Sam’s Club is a members-only Walmart subsidiary, which allows its customers to enjoy lower prices and bulk purchases. What’s more, Sam’s Club stocks everything you need, from groceries to home improvement to electronics and computers.
EBT-reliant families can find all their essentials at Sam’s Club with competitively low costs and tremendous variety.
But, the real question remains: can you shop at Sam’s Club with an EBT card? Yes, you can! Sam’s Club participates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accepts EBT as a valid payment method at all its locations.
To find out how you can use your EBT SNAP benefits at Sam’s Club and what you can buy with it, keep reading!
Does Sam’s Club Take EBT Online?
Even though you can buy eligible grocery items using your EBT card at any Sam’s Club in-store location, the same service is not allowed for online purchases.
In simple words, you cannot use your EBT card to purchase food items from Sam’s Club online. Since curbside pick-up orders also need to be paid for online, you cannot use your EBT for Sam’s Club online delivery or pick-up services.
Even though delivery and pick-up through Instacart allow non-members to also shop at Sam’s Club, you still will not be able to pay with EBT. Instacart does accept EBT as an online payment method, but only for select retailers that do not include Sam’s Club.
Thus, you will have to go there physically to use your SNAP benefits at a Sam’s Club warehouse. Once you reach the brick-and-mortar store, using your EBT card for your purchases is pretty straightforward.
Essentially, SNAP benefits loaded into your EBT card can be accessed similar to any debit or credit card.
You are issued a 4-digit PIN with your EBT card, which you must enter after swiping the card at the POS register. The PIN authorizes the purchases and allows you to use your SNAP benefits to purchase required items.
If you are running low on balance or you have items in your basket that are not covered under the SNAP benefits umbrella, you can use an additional payment method along with your EBT card to complete the purchase.
Does Sam’s Club Take WIC?
When retailers accept EBT, the next question is if they also take WIC. The WIC is a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
Unfortunately, the qualifying requirements for the WIC program are much stricter than SNAP. Therefore, Sam’s Club does not take WIC.
Can Non-Members Use SNAP Benefits at Sam’s Club?
Sam’s Club offers guest membership for online purchases or a 10% service fee. However, this offer is not valid for in-store purchases. Since you cannot use EBT online with Sam’s Club, you need to be a member.
How Can You Become A Sam’s Club Member?
If you plan on shopping frequently at Sam’s Club to take advantage of their excellent deals and products through EBT, you can do so by signing up for a Sam’s Club membership.
Sam’s Club membership fee is comparatively low, and you enjoy several members-only perks, like using your EBT to shop in this case.
You can become a Sam’s Club member by signing up for one of their membership options, Club and Plus. The regular Club membership is $45/ year, whereas the Plus membership is $100/year with added perks. For Sam’s Club Plus members, you get increased benefits like cash rewards, free shipping ad curbside pick-up.
To join the Sam’s Club family, you will have to provide the required information, including your name, street address, and phone number. You will also create an online account. If you want, you can order a complimentary card and share the membership with someone from your family.
Moreover, you can also get an add-on membership for $40, which comes at a discount than the original Club membership cost.
How Can You Find a Sam’s Club Near You?
To use EBT at Sam’s Club, you need to be a member and shop in-store. Thus, it is essential to know which Sam’s Club warehouse is nearest to your location.
To find Sam’s Club locations near your place, you can use their Online Club Finder. The club locator or finder requires you to enter your city and state or your ZIP code. Once you do so, you will find a list of Sam’s Clubs nearby, along with the map markers.
Once you click on one of the locations, you can see their address, phone numbers, directions, and working hours.
What Items Are Eligible To Buy With An EBT Card?
When shopping with an EBT card at Sam’s Club, you cannot grab everything in stock.
There are restrictions on what you can or cannot buy with an EBT card. Since SNAP is a federal nutrition assistance program, eligible items include necessary food items and things with a “Nutrition Facts” label at the back.
Eligible items that you can buy with EBT are snack items, non-alcoholic drinks, vegetables, fruits, seeds, and plants that can grow more food at home, bread, dairy products, cereals, poultry, fish, and meat.
If you plan on using only your EBT card for the purchase, steer clear of alcoholic beverages and food that is sold hot.
Moreover, you cannot buy cosmetics, home improvement materials, appliances, gadgets, anything with a “Supplement Facts” label, pet food, or household cleaning supplies.
What Are Other Payment Types Accepted At Sam’s Club?
If you have items that you cannot buy with your EBT card, you can always use one of the various other payment modes accepted at Sam’s Club. Cash, checks, major credit cards, debit cards, Sam’s Club credit, Walmart credit, prepaid credit cards, Walmart, and Sam’s Club’s gift/ e-gift cards are all valid payment methods at Sam’s Club locations.
Bottom Line
Sam’s Club offers amazing bulk deals and great value for money for its members. Moreover, it also accepts EBT as payment. However, you need to be a member to use EBT to buy eligible groceries at any Sam’s Club location. Another thing to remember is that you can only use EBT cards in-store at Sam’s Club as this payment is not accepted for online delivery or pick-up.