Some grocery stores also participated in this pilot program, these are:
- Safeway
- Amazon
- Hart’s Local Grocers
- FreshDirect
- Dash’s Market
- ShopRite
- Hy-Vee, inc.
EBT Online Pilot Rollout
Actually, New York was the first state that launched the Pilot Program in 2019, after that other states also started to follow to launch the program. But Maryland and New Jersey launched the program later than other states.
You can look for the list of the states that start to implement the SNAP EBT grocery online program and the grocery stores that work with the program.
More States have been added
You know that during Covid-19 people suffer a lot for every little thing. That’s why California and other states have petitioned the USDA to be added to the pilot program. So that they allow the SNAP recipients to shop online with their EBT cards for delivery and pick-up.
California’s EBT online program
The Press Release from the California Departments of Social Services (CDSS), individuals and families are able to use their EBT card for online shopping or to purchase groceries from Amazon and Walmart. If your are receiving CalWORKS, then you can also use your cash benefits to purchase at Wal-Mart.
However, California expected the implementation of EBT online purchasing in response to Covid-19 and that’s why the state is continuously working to expand the number of stores that accept EBT online in the future.
Other changes made to California’s SNAP program (CalFresh)
Even California, takes a stand for their citizens who are California EBT cardholders. People who have California EBT cards will receive benefits for March, April and May and they don’t need to renew their benefits, if their benefits are going to expire in March or April. This decision was taken by USDA because of Covid-19. Thus, you will continue to receive food stamps benefits for an additional 6 months before you have to renew. And the residents of California are now going to receive a maximum benefit amount for their household size.
To find out the maximum benefit amount of your household size, you have to look for the given below chart:
People in household | Maximum Monthly Allotment |
1 | $194 |
2 | $355 |
3 | $509 |
4 | $646 |
5 | $768 |
6 | $921 |
7 | $1,018 |
8 | $1,164 |
Each additional member | +$146 |
If you have any query or want to know more then click here.
How to buy groceries online with California EBT
You can use your California EBT card online with Walmart and Amazon. Below, you will read about how to buy groceries online with Amazon and Walmart with your California EBT. Let’s continue.
How to buy Amazon Groceries online with a California EBT Card?
In california. EBT cardholders now use their SNAP benefits and shop and purchase food online on Amazon for delivery.
How Amazon Groceries online with a California EBT Card works?
Here are steps given to let you know how to use an EBT card to shop groceries online with Amazon.
Step1– Login your Amazon account
First, you have to visit the Amazon website to purchase groceries online. Then login into your Amazon account. If you don’t have an Amazon account then “Create your Amazon account” and then log in using your email and password.
Step2– Add your California EBT Card
Once you login to your Amazon account then you have to add your CalFresh food stamps card here. Enter your complete SNAP EBT card number and submit. Then enter your Zip code, to know that Amazon will deliver on that location or not. Next, click on the “Add your SNAP EBT card” button.
Step3– Shop for Amazon grocery online
You can start shopping groceries online with Amazon once you add your EBT card. However, you can use Amazon Fresh or Amazon Grocery to purchase online. When you add your EBT card to Amazon, then as an EBT cardholder, you have Free Access to Amazon Fresh. You can learn more about Amazon Grocery, Amazon Fresh, and Prime Pantry.
Step4– Enter your PIN to checkout
Once you have done your shopping then checkout. At the time of checkout select “EBT” as payment mode. After that enter the 4-digit PIN of your California EBT card to place an order.
NOTE: Here is one thing to note that one cannot use their EBT card or food stamp benefits to pay for shipping or delivery fees. If you don;t have an Amazon Prime and want free delivery, then meet the free shipping minimum limit for each program.
Get Amazon Prime Discount for EBT cardholders
By Amazon Prime, you can also purchase online on Amazon. You can purchase essential home items with your EBT card online on Amazon.
Here are a few GREAT NEWS available for you. If you have not Amazon Prime Membership then you can sign up with your EBT Card and get 50% OFF a membership. How to sign up, for learning this, you can look online.
Discounted Amazon Prime Membership
When you sign up for Amazon Prime Membership with your EBT Card then as a California EBT Cardholder, you can receive more than 50% OFF on Amazon Prime. With the Amazon Prime EBT discount, you can also receive all the great advantages of Prime at a part of the cost.
For purchasing just $5.99 per month, you can receive all these EBT Amazon Prime benefits that are given below –
- Access to Unlimited FREE Prime Music streaming
- Access to instantly stream thousands of FREE Movies & TV Shows
- One-Day FREE Shipping on millions of eligible Amazon items
- FREE 2-Hour Delivery on Prime Now items
- Two-Day FREE Shipping on millions of eligible Amazon items
If you want to know more about the Amazon Prime EBT Discount and the benefits and perks that you can get with Amazon Prime membership, from official site.
How to buy Walmart groceries online with California EBT card?
Currently, Walmart offers online pick-up from stores for online buying groceries, but delivery service is not available. You can buy only eligible grocery items from Walmart and cannot pay your food stamps dollars to pay for delivery. Here are the steps given to buy groceries online with a California EBT card from Walmart, let’s look at them.
Step1– Go to the Walmart Grocery website
To buy groceries online from Walmart, first you have to go to Walmart Grocery website at http://www.grocery.walmart.com/.
Step2– Find Walmart Store near you
Then you have to enter your Zip code to find the nearest Walmart store, so you can pick-up your online order from there.
Step3– Shop for groceries online
Once you find the nearest Walmart store then you can start to buy groceries online and add items to shopping cart that are eligible for purchasing with EBT. Once you add items in the shopping cart then you will be asked to sign up or create an account. If you have an account then login or if not, then create an account and then log in to continue purchasing.
Step4– Checkout and choose delivery option
If your purchase is done then click on the “Checkout” button. However, you have to shop for at least $30 to buy with an EBT card, you can pay till you don’t reach this limit.
When you click on the Checkout button then you will redirect to a new page where you can choose the time slot to pick up your order from the store, from the “Reserve a time” option.
Step5– Checkout with your EBT card
After selecting the pickup option, you will redirect to the payment page where you have to choose the EBT card option from various options.
Step6– Enter your phone number and place your order
On the next step, you have to enter your phone number and review if everything is okay, if yes, then click on the “Place Order” button to complete the order procedure.
Step7– Pick up and pay with EBT card
On the final step, you have to pay with your CalFresh EBT card and complete the order for Pick Up. You have to bring your EBT card when you come to pick up your order from the selected Walmart store.
Designated Pick-up Locations
You have to make sure that you follow the instructions for pick-up orders from Walmart stores that are given in text or email.
You read above that Walmart offers pickup locations and does not provide the delivery options for online grocery orders. However, when you arrive at the pickup location, you have to park your vehicle in a reserved parking space marked in orange for “Grocery Pickup Customers”.
Then, call the designated number to alert an associate of your arrival. Or you can also check-in through the Walmart grocery app. An associate will come with a prepared order and then load it into your car. The associate will know that you are an EBT customer and then swipe your EBT card to pay for your order. Then you have to enter your EBT pin, to complete the pickup process.
If you have something that is not EBT-eligible, then you have to pay for that with another card like debit or credit.
Can I pay using multiple forms of payment?
Yes, you can pay for your order with your EBT card or another form of payment at the time of pickup.
If you ordered something non-SNAP eligible items, then the Walmart associate will ask you for another card to pay for it, but you can pay for SNAP eligible items with a CalFresh EBT card. At that time, you can provide the associate with other cards like debit or credit card or another form of payment to pay for non-SNAP eligible items. However, one can use a SNAP EBT card for one time order only.
Can I make changes to my Walmart online grocery order?
If you want to make changes in your Walmart online grocery order, then you can do it but before your cutoff time. Because after cutoff time, your order will be submitted and the store associate will start to pack the order for pickup. Unfortunately, you cannot make changes to your order after cutoff time.
If you like to make changes in your order then you have to sign in on Walmart website, click on your account and then recent orders. Then follow the steps:
- To update your pickup or delivery time slot, click on Change Time.
- If you want to add, decrease or remove items or to update your substitution preferences then click on “Edit items”.
- If you want to add more items to your order then click on Keep Shopping, then add items to your card and then complete checkout. Your bank statement will reflect a second authorization amount that may vary and that is depending on the item’s weight or type.
Buying groceries online with California EBT Card FAQs
Here you see various questions and answers that are related to buying groceries online with a California EBT card from Walmart and Amazon and more. You can read them and get solutions for your queries.
Will more grocery stores be added to the list from the pilot?
Yes, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), that is incharge of the pilot program and running it, is planning to add a lot of grocery stores in the online list in the forthcoming months.
How do I check my California EBT card balance?
You can check your California EBT Card balance in-person, online, or by phone. If you want to check to complete your California EBT Card balance then you can call at 1-877-328-9677 or you can visit the California ebt.ca.gov website.
Can I have someone else help me shop with my EBT card?
For setting up an Authorized Representative (AR), you can ask your food stamps caseworker that is in your local county. The AR should have a separate card with her/ his own PIN and account number. The AR will have access to the whole benefit of your EBT account.
Can I buy non-SNAP eligible items with an alternative form of payment?
Yes, With an alternative form of payment, you can purchase those items that are non-SNAP-eligible (or SNAP-eligible items). You will have to add an additional method of payment, like a credit card, debit card or gift card, at checkout. As a customer, you can also add cash to your Amazon Balance at any cooperating Amazon cash location. You can visit Amazon Cash.
What items are eligible for purchase with California SNAP EBT cards on Amazon?
On Amazon, you can purchase only those items that are SNAP-eligible food items with your California SNAP EBT Card. These items are sold and shipped by Amazon.com. By looking for the “SNAP EBT eligible” label that is near the product name, you can identify those items that are eligible for buying with SNAP EBT Card, on Amazon.
Do I need to have an Amazon Prime Membership to use my FL EBT on Amazon?
No, you have no need for Amazon Prime Membership to use your FL EBT on Amazon. You can shop with a valid AL, FL, CA, NE, OR, NY, IA, or Wa-issued SNAP EBT card. You can use Amazon Fresh without Amazon Prime Membership. Though, to get free shipping, order minimums still apply for Amazon Pantry and Amazon Fresh.
Summary for Buy groceries online with California EBT
Now, you see that one can use their California EBT card to purchase groceries online with the eligible stores including Walmart and Amazon. However, they can purchase only SNAP-eligible items with the EBT card and cannot pay for other non-eligible items or shipping or delivery fees. It is easy to place an order and then pick-up from the nearest store or get delivery at your doorstep. Not only this, but when you shop with your CalFresh EBT card then you will get more discounts and benefits for your purchase. One can use their EBT card on different online stores that are eligible to participate in the online Pilot Purchasing Program.