EBT does not work on Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, or most other food delivery apps

Your EBT card (also called a SNAP card or food stamp card) cannot be used to pay for food delivered through Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, Instacart, or similar services in most states. These apps are not set up to accept SNAP payments, and the federal rules that govern SNAP do not allow it in the standard way these services operate.

The one exception is a pilot program in a handful of states. Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market accept EBT in a few locations, but this is limited and not available nationwide. Even where it exists, you must order online for pickup or delivery through their own websites or apps — not through third-party delivery platforms.

If you are looking for a way to use your SNAP benefits to get food without leaving home, there are other routes that actually work in your state. The most common is ordering groceries online directly from a store that accepts EBT, then picking them up or having them delivered.

Key Takeaways

  • Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Instacart do not accept EBT cards, and this is true in all states.
  • Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods accept EBT for online orders in a small number of states, but you must order through their own websites, not through delivery apps.
  • Many regular grocery stores now accept EBT for online orders with pickup or home delivery, which is a working alternative to delivery apps.
  • Your EBT card can only be used to buy food you will prepare yourself — not prepared meals, hot foods, or restaurant meals, whether ordered online or in person.

Which stores let you order groceries online with EBT

Walmart, Target, and many regional grocery chains now accept EBT for online grocery orders. You place the order on their website or app, pay with your EBT card at checkout, and then either pick up the groceries at the store or have them delivered to your home. The delivery is usually free or low-cost if you meet a minimum order amount.

The stores that accept EBT for online orders vary by region. Walmart and Target are the most widely available, but local chains like Kroger, Safeway, Publix, and others also participate in many areas. Your state's SNAP program website or a call to your local SNAP office can tell you which stores near you accept EBT online.

When you order online, you pay with your EBT card just as you would in the store. The same rules apply: you can buy food to cook or prepare at home, but not hot prepared foods, restaurant meals, or non-food items like soap or paper towels.

What you can and cannot buy with EBT

EBT covers raw and packaged foods you prepare yourself: meat, poultry, fish, dairy, bread, cereals, fruits, vegetables, snacks, and pantry staples. It does not cover hot or prepared foods, restaurant meals, vitamins, medicine, pet food, alcohol, tobacco, or household items.

This rule applies whether you are shopping in a store, ordering online for pickup, or ordering online for delivery. A rotisserie chicken from the grocery store deli counter is not covered because it is hot and prepared. A raw chicken breast is covered. A sandwich from the deli is not covered. Bread and deli meat you buy separately are covered.

Delivery apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash sell prepared meals and restaurant food, which is why EBT cannot be used on them. Even if the technology existed to connect EBT to these apps, the federal rules would not allow it.

How to order groceries online with EBT in your state

Start by visiting your state's SNAP program website or calling your local SNAP office. They can tell you which stores in your area accept EBT for online orders and whether delivery is available. You can also call or visit the website of stores near you — Walmart, Target, and major grocery chains usually list this information clearly.

Once you know which store to use, create an account on their website or app. At checkout, select EBT as your payment method. You will enter your card number and PIN, just as you would at an in-store checkout. The transaction processes immediately, and your SNAP balance is reduced by the amount you spent.

Pickup is usually available within a few hours or the next day. Delivery timelines vary by store and location — some offer same-day delivery, while others take two to three days. There is usually no extra charge for pickup, and delivery fees are often waived for orders over a certain amount.

Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods: the limited exception

Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market accept EBT in California, Washington, Illinois, New York, and a few other states. This is a pilot program that began in 2020 and has expanded slowly. If you live in one of these states, you can order groceries online through Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods' own website or app, pay with your EBT card, and have them delivered or pick them up.

The key detail: you must use Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods' own ordering system, not the Uber Eats app or any other third-party delivery service. If you order through Uber Eats and the food comes from Whole Foods, EBT will not work. You have to go directly to the store's website or app.

To find out whether this program is available in your state, visit Amazon Fresh's website or call Whole Foods customer service. If it is available, you will need to set up an account and link your EBT card to it. The process is similar to linking a debit card.

Why delivery apps do not accept EBT

Delivery apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash connect you to restaurants and prepared-food vendors. SNAP rules do not allow EBT to be used for prepared meals or restaurant food, whether you pick it up or have it delivered. This is a federal rule, not a choice by the apps.

The apps would also need to build special systems to accept EBT payments, verify that items are SNAP-may be able to access (which most restaurant meals are not), and handle the payment processing. The cost and complexity of this, combined with the fact that most of what they sell is not SNAP-may be able to access, means they have not pursued it.

Some people have asked whether they could use a third-party payment service or a prepaid card loaded with SNAP funds. This does not work. Your SNAP benefits can only be accessed through your official EBT card, and they can only be spent on SNAP-may be able to access food at authorized retailers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use EBT to pay for food delivery from a grocery store?

Yes, if the grocery store accepts EBT for online orders. Walmart, Target, and many regional chains do. You order on their website or app, pay with your EBT card, and either pick up the groceries or have them delivered. This is different from third-party delivery apps — you are ordering directly from the store.

What if I use a delivery app to order from a grocery store that accepts EBT?

EBT will not work. Even though the store accepts EBT, the delivery app does not. You must order directly from the store's own website or app to pay with EBT. If you order through Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Instacart, you will need to use a different payment method.

Can I use EBT to buy prepared foods like rotisserie chicken or deli sandwiches?

No. EBT covers raw and packaged foods you prepare yourself. Hot prepared foods, deli items, and restaurant meals are not covered, whether you buy them in a store or order them online. You can buy the ingredients separately and prepare them at home.

Is there a way to get restaurant food delivered using my SNAP benefits?

Not through a standard delivery app. A few states have tested programs that allow SNAP to be used at certain restaurants, but these are rare and not widely available. Your best option for getting food without leaving home is to order groceries online from a store that accepts EBT.

How do I know if my state's Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh accepts EBT?

Visit Amazon Fresh's website or call Whole Foods customer service and ask whether EBT is accepted in your state. You can also contact your state's SNAP program office — they maintain a list of all retailers that accept EBT, including online options.