7 CFR § 271.2 & 7 CFR § 274.7(a)

The EBT card can be used to purchase eligible food at any retail food store.  EBT benefits can be used to pay a SNAP claim.  

Advise EDGs at application and renewal how to properly use their benefits.  Click here for more information on using SNAP benefits.

Retail Food Store

7 CFR § 271.2

Retail food store generally means an establishment authorized by FNS to accept benefits. 

The following require authorization by FNS:

• Communal Dining Facility 
• Farmers’ markets 
• Meal delivery service
• Retail grocery/convenience stores 
• Wholesale food distributors 

Note: This list is not all inclusive. FNS may authorize other types of establishments.

The following establishments may be authorized by FNS to accept benefits or may be authorized representatives/shoppers for the residents:

• Group Living for the disabled facilities
• Homeless shelters
• Residential addiction treatment centers
• Shelters for battered individuals

Eligible Items

7 CFR § 271.2 & 7 CFR § 274.7(a) and (g)(1)-(4)

EDGs can use SNAP EBT cards to buy eligible foods, such as but not limited to:

• Authorized prepared meals
• Communal dining facilities
• Meal delivery services
• Retail food stores
• Baby formula
• Breads
• Cereals
• Dairy products
• Fish
• Fruits
• Meats
• Non-alcoholic beverages 
• Poultry
• Seeds and plants which produce food to eat
• Snacks
• Vegetable

Ineligible Items

7 CFR § 271.2 & 7 CFR § 274.7(j)

EDGs cannot use their SNAP EBT cards to purchase non-food items, such as but not limited to:

• Bag fees
• Beer
• Cigarettes
• Cleaning supplies
• Cosmetics
• Delivery fees
• Energy drinks classified by the FDA as supplements (have a supplement facts label rather than a nutrition facts label)
• Hot foods

(Exception: Authorized prepared meals)

• Household supplies
• Hygiene items
• Liquor
• Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store)
• Medicines
• Paper products
• Paying credit accounts
• Pet food
• Soaps
• Supplements
• Tobacco
• Vitamins
• Wine

Note on bottle deposit/container fees: 

SNAP benefits may only be used to pay the amount required by the State and only for containers that meet the criteria covered in the State law.

SNAP benefits may not be used to pay for container deposit fees in excess of the amount of any fee reimbursement established under State law. 

Paying a Claim 

7 CFR § 273.17(b) and (d)(4) & 7 CFR § 273.18(c)(1) and (e)(7)(ii) and (f) and (g)(1)-(3) 

EDGs can pay a SNAP claim using benefits from their SNAP account.  EDGs can use their: 

• active, 
• inactive, or 
• expunged benefits.

The EDG must provide written or verbal permission to repay a claim using their SNAP active benefits.  

Provide a notice to the EDG when inactive benefits are applied to a claim.  Allow the EDG 10 days to dispute using their inactive benefits.

Do not reduce the initial month’s benefits to offset a claim, unless the EDG agrees to the reduction.

Offset restored benefits by the amount of any outstanding claim.  See Overpayments and Claims for more information about claims and collection.