With over 15,000 store locations in the United States and Canada, Dollar Tree is an extreme discount store long been a lifesaver for low-income families.
Dollar Tree has everything to offer with numerous departments and various brands, from food to decor to cleaning supplies to electronics.
With their unmatched prices, Dollar Tree has an influx of financially disadvantaged customers, which begs the real question, can you use EBT at Dollar Tree? Yes, Dollar Tree takes EBT.
To find out more about buying food essentials (and more) from Dollar Tree using EBT, read my complete explainer, where I discuss everything from what you can and cannot buy at Dollar Tree with SNAP benefits.
What Can You Buy At Dollar Tree WIth SNAP Benefits?
Your EBT card allows you to use SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to buy essential food items.
However, if you qualify for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), you will also be eligible for cash benefits apart from food stamps.
This means that you can withdraw cash from your EBT card like you would with your debit card at an ATM and then use the money to buy products otherwise restricted on SNAP benefits alone.
The cash benefits work tremendously at Dollar Tree since you can buy cleaning supplies, hygiene products, and other household items at a much better price than you would at other stores.
However, if you only have SNAP benefits at your disposal, you can buy essential food items subject to availability.
The rule of thumb is to buy everything with a Nutrition label with our EBT card. You can use your snap benefits to buy various items like food snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, seeds, and plants that may allow you to grow your own food for the family. However, you cannot buy foods that are hot when sold.
Additionally, you cannot buy things like wine, beer, liquor, tobacco, and cigarettes (everything not considered nutritional) with an EBT card.
How To Use Your EBT Card At Dollar Tree?
Using the EBT card at Dollar Tree is pretty self-explanatory if you are familiar with debit and credit cards. You use the EBT in the same way by swiping it and entering your PIN. You will have to pay for items that do not come under the SNAP benefit umbrella separately with cash or another payment method.
However, if you use cash benefits on your EBT card, the usage may differ depending on the store policy. In some cases, you may get cashback on the amount you have spent at the store, while in other cases, you may be allowed cash withdrawal regardless of purchase.
You can also use an ATM to withdraw cash if you have such benefits in your EBT card. However, Some ATMs might have additional surcharges.
One important thing to remember is to designate the correct portion of SNAP or cash benefits for respective purchases; For example, if you specified your cash benefits for food items, Dollar Tree will not change the transaction allocation after the purchase.
What Are The Various Payment Methods Accepted by Dollar Tree?
Apart from using EBT cards, there are several other ways you can pay when shopping at Dollar Tree. It is crucial to know secondary methods of payments, just in case you buy something that is not covered by your SNAP benefits. You will have to use another payment method to clear the remaining charges if that happens.
You can shop for groceries and other supplies at Dollar Tree via cash, debit, credit cards – including Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. You can also use PayPal and PayPal credits to pay for the items in your cart.
Dollar Tree Vs. Dollar General: What’s the Difference?
There are many dollar stores across America, with Dollar Tree and Dollar General leading the pack. However, what is the difference between the two, and which one should be your go-to for using food stamps?
Despite the word “dollar” in its name, Dollar General is not a store with everything for and under a buck. Essentially, it is an extreme discount store with various products at much cheaper rates than other stores.
Until recently, Dollar Tree was true to its name, everything-for-$1-dollar store. However, recently the store chain announced that it was hiking its prices to $1.25 after successful testing. This announcement brought an end to big brand dollar stores in America.
Even after the price increase, Dollar Tree may still be more economical than Dollar General. However, your bill depends highly upon what you get. Prices-wise, though, Dollar Tree beats Dollar General.
However, just like Dollar Tree, Dollar General also accepts EBT. You can read my complete article on using EBT in Dollar General here.
Can You Authorize Someone Else To Use Your EBT Card?
Despite your possible photo on your EBT card, anyone from your family receiving benefits from the card through your case can use the card on the condition that they know the PIN.
However, apart from family, if you want someone else to use your EBT card, whether to shop for you or use the benefits, you can do so by making them your authorized representative. Your representative will receive an EBT card with their name, but you will also have your card.
Conclusion
Dollar Tree has stores all across America, as it aims to provide household essentials and various other merchandise for families struggling with low income. Apart from their unmatchable prices, they also accept EBT payments, making it easier to access food and other eligible items.
However, not everything in the store can be bought with an EBT card. The USDA has strict guidelines about what kind of products can be purchased with SNAP benefits.
Any non-eligible items may result in penalties. Therefore, it is essential to know which food items you can buy. If you are confused, always consult a store employee to see what you can palace in your cart to charge on your EBT card,
I hope this article helped you understand how you can use your EBT card at Dollar Tree, including what you can and cannot buy from the store.