Sam’s Club Accepts SNAP Purchases Through Scan and Go

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, SNAP is the leading anti-hunger program in the United States. If you receive SNAP benefits, you may wonder if Sam’s Club accepts SNAP cards. Continue reading for more information!

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program that provides financial support to low-income families to help them purchase groceries. These benefits are accessed through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, which work similarly to debit cards and can be used at approved stores.

What Is SNAP (EBT)?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or EBT or food stamps, is a federal initiative designed to provide monthly food assistance to low-income households. This program helps supplement their food budgets, enhancing individuals’ and families’ nutritional intake and overall health. By enabling households to purchase necessary food items, SNAP also plays a critical role in bolstering the economy and supporting local agricultural producers by increasing food expenditure.

Recipients of SNAP benefits receive a pre-loaded debit card, which functions similarly to a gift card, allowing them to buy groceries and other approved items at participating locations. The range of businesses that accept EBT includes grocery stores, fast food outlets, farmers markets, and bakeries, though the types of companies can vary by state. This system ensures that benefits are spent on essential food products, supporting recipients’ needs and fostering community economic activity.

Does Sam’s Club Accept SNAP Cards, and What Is Scan and Go?

Yes, Sam’s Club accepts SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) EBT cards, but important details must be remembered. You can use your EBT card to buy SNAP-eligible food items at any Sam’s Club location in the U.S., but you must be a member to shop there. Membership fees cannot be paid with EBT.

Sam’s Club also lets you use your EBT card through its “Scan & Go” app, which allows you to scan items while shopping and pay directly. Sam’s Club introduced the Scan & Go technology in 2017 at select stores and filed a patent for it in 2019.

This service is available in the club or at fuel stations using the Sam’s Club app. With Scan & Go, members scan their items, pay through the app, and bypass the regular checkout lines, providing a more streamlined shopping process. This option is also available at self-checkouts. However, EBT payments are not accepted for online orders, curbside pickup, or delivery services at Sam’s Club.

Eligible Purchases with Food Stamps at Sam’s Club Through Scan and Go

Now that you know Sam’s Club accepts food stamps and understand Scan and Go, you might be curious about the types of items you can purchase there. Sam’s Club adheres to USDA guidelines like any other retailer that accepts SNAP benefits. These guidelines generally allow for the purchase of essential food items.

You can use your food stamps to buy products that are either ready to eat or ingredients that can be used to prepare meals at home. Your SNAP benefits can be used to purchase a variety of food staples for both immediate consumption and meal preparation. Here’s a detailed list of what you can buy:

• Cooking Oils: Including vegetable oil and olive oil.
• Fruits and Vegetables: Available fresh, canned, or frozen.
• Red Meat: Options like ribs, ground beef, and steak.
• Dairy Products: Such as milk (including almond milk) and cheese.
• Poultry: Including chicken and eggs.
• Seafood: Choices range from shrimp and fish to lobster and other shellfish.
• Pork Products: Including sausages, chops, tenderloin, and bacon.
• Grains and Bread: Rye bread, pita, pasta, tortillas, rice, and bagels.
• Desserts: Cookies, brownies, and ice cream are available.
• Prepared Foods: Including cold sandwiches and salads.
• Snacks: Candy, chips, and snack crackers.
• Beverages: Non-alcoholic options like soft drinks (e.g., Pepsi, Sprite) and energy drinks (e.g., Red Bull).
• Plants and Seeds: Those that produce food for household consumption.

Ineligible Purchase with SNAP Benefits at Sam’s Club Through Scan and Go

Your SNAP benefits do not cover purchasing prepared foods for immediate consumption. Additionally, non-food items such as medications, vitamins, and other health and wellness products are excluded from SNAP purchases.

Here is an overview of the items that cannot be purchased with an EBT card through Scan and Go:

• Alcoholic Beverages: This includes all types of alcohol, such as wine, beer, and liquor.
• Tobacco Products: Cigarettes and all other tobacco products are excluded.
• Live Animals: You cannot generally purchase live animals except in specific cases, such as fish taken from water, shellfish, or animals slaughtered and prepared at the store.
• Vitamins and Supplements: These items are typically categorized separately from groceries and cannot be bought with EBT.
• Medications: Any form of medication is excluded from EBT purchases.
• Hot Foods: Foods sold hot at the point of sale are not eligible for purchase.
• Paper Products: Such as toilet paper, paper towels, and napkins.
• Cleaning Supplies: Including detergents, dish soaps, and disinfectants.
• Pet Foods: All forms of pet foods and supplies.
• Cosmetics: Makeup and other beauty products.
• Personal Hygiene Items: Products like toothpaste, deodorant, and soap.

How to Use Your SNAP Card at Sam’s Club?

Using an EBT card at Sam’s Club follows a process similar to using a debit card at a grocery store:

• Organize Your Items: At the checkout, separate items eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits from those not.
• Card Transaction: When you turn at the register, swipe or insert your EBT card into the card reader.
• PIN Verification: You will be prompted to enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN).
• Select Account Type: The cashier may inquire whether you wish to use your cash account or SNAP EBT benefits.
• Choose SNAP EBT for Payment: To pay for eligible groceries, opt for the SNAP EBT option. The purchase amount will be automatically deducted from your SNAP balance.

For any items not eligible under SNAP, you will need to provide an alternative form of payment, such as cash, credit, or debit card.

How to Use Your SNAP Card Through Snap and Go?

To use your EBT SNAP card with the Scan & Go feature, launch the Scan & Go application on your mobile device. As you shop, scan each item you wish to purchase. When you’re ready to check out, navigate to the checkout screen within the app. You’ll find the option to “Add an EBT card.” Add your EBT SNAP card information and confirm your selection.

After adding your card, you will be prompted to “Slide to pay.” Following this, you must enter and verify your PIN to authenticate the transaction. Once your PIN is confirmed, complete your shopping by entering the exit, where a greeter will be available. Show them the transaction’s QR code on your app to verify your purchases and finalize the process.

Can You Use Both EBT Cash and EBT Food Benefits with Scan & Go?

Yes, you can use your EBT benefits at Sam’s Club using the Scan & Go feature. However, you can only use your EBT food or EBT cash benefits in a single transaction, not both. This is possible if your state supports EBT food and cash benefits for online transactions.

To use this feature, select the benefit type you want to use during the Scan & Go app checkout process. For items not eligible under EBT, you must provide another payment method.

Can SNAP Recipients Use EBT for Home Delivery of Groceries?

Sam’s Club prohibits SNAP recipients from using their EBT SNAP benefits for online purchases or home delivery. The EBT SNAP option is only available for in-club purchases using the Scan & Go app. Members can streamline their checkout process in physical Sam’s Club locations using their EBT SNAP card for eligible items. Still, they cannot use these benefits for online orders or delivery services through Sam’s Club.

Other retailers, such as Walmart and Amazon, offer these services for those looking to use EBT SNAP benefits for online grocery shopping and delivery, but Sam’s Club has not yet extended this option​.

Conclusion

Sam’s Club’s acceptance of SNAP benefits via its Scan & Go technology is a significant development for low-income families seeking convenient and efficient grocery shopping options. While members can easily purchase various essential food items, they must be aware of the restrictions on non-food and prepared items.

Although Sam’s Club does not currently offer EBT SNAP benefits for online or delivery services, the in-store option allows for a quick and streamlined checkout process, enhancing the shopping experience for SNAP recipients. As the landscape of retail technology evolves, whether Sam’s Club will expand its EBT acceptance to include more flexible purchasing options remains to be seen.

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