Does Kroger Accept EBT Online? (SNAP or Food Stamp Benefits)

People ask, does Kroger accept EBT online?

If you need to stock up on groceries for the week but don’t feel like leaving the house, you can always order them online. Does Kroger accept EBT payments online?

Kroger will allow you to pay for your online grocery purchase with your EBT card as long as the items in your cart meet the SNAP qualifications.

In this article, we will cover whether or not Kroger accepts EBT at their physical stores and what other stores accept EBT online. Additionally, we will show you how to pay for your online Kroger purchase with EBT and why Kroger accepts online EBT payments.

Table of Contents

Does Kroger Accept EBT Payments in the Store?

Kroger is one of many grocery stores that accept EBT cards at their physical and online stores.

In order to help provide those who need financial assistance with their essential food needs, Kroger is set up to accept EBT funds as one of the many forms of accepted payment.

When you go to checkout, simply slide or insert your card into the card reader as you would any other debit or credit card.

You must enter your given four digit PIN number in order to complete the transaction. You also need to make sure that the items you are purchasing fall under the qualifying categories for EBT.

For example, bread and cereal, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, and nonalcoholic drinks all qualify for EBT payment, while alcohol, tobacco, non-food products, and hot food items do not.

As long as you abide by the SNAP guidelines for using your EBT card, you should have no problem completing your in-store Kroger purchase.

What Other Stores Accept EBT Online?

There is a multitude of other stores besides Kroger that will accept EBT payments for online shopping.

Food Lion, Aldi, Walmart, and Amazon are just a handful of examples. Each state has a list of authorized food retailers that accept online EBT payments.

Check with your state’s SNAP agency to see which ones qualify.

While the grocery items themselves can be purchased with EBT, if you are getting your groceries delivered, EBT will not cover any delivery fees. There are plenty of stores that will allow you to shop online and pick up your order without charging additional fees.

If you do choose delivery, you will need an alternate form of payment for the other charges.

Remember that only grocery items found in the approved food categories can be paid for with your EBT card. This rule applies to online purchases as well as in store purchases.

Check with your local food retailer to see if they accept online EBT payments before loading up your digital cart and reaching the checkout.

How Do I Pay for My Online Kroger Purchases With EBT?

Checking out with your EBT card on Kroger’s website is no different than if you were to check out with a bank issued debit or credit card.

Once you’ve filled your digital cart, click the cart button to review your purchases and make sure you have everything you need, and it all qualifies for EBT payment.

You may have to make separate purchases if you have items on your list that cannot be paid for with your EBT card. Once you are satisfied with your cart’s contents, click checkout and enter all of the appropriate information to pay for the groceries.

Just like an in store purchase, you will need to provide your PIN number along with the card number.

The payment should be accepted, and the confirmation page will let you know what (if any) subsequent actions need to be taken.

Most likely, the only thing left to do is hop in the car and head on down to Kroger to pick up your order, all without setting foot inside the store.

Why Did Kroger Start Accepting EBT Online?

In an attempt to ease the plight of EBT recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic, the SNAP program decided to allow online delivery and pickup options for qualifying grocery stores to accept EBT payments.

This program was met with an overwhelmingly positive response as more people were able to have access to the food they needed during the crisis.

Even after grocery stores reopened to the public, online grocery shopping remained popular so EBT recipients can still order their groceries from various retailers online.

Kroger was one of many grocery stores that decided to accommodate its EBT paying patrons by allowing online shopping to be an option.

As more and more businesses migrate to online venues, grocery stores have followed suit as have the government programs that help financially unstable citizens pay for the essential food items to support themselves and their families.

Conclusion

Kroger is one of many grocery stores that will accept online EBT payments.

Other grocery stores including Walmart, Aldi, and Food Lion have also joined the ranks of companies that will allow their online customers to pay for their purchases with their EBT cards.

You can still also use your EBT card to make qualifying food purchases at physical Kroger locations.

Since the pandemic challenged everyone to think about grocery shopping in a new way, the SNAP program adapted to the rise in popularity of online grocery shopping.

Kroger joined the ranks of many willing to help those most in need whether they purchase their groceries in store or online.

References

https://ocgnews.com/georgia-adds-more-online-purchasing-options-for-food-stamp-recipients

https://www.kroger.com/i/payment/snap-ebt-pickup

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot