Does Target Accept EBT On Their App? (The Truth!)

If you receive EBT benefits and love to shop at Target, you have probably wondered if you can use your benefits to make purchases online through the Target app.

So, does Target accept EBT on their app? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Although Target offers online shopping through both their website and their app, they do not accept EBT cards as a form of online payment. They also do not allow users to pay for Instacart services using EBT cards. Although some states do allow online purchases using EBT cards, Target is not a participating retailer.

The rest of this article will go into detail about using EBT at Target, how to work around using it to pay for things online, and more.

Does Target accept EBT on their app?

No. While it is inconvenient, you, unfortunately, cannot use your EBT benefits on the Target app. Despite the fact that they offer online options through their app ad the website, you cannot check out using your EBT card.

Some states (47 of them, in fact!) have begun to accept EBT cards as a form of payment at many online retailers.

However, Target is not a participating retailer in this program. So, even if your state normally allows online purchases with EBT, Target will not.

What payment methods can I use on the Target app?

Since you cannot use your EBT card to check out on the Target app, you will need to find another payment method. Target accepts most other online payment methods.

You are free to use a regular debit or credit card, including Target’s Target Red Card, which is their own store credit card.

Additional benefits may be available using this card. You can also use Target gift cards, third-party gift cards such as Visa gift cards, and even PayPal.

How can I work around using my EBT on the Target app?

It may be a bit of a pain, but they’re technically a way that you can use your EBT benefits to purchase things through the Target app.

What you will have to do is take your EBT card to an ATM and withdraw cash. Then, you can use the cash to purchase either a Target gift card or a third-party gift card such as a Visa card.

You will then be able to use the gift cards you purchased as a payment method on the Target app.

Can I use my EBT to pay for Instacart delivery from Target?

Unfortunately, you cannot use your EBT benefits to pay for Instacart delivery from Target. Although Target does participate with Instacart, you cannot use your EBT card as a payment method when checking out.

However, you may be able to work around this barrier by using the same method we outlined above. Use your EBT card to withdraw cash, then use the cash to purchase a third-party gift card.

Then, you can use the gift card to pay for your Instacart delivery.

Can I use my EBT card in Target stores?

Yes! It is quick and easy to use your EBT card as a payment method in any Target store. However, like any other retailer, you will be limited to purchasing items which are EBT eligible.

How do I use my EBT card at Target?

This is a pretty simple process, and it’s just like using your EBT card at any other grocery retailer.

Target will not automatically separate EBT eligible items from non-eligible ones, though, so you should be sure to separate the items yourself as you load them onto the belt by the cash register.

When the cashier has scanned all of your EBT eligible items, you will be able to use your EBT card just like you would use any other debit card.

You can swipe it at the pin pad and enter your pin number to complete the transaction.

However, if you have not properly separated all of your eligible and non-eligible items, the transaction will not go through.

This is why it is important to make sure that you separate all of your eligible items prior to placing them on the belt to be scanned.

After you have purchased all of your eligible items, you will be able to proceed with the rest of your transaction.

Do any other stores accept EBT online?

Yes, there are some stores which do accept EBT online. There is a program known as the Online Purchasing Pilot, which is a program which allows you to purchase items online using your EBT card.

Currently, 47 states are working with the Online Purchasing Pilot to allow for online purchases through EBT.

However, which stores you can purchase things from depends on which individual retailers have partnered with the Online Purchasing Pilot.

As of 2022, Target is not one of these stores. You can check out the Online Purchasing Pilot to find out which retailers are participating.

Conclusion

So, does Target accept EBT through their app? Unfortunately, the answer is no. While Target does allow for online purchases using their app and their website, you cannot use EBT benefits as a payment method for doing so.

There is, however, a workaround you can use.

If you withdraw cash using your EBT card and then use that cash to purchase a Target gift card or a third-party gift card such as a Visa card, you can then use that gift card to shop online through the Target app.

This may be a pain, but so far it is the only workaround we have discovered to make shopping online with EBT viable.

References

https://www.grocerystoreguide.com/does-target-accept-ebt/