Does Kroger Accept SNAP EBT Cards in 2024? (The REAL Answer!)

If you have an EBT card, you can use it in the same way you would a regular debit card to make purchases. Of course, it can only be used on eligible purchases, and not all stores do indeed take EBT.

Does Kroger Take EBT?

Short answer: Yes, Kroger takes EBT in-store and when you order online for pickup at the store. It also offers many other payment options (unfortunately Kroger doesn’t take Apple Pay.)

For more details on how you can use EBT can Kroger, including things you can purchase with your food stamps, and how to use it in-store and online, read the rest of the post.

What Can You Buy with an EBT Card at Kroger?

Although you can use your EBT card at Kroger, not all items are eligible.

An EBT card can be used like a regular debit card, but the difference is that EBT cards can only be used to purchase SNAP-eligible items from authorized stores.

Here’s what you can buy at Kroger with your EBT card:

• Bread and cereals, like pita bread, rye bread, tortillas, pasta, bagels, and rice.
• Candy
• Chips
• Cold sandwiches
• Cooking oils, like olive oil and vegetable oil
• Dairy products, like cheese, milk, and almond milk.
• Desserts, like ice cream, cookies, or brownies
• Formula
• Fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned)
• Non-alcoholic beverages, such as soft drinks, like Sprite and Pepsi, and energy drinks like Red Bull.
• Other foods such as snack foods
• Pork products, like chops, sausages, bacon, and tenderloin.
• Poultry products like chicken and eggs
• Red meat, like steak, ribs, and ground beef
• Salads
• Seafood, such as fish, shrimp, shellfish, and lobster.
• Seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat
• Snack crackers

What Can’t You Buy with an EBT Card at Kroger?

Not all items are indeed SNAP-eligible. Some items that you cannot purchase with an EBT card include:

• Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
• Vitamins, medicines, and supplements.
• Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from the water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store).
• Foods that are hot when sold.
• Non-food items, such as:
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Paper products
  • Pet foods
  • Hygiene items
  • Cosmetics

How to Use Your EBT Card at Kroger Stores

Okay, so it’s good to know that you can indeed use your SNAP benefits at Kroger.

Here’s how you can use EBT in-store:

1. To use your EBT card at Kroger stores, you will first need to separate your SNAP-eligible products from your regular items as you load your groceries at the checkout.
2. Be sure to put the SNAP-eligible items first.
3. At the checkout, you can use your EBT card to pay for your purchase, just as you would with a regular debit card. So, you will need to swipe the magnetic strip or enter your PIN.

How to Use Your EBT Card at Kroger Online

Aside from accepting EBT in-store, Kroger also allows SNAP-recipients to use their EBT card to pay for purchases made online for in-store pickup. And, what’s even better is that pickup is free on orders of $35 or more!

Here’s how it works:

1. With pickup, you can shop online.
2. At the checkout, select a pickup time that’s convenient for you, and select, “EBT at Pickup” as your payment option.
3. A Kroger associate will pick your order and then load it into your vehicle when you arrive. When you pick up your order, swipe your EBT card on the mobile point-of-sale system to complete the order.

FAQs

Here are some answers to questions you may have about using your SNAP benefits at Kroger.

Does Kroger take EBT online?

Yes, you can order groceries at Kroger online for in-store pickup and pay using your EBT card.

Does Kroger delivery take EBT?

No, Kroger doesn’t currently allow you to use SNAP EBT as payment for delivery orders. So, if you want to use your SNAP benefits, you will need to head into your local store or place an order online for pickup at the store.

Can you use EBT at Kroger self-checkout?

Yes, you can use your SNAP EBT card at the self-checkout at Kroger. Just make sure you select EBT as the payment method as you check out.

Does Kroger bakery accept EBT?

EBT cards can be used to purchase any eligible food items, which include baked goods. You cannot purchase items that are hot at the point of sale though using EBT.

Does Kroger take EBT on Instacart?

I mentioned above that Kroger only takes EBT for online orders you pick up in-store. If you are looking to have your groceries delivered to your home, then you might be wondering if you could instead use Instacart.

Instacart does allow SNAP-eligible Instacart customers in the U.S. to pay for their online grocery orders with a valid EBT card, in full or in part, from select stores in select states.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) now has a pilot program, called the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. This allows SNAP recipients to use their EBT card to purchase groceries online from participating retailers in select states.

States that are currently participating in the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot include:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Instacart is now offering SNAP-eligible customers in the US the opportunity to pay for their online grocery orders with a valid EBT card. But, it’s only in those states I mentioned above, and it’s only available at select stores.

Sadly, Kroger is not on the list. So, if you want to use your EBT card for grocery delivery, you will have to shop elsewhere.

Here are the stores that Instacart allows you to use your EBT card for:

• ALDI
• Food Lion
• Save Mart
• FoodMaxx
• Lucky Supermarkets
• Price Chopper
• Market 32
• Market Bistro

Currently, customers who have a valid EBT card in all states, except Alaska, Louisiana, and Montana, are able to use their SNAP-benefits on Instacart at participating retailers.  Unfortunately, Kroger isn’t one of them.

Closing Thoughts

You can use your EBT card to pay for your purchases in Kroger stores and when you order online for pickup at the store. Sadly, you cannot use EBT to pay for delivery orders.

Hopefully, Kroger will change this in the future. For right now though, if you want to use your SNAP benefits, you will need to visit your local Kroger store or place an order online for pickup at the store.