Have you ever asked yourself or your friend if Target accepts EBT for formula or for baby food? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.
Yes, Target currently accepts EBT as payment for most formula. Formula that is considered eligible through the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is available for purchase through EBT in all 1900 of Target’s stores throughout the country. Along with other items like food and milk, formula is considered a basic nutritional necessity.
In the following article, we look at whether Target accepts EBT for formula, some of the programs involved with EBT, and some of the pros and cons of using it.
Table of Contents
Does Target accept EBT for formula?
Target accepts EBT for the payment for formula, amongst other essential baby items.
EBT can be used as payment in any store which is enrolled in SNAP; luckily, all 1900 of Target’s stores are currently enrolled, and so EBT is accepted as payment in every Target store throughout the country.
However, it is worth noting that not all formula is covered by SNAP, meaning they are not eligible for EBT payment.
One example is any formula which is intended for medical use, which is unlikely to be covered by SNAP. If you are in any doubt, contact SNAP directly to ensure your formula is covered.
EBT can also be used to pay for a select number of other baby items in Target, including things like baby food and beverages.
Formula qualifies for EBT payment because it is considered a nutritious food and aids in the welfare of the child.
As we will see later, this is the basic purpose of SNAP, and so formula is able to be paid for using SNAP benefits.
Read also: Does Target Accept EBT For Drive Up (No, Do This Instead)
What is EBT?
EBT refers to the Electronic Benefit Transfer system. This is a way in which people on welfare can access their benefits easily and quickly through a prepaid card.
Payments from programs like SNAP are deposited onto an EBT card, which works like a debit card and can be used to pay for SNAP-eligible items.
As with many benefit programs, there are restrictions on what can be purchased using an EBT card or cash withdrawn from it.
The primary purpose of EBT is to provide nutrition support to families and individuals on low incomes or in financial difficulties. EBT can be used in many places throughout the country, including Target.
What is SNAP?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or SNAP) is intended to provide assistance to families or individuals on low incomes. It is intended to be used for grocery purchases, with the aim that individuals use it to purchase nutritious foods and items.
Accessed through the EBT system, SNAP is eligible for use in many stores throughout the country.
SNAP is currently that largest benefit system dealing with nutrition, offering a means of accessing nutritional products for anyone struggling financially.
However, it is only available to people who meet requirements, usually anyone on a very low income or in severe financial difficulties.
What other baby products can you purchase with EBT?
As we have discussed, formula is one of the baby products that can be purchased using EBT, as long as it is eligible for SNAP benefits.
However, this is not the only baby product eligible for payment using EBT. Under SNAP guidelines, you can also use your EBT funds to purchase nutritious items such as:
- Juice and milk
- Oatmeal and cereal
- Any other food item that is suitable for a child under five to consume.
Read also: Who Makes Kirkland Formula (Baby, Infant)
Are there limitations on purchases?
As we have seen, EBT can be used to pay for baby products like formula. But are there any limitations when it comes to these purchases?
Fortunately, the only real limitation is how much you have in your EBT account. As long as you have enough to cover the purchase, there is nothing to prevent you from buying enough formula to last.
However, there are some baby and infant products which EBT does not cover, in which case it will not be accepted as payment.
Any food item which does not provide nutrition to the child is ineligible for payment with EBT, as are non-food items like medicines and feeding utensils.
As with any benefits program, there are other items you aren’t able to use EBT for, most of which do not relate to babies and infants.
These are mostly items that do not provide nutrition or are detrimental to health in some way, such as alcohol, cigarettes, and food items which do not offer nutritional value.
Read also: Does Target Accept EBT Online? (Yes, But Read This First)
Pros and Cons of EBT for formula
Pros
- Using EBT benefits to purchase necessities for babies and children is a great way to provide for your children and the household in general on a low income. Items like formula can soon become a very expensive necessity, so using EBT to make these purchases can be a lifeline to anyone struggling financially.
- While there are some limitations on purchases, one of the advantages of using EBT is you can adjust the purchases you make with your SNAP benefits to meet the needs of your child as they grow. Once your child has outgrown formula, your SNAP funds can be put towards baby food, milk, and cereals.
Cons
- Unfortunately, not all formula is SNAP-eligible, meaning that some options are not covered by EBT. Formula for medical use, for instance, may not be considered SNAP-eligible. It’s important that you check with SNAP directly to ensure your formula is covered and EBT eligible.
- As SNAP-eligible items are strictly limited to purchases that are nutritious in some way, other baby products are not considered eligible and unavailable for purchase using EBT. This means that you might have to contribute some of your own money to other items like clothing and cleaning supplies.
Final Thoughts
Target does accept EBT as payment for formula, although not all formula is eligible and you should check whether the formula you need is SNAP-eligible.
Under SNAP guidelines, formula is considered a nutritious product for a child, and so using EBT as payment is a great way for struggling parents to help infants meet their needs and stay healthy.
Here are some of my favorite services, products, and Stores
There are affiliate links, so if you do decide to use any of them, I´ll earn a small commission. But in all honesty, these are the exact what I use and recommend to everyone, even my own family.
To see all my of most up-to-date recommendations, check out this resource that I made for you!
+ Products & Services
+ Convenience Stores
+ Save Thousands of Dollars
References
Recent Posts
Do you know if Target takes or accepts EBT online? this is one of the questions our readers ask a lot. Well, we´ve got you covered. There are a lot of benefits to shopping at Target, from free...
Do you know who makes Kirkland Infant Formula? this is one of the questions our readers ask a lot. Well, we´ve got you covered. If you are a Costco shopper, you have probably come across a ton of...