Nothing is worse than walking into a store with your EBT card, only to be turned away. Suppose you wish to shop at Trader Joe’s (or any other store, for that matter) for your groceries with SNAP benefits.
In that case, the best way to save yourself the hassle of making extra trips to get eligible food items is to find out the store’s EBT payment acceptance status in advance. So, does Trader Joe’s take EBT?
Yes, all locations of Trader Joe’s brick-and-mortar stores accept EBT payments. You can use your SNAP and cash (if eligible) benefits at any Trader Joe’s to buy permissible products.
Trader Joe’s acceptance of EBT payments allows low-income SNAP-reliant families to buy from one of the biggest supermarket chains in America. Trader Joe’s has over 530 stores across America, making it easily accessible to needy families nationwide.
Despite the absence of various regular brands in other stores, Trader Joe’s has a booming customer base thanks to its brand for everyday basics products and sale of different exciting items of great value.
Keep reading as I discuss everything you need to know about using your EBT card at Trader Joe’s nationwide.
Does Trader Joe’s Offer Online Delivery and Pickup With EBT?
Unfortunately, Trader Joe’s does not offer any products for online delivery or curbside pick up. Thus, you cannot use your EBT card online should you wish to shop at Trader Joe’s.
However, they make up for it with a vast number of brick-and-mortar store locations across the US, so you are likely to find a physical store nearby for a great shopping experience using your SNAP benefits.
What Are The Different Forms Of Payment Accepted By Trader Joe’s?
Apart from accepting EBT payments, Trader Joe’s accepts various other forms of payments. These various other payment sources come in helpful if you wish to buy some things not covered by your SNAP benefits (more on this later in the article).
Apart from buying SNAP-eligible food items, other products can be paid for with the alternative payment methods mentioned below:
- Cash and personal checks
- Trader Joe’s gift cards (only physical ones accepted)
- Debit and credits cards
- Mobile payment (Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay)
What Can You Buy With An EBT Card At Trader Joe’s?
SNAP is a federal program that aims to assist underprivileged families to self-sufficiency by supplementing their food budget. However, there are certain limits to what you can and cannot buy with SNAP benefits.
You can buy essential food items permitted under the SNAP program from Trader Joe’s. While it may be tricky to remember all that you can and cannot buy with EBT SNAP benefits; however, the rule of thumb is that you can staple food items that you can take home to feed your family.
In other words, this exempts hot foods to be bought from your EBT card. Check if the product has a “Nutrition” label at the back. You can most likely buy it with your SNAP benefits if it does.
You can buy any dairy products, snack foods, meat, poultry, fish, and other seafood with your EBT card. Moreover, you can also purchase non-alcoholic beverages, bread, cereal, cooking oil, cakes, cookies, seeds, and plants that you can take home to produce food.
While the list of what you can buy with EBT benefits is extensive, there are certain products that you are restricted to purchasing with your card.
The products include alcoholic beverages like wine, liquor, and beer.
You also cannot buy tobacco, cigarettes, hot food, cleaning supplies, household supplies, diapers, toiletries, paper products, pet food, cosmetics, vitamins, and supplements, essentially anything with “Supplements Facts” printed at the back, including protein powders. Note that some protein powders may only have the Nutrition Label.
In case you are still unsure about a particular product purchase with EBT SNAP benefits, you can ask a store employee to assist you.
One thing to note is that if you are eligible for TANF cash benefits along with SNAP benefits, you can use them to buy household supplies that SNAP restricts. However, you cannot use the cash benefits to purchase alcohol, lottery tickets, bail bonds, services, or products in bars, nightclubs, and other adult entertainment spaces.
Even though different states have different rules with what you can use your cash benefits for, you are usually not allowed to buy goods and vail services that people under 18 cannot.
Contact your state’s local SNAP office to ensure what products you can buy with your cash benefits.
What Are Trader Joe’s Working Hours?
The general working hours for Trader Joe’s stores are from 8 am to 9 pm. However, some stores may operate at different times.
To ensure you are visiting the store between working hours, you can go to the supermarket’s Stores Page, where you can enter your ZIP code or the city and state to find the store near you. The store listing will also have open and closing times.
Alternatively, you can check store location by city and state. Clicking on the store location will give details about store hours every day of the week.
How To Use An EBT Card At Trader Joe’s?
You can use your EBT at any Trader Joe’s, just like you would use your debit or credit card. Inform the cashier that you’re using an EBT card and swipe the card. You will be required to enter your PIN for payment. Please keep your receipt safe, as it will have the balance left on your EBT card.
If you’re using both SNAP and cash benefits (owing to eligibility), you will have to make two transactions, one for each payment. Make sure you designate SNAP benefits for eligible items only since usually the benefits cannot be returned.
Conclusion
I hope I have provided you with all the information about using EBT at Trader Joe’s. The major takeaway is that, yes, Trader Joe’s accepts EBT at all its physical stores.
However, since this supermarket chain does not operate online for delivery or pickup, you cannot use your EBT card to shop online at Trader Joe’s.
To use your SNAP and cash benefits, you will have to go to a brick-and-mortar Trader Joe’s store. To find out the location and timings of your nearest Trader Joe’s store, you can log onto the website to access their store locator.