What Stores Accept EBT In California? – California offers a wide range of stores accepting EBT cards, including grocery stores, farmers markets, and even some restaurants. But be sure to check eligibility as not all stores and programs participate. The largest hunger safety net program in the United States of America that enables low-income families to purchase groceries and stay independent and healthy is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. There are nearly 2,48,000 stores that accept food stamps or EBT cards throughout the United States of America and they may range from major grocery chains, superstores like Walmart and small convenience stores.
The USDA has also expanded its benefits to farmers’ markets so that SNAP beneficiaries can purchase fresh, healthy produce that is locally grown. More than 80% of EBT benefits are used at large retailers nationwide. Every state in the United States of America provides SNAP EBT benefits to individuals and families including the state of California. This comprehensive guide will provide an overview of California stores that are enrolled in the SNAP EBT program.
Highlights of this Post
Key Takeaways
- EBT cards, used for CalFresh benefits in California, can be used at many grocery stores, convenience stores, and farmers markets.
- Some restaurants accept EBT in California through the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), but participation is limited and requires qualification.
- Online grocery shopping with EBT is possible at select retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
- Always check store and program eligibility before using your EBT card.
What Is The CalFresh EBT Program?
EBT refers to an electronic system that enables Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants to pay for their food bills with the help of SNAP funds. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program in California is known as CalFresh and you can get an EBT card by contacting your local California food stamp office. As per the recent report of 2017, there were 3,894,395 food stamp recipients in California accounting for 9.7% of the overall California population to enroll in the food stamp program.
Interested in knowing about: Does WinCo Accept EBT? Read our next guide here.
How Do I Qualify For the CalFresh Food Assistance Program?
To enroll in the Calfresh food assistance program and get food benefits in the form of an Electronic Benefits Transfer Card you need to meet the three main criteria set by USDA such as the following.
- Income Requirements: Eligible recipients have to meet gross and/ or net income limits in the state of California.
- Resource Requirements: Households in California need to make sure their cash at hand limit is $2250 and if you have an elderly disabled member then it must not exceed $3500.
- Work Requirements: Adults aged between 18 to 49 must fulfill the work requirements to qualify for the food assistance program. However, individuals who are below 18 years of age, elderly, disabled or pregnant are exempted from work requirements.
Application Process To Apply For CalFresh EBT
To get your EBT card and enroll in the California food stamp program you need to get approval from the California food stamp office. The Food Assistance Division of the California Department of Human Resources administers this program so you need to get an application form from the department and submit it with relevant documents. You’re also required to open an account with California DSS. You’ll be interviewed by a DSS food assistance worker and once approved you will get your EBT card in your mail.
Read also: What can you Shop Online With EBT?
Where Can I Use My Food Stamps or EBT Card In California?
Individuals who are enrolled in the CalFresh program would be surprised to know the number of stores around them that welcome EBT SNAP payments. The following is the list of places where SNAP benefits are accepted.
1. Grocery Stores And Supermarkets
A majority of the grocery stores are participating in the CalFresh EBT program starting from neighborhood mom-and-pop stores to sprawling mega markets and wholesale clubs. These include Albertsons, ALDI, Costco, Food Lion, Kroger, Piggly Wiggly, Safeway, Sam’s Club, Traders Joe’s and so on.
2. Superstores
Superstores are large retailers like Target and Walmart that are popular destinations for low-income individuals and families to get their household goods, essentials and groceries all in one place. These large retailers are accepting SNAP benefits both in stores as well as for grocery pickup and delivery orders.
3. Farmers Market
Farmers Market is an amazing place to purchase healthy and fresh food with the added benefit of supporting the local economy and community-based farmers.
You can check with your CalFresh SNAP office to find out a healthy food incentive program or one that accepts EBT payment to stretch your CalFresh EBT dollars. Market Match Program is offered at various farmer’s markets.
The program provides bonus cheques to incentivize the purchase of fresh produce by doubling the benefits to a particular amount per market today.
4. Online Grocery Shopping
There are select retailers including Safeway, Amazon, Walmart, and Target that allow SNAP recipients for online grocery purchases using their food stamps or EBT cards. Minimum order requirements as well as delivery fees may apply and you cannot cover the service charges, delivery fees or tipping charges using your EBT card.
5. Restaurants/ Fast Food Chains
California has the most robust and elaborate Restaurant Meals Program designed for qualified individuals such as elderly, homeless or disabled SNAP recipients. Authorization is required to participate in this program and not all food chains or restaurants are enrolled in this program.
You need to contact your local county social service department to learn more details on the eligibility and the participating restaurants in your area. The following is the list of RMP-approved restaurants in California where you can use your EBT benefits to access prepared meals.
- Carl’s Jr.
- Domino’s Pizza
- Little Caesars
- KFC
- EL Pollo Loco
- Papa John’s
- Papa Murphy’s
- Pizza Hut
- Subway
- Taco Bell
- Wendy’s
- Del Taco
- Jack-In-The-Box
What Are The EBT Store Eligibility Requirements?
SNAP-authorized grocery stores or chains in California should meet one of the two staple food criteria to process EBT payments. Basic food items that make a significant part of a person’s diet refer to staple foods like fruits or vegetables, poultry milk etc. These food items are prepared at one’s home and eaten as meals and generally do not include heated food, prepared food or accessory food.
1. USDA Criterion A (Stocking Requirement)
As per USDA guidelines, any grocery 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 A. A lot of stores are authorized under this criterion.
2. USDA Criterion B (Sales Requirement)
Any store that has at least 50% of its gross total retail stores coming from the sale of staple food is qualified by the Snappy BT program. Specialty stores for instance butcher shops are also authorized under USD criterion B.
SNAP recipients also wonder: Does Wawa Accept SNAP, EBT, or Food Stamps?
What Can You Buy With Your EBT Card At California Stores?
SNAP recipients with EBT cards can buy necessary groceries and staple food at any of the SNAP-authorized retailers in California. 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, rye bread.
Read also: Does Honey Baked Ham Accept EBT?
What Can’t You Purchase With Your EBT Card At Any California 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:
- Vitamins, medicines and supplements
- Alcoholic products like wine, beer, liquor
- Cigarettes or tobacco products
- Live animals (except fish and shellfish)
- Foods that are served hot at the time of sale such as restaurant food
- Non-food items like cleaning supplies, paper products, cosmetics, hygiene items, pet food 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.
Read also: Does Gordon Food Service Store Take SNAP or EBT Cards?
Can I Use My EBT Card To Purchase Food Online In California?
Some select retailers enable Californians to use their CalFresh EBT card to purchase groceries and food items online for delivery or pickup. The USDA has expanded SNAP benefits in the form of an Online Purchasing Pilot Program to benefit its beneficiaries who are unable to shop for food due to limited mobility, transportation barriers or other issues.
Amazon
Amazon is accepting food stamps in the state of California through two of its popular online portals— Amazon Fresh and Groceries On Amazon. Californians who want to use their EBT card online must create an account with Amazon.
There is no need to go for an Amazon Prime membership to use your EBT benefits however SNAP recipients get membership discounts. You can get free delivery through Amazon Fresh in case your SNAP eligible purchases are for $35 or more. Otherwise you have to pay a small fee that you cannot cover with your EBT card.
Walmart
Walmart is another popular online retailer that works for the United States of America including California. Californians 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 is a popular grocery retailer in America that accepts SNAP benefits as a form of payment both in-store and online from SNAP beneficiaries.
Shoppers can buy eligible grocery items and products on Target.com and get them delivered through its delivery service known as Shipt. The same-day grocery delivery option comes with the cost of $9.99 whereas Shipt members get free delivery on orders above $35.
DoorDash
DoorDash is another online platform where EBT is accepted as a method of payment online for Californians. Sources 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.
Instacart
You can use your EBT card for online grocery delivery and pickup with Instacart. Being one of the biggest grocery chains in the United States of America, Instacart accepts payments from CalFresh recipients and helps them purchase food items and groceries at participating locations.
Safeway
Safeway is an American supermarket chain that is operating today as a banner of the Albertsons company and is one of the largest drug and food retailers in the United States of America. Safeway is one of the United States retailers that has been approved by the Department of Agriculture to accept EBT or SNAP benefits online from SNAP beneficiaries.
How To Use Your EBT Card To Purchase Goods In California?
The payment process of using your EBT card at SNAP-authorized grocery stores in California is simple. You need to proceed to the checkout counter of the store you’re considering, insert or swipe your EBT card at the counter and enter your PIN just like you use your debit or credit card.
The payment system at the grocery store will deduct the EBT balance for the approved items and the cashier will process your transaction. To use your EBT card online at major retail stores you need to sign into the retailer’s account, find the payment section and add your EBT card details to the account. The next step is to shop, binge your card and check out EBT-eligible items. When it comes to paying using EBT as a method of payment just enter the four-digit PIN to confirm the order.
Recommended: Does ampm Take SNAP, EBT, or Food Stamps?
List Of Stores That Accept EBT In California
- Albertson
- ALDI
- Andronicus Community
- Big Square
- Brothers Marketplace
- Cardenas Markets
- Co-opportunity Market
- ExtraMile by Jacksons
- Food 4 Less (Kroger)
- Food 4 Less (PAQ)
- FoodMaxx
- Foods Co
- Glen Ellen Village Market
- Gong’s IGA Market
- Island Pacific Market
- Jacksons Food Stores
- Jimbo’s Naturally
- Lucky Supermarkets
- Mar Val Foods
- Safeway
- Sam’s Club Scan and Go
- Save Mart Supermarkets
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
- Northgate Markets
- Pavilions
- Raley’s
- Ralphs
- Rancho San Miguel Markets
- Stater Bros.
- Super King Market
- Superior Grocers
- The Market by Superior
- Victory Produce
- 99 Ranch Market
- Shop N Save
- ShopRite
- Smart & Final
- Smith’s Food And Drug
- Sprouts
- Chavez Supermarket
- City Market
- Costco
- Dominick’s Finer Foods
- Dot Foods
- Eastern Foods
- Family Food Stores
- Fiesta Foods
- Food Source
- Healthway Natural Foods
- Holiday Foods
- Holiday Market
- Hometown Foods
- Horizon Foods
- Island Pacific Supermarket
- Jalisco Market
- King’s Food Markets
- Kroger
- Reprint Foods
- Market Basket
- Metal Supermarkets
- Northgate Markets
- Nutrición Fundamental
- one Stop Market
- Paradise Foods
- Patel Brothers
- Raley’s Supermarkets and Drug Centers
- Schwan’s Fine Food
- Seafood City Market
- Shaws
- Super A foods
- Superior grocers
- SuperValu
- Thriftway
- Vallarta Supermarket
- Vons
- Trader Joe’s
- Weis markets
In addition to the aforementioned grocery stores, there are many convenience stores that cover pharmacies, supermarkets, wholesale stores, specialty food stores, corner stores and farmers markets in the state of California that accept EBT cards. This even includes small stores within one or two locations. To find additional help in locating stores near you you can use the California EBT Cardholder Portal to find neighboring locations near you.
Recommended: Does Buc-ee’s Accept SNAP, EBT, or Food Stamps?
Why Doesn’t Every Grocery Store In California Accept EBT or Food Stamps?
Every grocery store needs to apply for the SNAP EBT program individually and be authorized by the USDA to process EBT. They must meet at least three units of three different varieties for each staple food category. Therefore a small store that carries only one variety of bread or cereal will not qualify for the SNAP EBT program.
Another criterion to accept EBT payments requires grocery stores to have more than 50% of the total gross retail sales coming from staple food. While most of the grocery stores in California qualify under the USDA criterion it can be difficult for small stores to meet all the requirements. They need to carry at least three varieties of food items across four categories of breads and cereals, dairy products, meat, poultry and fish, vegetables or fruits and dairy products.
The varieties must also include three units of one perishable food choice in two categories. The principal food can include anything that requires refrigeration or freezing and if the store carries canned vegetables with no fresh vegetables or fruit it will not qualify. Stores that are not EBT-approved either fail to meet eligibility requirements or do not want to go through the SNAP approval process. The license to accept SNAP in California is required to be renewed every five years and also requires a frequent visit from the government to verify qualification.
Read also: Does Lidl Accept Food Stamps or EBT?
How Can I Find EBT Accepting Locations In California?
The California Department of Social Service (CDSS) is a helpful online tool that will enable you to look for authorized retailers. You just need to visit the official website and search for stores by state, city or zip code. You will get the results on a map with details about every participating store. Following are additional ways through which you can find EBT-accepting locations in California.
Online Store Locator
You can use the SNAP Retailer Locator or California EBT Website to locate stores in your area that accept EBT cards.
Mobile App
You can also download a location-based application for instance BenefitsCal which is California or SNAP Restaurant Finder to locate EBT-friendly locations and farmers markets near you.
Farmers Market Websites or Signage
There are many farmers’ markets in California that advertise EBT acceptance through signage at the market location or websites. You can look for signatures like “We Accept Ebt Cards” or “Ebt Card Holders Are Welcome” at the door or windows of the market or stores.
Recommended: Does Murphy USA Take EBT?
Conclusion
The SNAP EBT card in California is known as the Golden State Advantage Card and is accepted widely throughout the state that enables SNAP beneficiaries to purchase qualifying food items and groceries. You can use your EBT card at many grocery stores, convenience markets, department stores, participating restaurants and farmers markets. Californians can also perform online grocery shopping from major retailers like Walmart, Amazon, Vons, Safeway and Albertson. It is critical to know that you can purchase only EBT-eligible goods from these stores. You can mention the above points to learn how you can use your EBT card in California and what eligible products you can cover with your EBT card.
You can learn more about the government grants and financial assistance program at the Get Government Grants’ blog section today. Our guide will help you to improve your living situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Do If I Lose My CalFresh EBT Card?
You need to contact the California EBT hotline number at 1-877-328-9677 to report your card has been stolen and request a replacement card.
Where Can I Use My EBT Card In California?
The EBT card known as the Golden State Advantage card in America can be used at almost all authorized locations including major grocery store chains, farmer’s markets, convenience stores, local stores, independent markets, authorized restaurants, online grocery retailers, pharmacies and gas stations.
What Can I Purchase With My CalFresh Benefits?
SNAP recipients can use their CalFresh benefits for purchasing a wide array of eligible items except hot prepared means. CalFresh benefits also do not cover alcohol, tobacco products,pet food, hygiene items, or cleaning supplies since these benefits are intended for human consumption to meet health and dietary requirements.
