SNAP Benefits 2022 Update: Can You Use Your EBT Card for Online Payments?

SNAP benefits 2022, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a federal aid that provides benefits to eligible low-income individuals and families through an Electronic Benefits Transfer card or EBT card.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, procuring goods can prove to be difficult, especially with certain travel restrictions during the onset of the pandemic.

Fortunately, the 2014 Farm Bill mandated a pilot to be conducted to test the feasibility and effects of allowing retail food stores to accept SNAP benefits through online transactions, as reported by Food and Nutrition Service of Agriculture Department. However, SNAP benefits cannot be used to pay for fees of any type, such as delivery, service, or convenience fees.

In 2017, FNS released the selection of eight retailers for the initial launch of the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot.

SNAP Benefits Online Payment

Individuals and families have options to buy their groceries online using their EBT card in California as of Apr. 28, 2020.

The state's Department of Social Services noted that Californians' EBT cards can be used at Amazon and Walmart for home delivery. Instacart and their participating stores also accept SNAP benefits online payment.

Groceries can also be bought online for pick up at participating Albertsons, Safeway, and Vons locations. Super King Market, Superior Grocers, and Whole Foods also joined the list of stores accepting SNAP benefits online payment.

Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Children and Families announced that it will start a pilot program for SNAP recipients to purchase groceries online using EBT cards as of April 2020.

Florida EBT Cardholders can use their SNAP benefits to shop online at Aldi, Amazon, BJ's Wholesale Club, Publix, and Walmart, according to Smarter Florida report. Earth Fare, Freshfields Farm, Whole Foods, and Sprouts Farmers Markets also accept SNAP benefits online payment in Florida.

Texas, on the other hand, have retailers in their state accepting SNAP benefits payments online, such as Albertsons, ALDI, Amazon, and Brookshire's Food and Pharmacy. H-E-B, Joe V's Smart Shop, Sam's Club, Sprouts Farmers Market, Walmart, and Whole Foods.

SNAP Benefits 2022

Recently, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Health Human Services Commission is handing more than $301.8 million in emergency SNAP food benefits for the month of July. The governor's press release noted that the allotments are seen to help around 1.4 million Texas households. The emergency July allotments are on top of more than $7.2 billion in benefits previously given to Texans since April 2020.

Washington D.C. residents could also be getting extra benefits in July 2022, as reported by Houston Case Managers. Meanwhile, Oregon will distribute the SNAP benefits on Jul. 11, Jul. 28, and Aug. 1. Ohio will be uploading SNAP benefits payments to their residents' EBT cards on Jul. 27.

In California, there are no updates regarding when the emergency allotments will be deposited into the accounts of CalFresh recipients.

Colorado will be uploading emergency SNAP benefits to their residents' EBT cards from Jul. 10 to Jul. 15.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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