(BPT) – Millions of Americans receive benefits from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a federal nutrition program that provides benefits to help supplement food budgets for individuals and families. SNAP benefits have traditionally been used in-store and now they’re also accepted online to purchase groceries.
Retailers like Amazon have made ordering groceries online easier than ever, and now SNAP recipients can shop for food products online, gaining access to low prices and vast selection. Through Amazon.com’s grocery offerings and Amazon Fresh, SNAP recipients can enjoy time-saving benefits with free and convenient home delivery available on qualifying orders.
Experts at the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), which works to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States, understand the importance of making SNAP benefits available for online grocery shopping:
“The online SNAP purchasing pilot is one important piece of the puzzle for food access for low-income customers. It puts SNAP customers on an equal footing with other consumers and provides new options for them to get food into their hands. SNAP is one of our country’s most vital social safety nets and must continue to play a critical role in reducing hunger, malnutrition and poverty. Online ordering is important in regular times but especially so when we all have been encouraged to practice social distancing and protect individual and public health. The pilot program helps vulnerable households gain greater access to healthy food while staying home.’
What is offered:
You can now use a SNAP EBT card to order groceries from Amazon and Amazon Fresh with no membership required. With SNAP EBT, you can shop a wide selection of options on Grocery that offers everyday food items, plus customers in most metropolitan regions can enjoy Amazon Fresh to purchase fresh produce, meat, and more. Your SNAP card also qualifies you for a range of budget-saving offers that include exclusive discounts across beloved grocery brands. Free delivery is available.
How it works:
Shopping for groceries on Amazon’s online store with SNAP EBT is simple:
- Add your SNAP EBT card through amazon.com/snap.
- (If you are not already an Amazon customer, you will need to create a free account and add your SNAP EBT card and Zip code to make sure that you are eligible.)
- Start shopping on Amazon Fresh or Amazon Grocery and be sure to look out for the exclusive savings and deals.
- Enter your EBT Pin to pay for the eligible items.
Wait for your groceries to arrive and enjoy!
Interested in learning more?
Amazon also offers a range of budget-saving options for customers with a SNAP EBT card, including exclusive discounts across beloved grocery brands. Additional details can be found at amazon.com/snap.
