Can I use my EBT card at Target?

(Last Updated On: January 23, 2019)
Today’s post will answer another one of your questions regarding EBT card use at major retailers. In our post, we will answer the question: Can I use my EBT card at Target?

Target is the second largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. Target prides itself on providing a premier shopping experience, a variety of high-quality national and local brands, and affordable prices.

As of 2018, Target operated 1,822 locations throughout the United States. This includes their discount store Target, the hypermarket SuperTarget, and the flexible CityTarget.

To find out whether your local Target accepts EBT cards as a form of payment, please keep reading below.

Can I use my EBT card at Target?

To answer the question you’ve been wanting the answer for – yes, Target does accept EBT cards as a form of payment.

To redeem your food stamps benefits at Target using your EBT card, simply select the items you wish to purchase as normal and checkout at any of their available cash register terminals.

You can use your EBT card just like a normal debit card at the cash register terminal. Once you swipe your card, you’ll be prompted to enter your 4-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN).

You must have this information in order to complete the transaction. Be sure to only select eligible food items when redeeming SNAP benefits at Target using your EBT card.

If you are not sure about the items are eligible to be purchased with EBT, see the list below:

List of Eligible Food Stamps Items

There are strict requirements about what you can and cannot buy with your EBT card.

Using your EBT card to buy items that are not on the approved list is EBT fraud and that could land you in jail and you could lose your benefits. See below for our update on how the federal government has stepped up enforcement and arrests of those who commit EBT Fraud.

Make sure you are using your EBT to purchase approved items at approved EBT locations.

• Bread, cereal, granola bars
• Dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.)
• Fresh, Frozen and Canned Fruits
• Fresh, Frozen and Canned Vegetables
• Fresh and Frozen Seafood (fish, shellfish, etc.)
• Poultry (chicken breast, chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks, turkey breast, etc.)
• Pork products (pork chops, pork tenderloin, bacon, pork sausage, etc.)
• Red Meat (steak, ground beef, ribs, etc.)
• Dessert Items (ice cream, brownies, cookies, etc.)
• Candy (Hershey’s, Snickers, Reese’s, etc.)
• Frozen food items (frozen meals, french fries, etc.)
• Soft Drinks (Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Arizona Tea, etc.)
• Snack Crackers and Chips (potato chips, crackers, pretzels etc.)
• Cooking Oils (olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, etc.)
• Seeds, Nuts and Plants (cashews, nut variety packs, peanut butter, etc.)

Your EBT card cannot be used to purchase supplement products such as protein bars, protein powder or prepared/hot food from Target.

More items that cannot be purchased at Target using your EBT card include vitamins, medicine, household products, cleaning supplies, alcohol, tobacco, prepared food, feminine products and cosmetics.

Check out our other posts to see what you can buy with your EBT card at Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, 7-11, Whole Foods, Subway and more!

EBT Stamps Fraud

As we have mentioned above, If you buy foods or items that are not on the approved list, you are committing food stamps fraud, which can land you in jail.

Federal and state law enforcement have stepped up their enforcement and arrest of people committing food stamps fraud. The penalties you could face are severe.

Possible Punishment for Food Stamps Fraud

If you are charged with food stamp fraud in a federal court, the possible penalties are based on the nature of the fraud, and the dollar value of the food stamp benefit involved. Here is the range of penalties:

• Less than $100 — The offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.
• $100 to $5,000 — The offense is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 on a first offense. A second or subsequent offense is punishable by a mandatory minimum 6-month sentence, and up to 5 years, as well as a fine of up to $10,000.
• $5,000 or more — The offense is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

You could also lose your food stamps benefits for a long period of time and if you are a repeat offender, you could lose your benefits FOREVER, as shown below:

We hope this post was helpful to you. If you would like us to find more retailers that accept EBT, please leave your suggestions in the comment section below. We love to hear from you!

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