Dealing with fundamental necessities is more difficult than ever in these extraordinary times. Whether you’re working, caring for others, managing other tasks and commitments, or simply exhausted, grocery shopping appears daunting. Thankfully, grocery store shopping applications like Instacart are a great relief. These platforms enable busy people or people who are physically unable to shop to get their grocery shopping done. To assist you, in this article, we’ll walk you through how to use EBT on Instacart, the limits, and the stores that accept it as payment.
Overview
Instacart is a grocery delivery service that works with multiple major supermarket chains to provide same-day delivery to customers in several locations. The coverage area for the service includes the entirety of North America, including all 50 states, DC, and 10 Canadian provinces.
Also, your Instacart order will incur a delivery fee (starting at $3.99) and a service fee (determined by the total price of your order and your supplier’s location). The $99 annual Instacart+ membership fee, however, waives the delivery charge on all orders above $35 and reduces the minimum service charge to 2% of the entire cost of your groceries, a savings of $7.
How to Use Ebt on Instacart
Using your EBT card on Instacart is an effortless way to do your grocery shopping without leaving the house. But before you start planning your SNAP online purchases, check to see if your state and the stores you frequent are part of the test program. Once your eligibility has been verified, linking your EBT card to your Instacart account is simple, and you may instantly begin shopping.
Keep in mind also that you may not be able to use your EBT SNAP benefits to pay for all things on Instacart. If you know what you’re doing, using your EBT card on Instacart can be a convenient and time-saving way to stock up on groceries for you and your family without sacrificing quality time.
How to use Ebt on Instacart: Factors To Consider
When making purchases on Instacart with your EBT card, keep the following points in mind:
- You are only able to use your EBT card to buy things that are qualified for purchase.
- In order to use Instacart, you will need to have a current and active EBT card.
- To finish placing your order, you will need to enter your EBT PIN in the correct format.
- There is a possibility that you will be charged a delivery cost in addition to the service price for your order.
- You are only able to utilize EBT to make purchases at retailers that are participating in the program.
How to use Ebt on Instacart: Easy Guide
More consumers will be able to use Instacart because the company is now accepting EBT cards as payment. However, you must be enrolled in the SNAP program and in possession of an EBT card before you may use EBT on Instacart. If you already have your card, you can add it to your Instacart account by navigating to “My Account,” “Payment Methods,” and “Add EBT Card.”
Additionally, select the things you wish to buy and go to the checkout when you are ready to place your order. Make sure to choose “EBT” as your payment method when you arrive at the checkout page. At one point during checkout, Instacart will request that you enter the EBT card’s PIN. You can pay for eligible items with your EBT balance through Instacart after providing your PIN. It really is that simple. Now that you’ve added your EBT card to your Instacart account, it’s time to start shopping. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using your EBT card on Instacart:
- Open the Instacart app and select the store you want to shop at.
- Add items to your cart as you normally would.
- When you’re ready to check out, select “Checkout.”
- Choose “EBT SNAP” as your payment method.
- Select the option to enter your PIN.
- Enter your PIN and select “Submit.”
It’s important to note that you can only pay for orders with a valid EBT SNAP card. You cannot use a credit or debit card to pay for part of your order and use your EBT card for the rest.
How to Use Ebt on Instacart: Add Your EBT Card to Your Instacart Account
Adding your EBT card to your account with Instacart is a simple process. This is the procedure to follow:
- Start the Instacart app and select “Account Settings” from the menu that appears.
- To add a new payment method, go to “Payment methods” and then “Add payment method.”
- Select “EBT SNAP card” as your mode of payment, then input the required details for your card.
- After adding your card, you will be prompted to verify your eligibility for the SNAP online purchase pilot. In order to verify your eligibility, Instacart will need the number on your EBT card as well as the state in which you live.
Instacart Ebt Limits
Even if you have an EBT card that is linked to your SNAP account, a separate debit or credit card that is affiliated with your Instacart account, and a local grocery store that accepts EBT payments, the items that you are able to purchase will still be limited. This means that if you are not familiar with SNAP, Instacart EBT limits you to purchasing food items that are typically found in households.
Instacart Ebt Limits: Examples
Below are examples of products with limits on Instacart Ebt:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Bread and cereals
- Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants that can produce food
However, SNAP funds cannot be used to make any of the following purchases at a grocery store:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Vitamins, medicines, or supplements
- Live animals
- Ready-made food
- Non-food items
As you can see, the SNAP program imposes some severe limits on what you can purchase at Instacart Ebt. The limitations apply whether you’re doing your shopping in person, using Instacart, or some other method. You’ll need to be careful with your purchases when using SNAP cash on Instacart because you’ll need to link a different debit or credit card to your account. Your debit or credit card will be charged for the total price of the items you add if they are not SNAP-eligible. In other words, take precautions when creating your Instacart shopping list.
Which Stores Accept Ebt on Instacart
Those who live in the United States and are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have access to a wide variety of grocery stores. Big-box stores like Walmart and Target, as well as most supermarkets and even some specialized markets like Trader Joe’s, accept electronic benefits transfer cards for SNAP payments.
In addition, you have access to a significantly wider range of online options thanks to the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture’s extended online purchase pilot program. According to the USDA, as of right now, 48 states and DCs allow EBT card payments for internet purchases. Only Alaska and Montana have not signed up for the experimental program as of March 2022. Grocery stores, online marketplaces like Amazon, and food delivery services like Instacart are just some of the over 70 stores listed on the Cheapism website that accept EBT cards for online purchases.
Which Stores Accept Ebt on Instacart: Examples Of Stores
You can use your SNAP EBT card at the following online grocery stores and other establishments. But verify with your local store first, because even if the chain supports online EBT, some stores may not. When a chain has locations in more than one state, only those in which any of those locations are taking part will be shown.
#1. Aldi
For those on a tight budget, Aldi is a fantastic store to shop at. In the following states, Aldi will accept EBT:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Washington, D.C.,
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
#2. Food lion
Food Lion is another well-liked supermarket. The SNAP program is significantly less widely accepted at Food Lion. However, you must be a resident of one of the following states to use EBT with Instacart at Food Lion:
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Carolina del Sur
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- State of West Virginia
#3. Walmart Publix
Publix is well known for being a fixture in the state of Florida, but this wonderful low-cost grocery shop can be found in a number of other states as well. In order to make purchases, you can use an Instacart account and a Publix EBT card in the following states:
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia.
- North Carolina (US state)
- South Carolina (US state)
- State of Tennessee.
- The Virginia
#4. Price Chopper
Residents of the East Coast who are interested in using EBT on their Instacart account will find that Price Chopper is another supermarket that works perfectly for them. In these states, you can use your EBT card on Instacart to make purchases at Price Chopper:
- Connecticut (CT)
- The Bay State (MA)
- State of New Hampshire
- The states of New York and Pennsylvania
- Vermont (VT)
#5. Market32
Market 32 is yet another frequent grocery store on the East Coast. In any of the following states, this store is able to accept EBT payments through Instacart:
- Connecticut (CT)
- The Bay State (MA)
- new york
- Pennsylvania
- Vermont (VT)
#6. FoodMaxx, Lucky Supermarkets, and Save Mart are the three names.
If you live in California, you might want to find out the possibility of utilizing your EBT card at Lucky Supermarket chains like Save Mart and FoodMaxx. Lucky Supermarkets is the owner of these supermarkets. Within the state of California, you can use the EBT balance you have on file with Instacart to place an order for groceries.
However, at this time, California is the only state that enables these merchants to accept EBT payments through the use of Instacart. Therefore, be certain that you are aware that you will be charged using a standard debit or credit card if you place an order with one of these stores located in a state other than your own.
How Does Instacart Express Work?
Instacart Express is a paid membership option that helps regular users save money on grocery deliveries. With Instacart Express, users pay a monthly or annual fee for a subscription. It gives you access to free grocery deliveries, and you’ll also get lower service fees on your orders.
What is the Difference Between Instacart and Instacart Plus?
You don’t need a membership to shop with Instacart. However, Instacart+, previously known as Instacart Express, is a membership option for customers who want to save more and get other exclusive benefits.
Can you use EBT on Instacart Reddit?
EBT cards may only be used to purchase EBT-eligible items
How Do I add EBT to my Instacart payment method?
Follow the steps below,
- Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper left corner.
- Tap Account Settings.
- Tap EBT SNAP info.
- Tap Add EBT SNAP card.
- Tap Add next to EBT SNAP.
- Enter the first name, last name, and card number on the EBT card.
- Re-enter the card number to confirm.
- Tap Save.
Why is Instacart not letting me pay with EBT?
Because EBT cannot be used to pay for delivery fees, service charges, or tips.
Why did Instacart charge $100?
You might have signed up for the Instacart Express membership and forgot to cancel it.
What is the downside of Instacart?
One downside of Instacart is that the store can be out of items even though you purchased them online.
How do I pay for my Instacart without a card?
All major US and Canadian credit and debit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Klarna, PayPal, and EBT cards
Conclusion
It’s encouraging to see initiatives like Instacart’s with the aim to increase access to healthy food for all as the world of online grocery shopping grows and develops. As a result, although utilizing EBT to pay for Instacart orders has many advantages, it is essential to make well-informed and responsible decisions with your EBT funds. Remember to check the limits on Instacart EBT program specifications to make sure your purchases are eligible.
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