Thousands of food stamps recipients in California can now use their EBT card to purchase food online from Amazon. California is one of more than a dozen states participating in a USDA pilot program that allows SNAP recipients to shop online at select retailers. In this post, we will provide you a step-by-step process on how to use California SNAP EBT online at Amazon to buy groceries for delivery.
We will also cover:
- SNAP EBT In California
- Grocery Shopping during COVID-19
- California’s EBT Online Program
- How to use California SNAP EBT online at Amazon
- Other California Grocery Stores Accepting EBT Online
- Get Amazon Prime Discount for EBT Cardholders
- California EBT Card FAQs
To learn how to use your California EBT Card to purchase groceries online, continue reading below.
SNAP EBT In California
About 38 million people receive SNAP Benefits (12% of the US population), including about 3.8 million people in the state of California, or 10% of the state’s population.
The average monthly SNAP benefit for an individual in California is $141, while the average monthly benefit per household is $263 (and $369 for households with children).
The SNAP plays a very important role in fighting poverty in the state of California, especially among children.
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the SNAP program kept 846,000 people out of poverty in California, including 429,000 children, per year between 2013 and 2016, on average.
Grocery Shopping during COVID-19
As the United States deals with the COVID-19 epidemic, food stamps recipients in California and the rest of the country face a hard decision: how to safely shop for groceries without risking the possibility of getting COVID-19 in the process.
Until 2019, food stamps recipients were not able to use their EBT cards online.
Congress approved a pilot program in 2014 to allow SNAP EBT cards to be used online for groceries shopping.
However, the implementation of the program has been slow. It was only last year that the program launched in the state of New York. This was followed by Washington, Oregon, Alabama, Iowa, and Nebraska, all in early 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several states, including California petitioned the USDA to be added to the pilot program to allow SNAP recipients the option to shop online with their EBT cards for delivery or pickup.
California’s EBT Online Program
California’s application to the USDA was approved in April 2020.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) announced on April 28th that the state has received the go-ahead from the federal government to allow CalFresh recipients to use their EBT cards to buy groceries online.
The change is intended to help limit social interaction for California food stamps recipients due to COVID-19 while ensuring SNAP EBT recipients receive needed food assistance.
According to the CDSS, Walmart and Amazon were the two grocery retailers approved for the initial phase of the program.
CDSS Director, Kim Johnson indicated in her announcement that the state will continue to work with the federal government to add more grocery stores to the program as quickly as possible.
The post below describes how you can use your California EBT card to shop online on Amazon for delivery.
In addition, we have also provided a list below of other grocery stores that accept EBT cards online for curbside pick-up.
How to use California SNAP EBT online at Amazon
EBT cardholders in California can now use their SNAP benefits to shop and purchase food online on Amazon for delivery.
How it Works
To shop online for groceries with your California EBT card, follow the instructions below.
Step 1 – Login your Amazon account
The first step to purchasing groceries online at Amazon is to visit the SNAP EBT website on Amazon and login to your Amazon account. Click here to be taken there.
Once there, click on the “Sign in” link.
Next, you will be taken to a sign-in page that looks like the one below.
Sign in to your Amazon account and follow the instructions below to add your EBT card to your account.
If you do not have an Amazon account, click on the “Create your Amazon account” as shown in the screenshot below.
Once you have created your account, proceed by entering your email and password to sign-in.
Step 2 – Add your California EBT Card
Once logged in, enter your California food stamps card to your Amazon account here. Type in your complete SNAP EBT card number and submit.
Next, you may be asked to enter your delivery zip code. This will tell you whether or not your zip code is eligible for delivery on purchases using your California EBT card.
Click the “Add your SNAP EBT Card” button, as shown in the screenshot below.
Step 3 – Shop for Amazon Groceries Online
When your EBT Card is added you can begin shopping for your groceries online. You can use Amazon Grocery
, or Amazon Pantry to purchase groceries online.As an EBT cardholder, you have FREE access to Amazon Fresh when you add your SNAP EBT card.
Step 4 – Enter your PIN to Checkout
When you are done shopping and are ready to checkout, proceed as usual. At checkout select “EBT” as payment. After that, enter your 4-digit PIN for your California EBT Card to place your order.
For help, see our screenshot below.
Please note, you cannot use your food stamp benefits or EBT Card to pay for shipping or delivery fees. If you do not have Amazon Prime and would like free delivery, be sure to meet the free shipping minimums for each program.
Other California Grocery Stores Accepting EBT Online
Here are other grocery stores in the state of California that are accepting EBT online. Unlike Amazon, most of these stores accept EBT online for pick-up.
This means that you will order your groceries online, then pickup and pay at the store, which eliminates having to go grocery shopping in the store.
Walmart
All Walmart grocery stores accept EBT cards as payment. However, if you are a New York, Oregon, Washington, Florida, California, Alabama, Washington, or Iowa EBT cardholder, you can use your EBT card to purchase groceries online at Walmart.
At this time, you cannot use your EBT card to pay online.
Get Amazon Prime Discount for EBT Cardholders
Did you know you can also shop online on Amazon for essential home items with your EBT card through Amazon Prime?
Here’s some GREAT NEWS!!
If you are not an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up with your EBT Card and get 50% OFF a membership. To learn how to sign up, continue reading below.
Discounted Amazon Prime Membership
As a California EBT Cardholder, you can get over 50% OFF Amazon Prime when you sign up with your EBT Card. With the Amazon Prime EBT discount, you can get all the great benefits of Prime at a fraction of the cost.
For just $5.99 per month you get all these EBT Amazon Prime benefits:
- One-Day FREE Shipping on millions of eligible Amazon items
- Two-Day FREE Shipping on millions of eligible Amazon items
- Access to instantly stream thousands of FREE Movies & TV Shows
- Access to Unlimited FREE Prime Music streaming
- FREE 2-Hour Delivery on Prime Now items
To learn more about the Amazon Prime EBT Discount and the benefits and perks you get with Amazon Prime membership, click here.
CLICK HERE to Sign up and Save with the Amazon Prime Discount for EBT Cardholders.
California EBT Card FAQs
Here is a list of our most frequently asked about the California EBT Card and online shopping on Amazon.
Can I place a grocery order on Amazon without my EBT card and still get free shipping?
Yes, you can order groceries on Amazon without using your SNAP EBT card and still receive free shipping. You must spend the minimum amount to qualify. If not, you must pay for shipping.
Can I use an EBT Card and another form of payment on Amazon?
Yes, you can use multiple forms of payment when you checkout. This includes a SNAP EBT card and a debit or credit card. However, only one SNAP EBT card can be used per order.
What is Amazon Fresh?
Amazon Fresh is a grocery delivery and pickup service in select cities. It functions similarly to your typical grocery store, delivering perishable, shelf-stable, and household products in everyday package sizes. Typically, AmazonFresh is only available to Prime members.
However, if you have a valid SNAP EBT card in a participating state, you can receive free access to the Amazon Fresh selection without an Amazon Prime membership.
What is Amazon Pantry?
Amazon Pantry is an Amazon store where you can shop for groceries and household products in everyday package sizes (for example, a single box of cereal).
The Prime Pantry service is typically available only to Amazon Prime members.
However, Amazon is making Prime Pantry selection available to customers who shop with SNAP EBT in eligible states without any membership fees.
Do I need an Amazon Prime membership to use my EBT card on Amazon?
No, you do not need a Prime membership to use your New York EBT card on Amazon. You can purchase eligible food items with your benefits from Amazon groceries, AmazonFresh, and Prime Pantry without fees.
Can I pick up an Amazon Fresh order?
Amazon Fresh Pickup is available to Amazon Prime members in select cities at no additional cost and without an order minimum.
Amazon Prime members in participating cities will have the option to choose a pickup location as their Amazon Fresh account address, then reserve a time slot.
In addition, Amazon Prime members will have the added option of picking up orders in as little as 30 minutes.
How do I check my California EBT Card balance?
You can check your California balance online, in-person, or by phone. To complete your California EBT Card balance check, please call 1-877-328-9677 or visit the California ebt.ca.gov website.
For help checking your California EBT balance, click here.
When are my California EBT benefits deposited into my account?
In the state of California, Food Stamps Benefits are deposited on EBT Cards over the first 10 days of every month. When your food stamps benefit is deposited on your EBT Card depends on the last digit of your case number.
Here is the schedule of payment based on the last digit of your case number:
| If your Case Number ends in | Benefits are deposited on the |
| 1 | 1st of the month |
| 2 | 2nd of the month |
| 3 | 3rd of the month |
| 4 | 4th of the month |
| 5 | 5th of the month |
| 6 | 6th of the month |
| 7 | 7th of the month |
| 8 | 8th of the month |
| 9 | 9th of the month |
| 0 | 10th of the month |
Shop with California EBT Online for Grocery Delivery
We hope this post on how to use your California EBT Card to purchase groceries online for delivery was helpful to you. If you have additional questions or need help using your California EBT Card online at Amazon, leave those in the comments section below.
In addition, find out how you can save even more with your Texas EBT card. Check out our Texas EBT Discounts. You can save on things like phone service, museum admission, and much more!
