Uber Eats does not accept SNAP benefits, but some food delivery services do

Uber Eats does not take SNAP (food stamps) as payment. The platform is a restaurant delivery service, and SNAP rules do not cover prepared food or meals delivered to your home. You can only use SNAP at grocery stores, farmers markets, and food co-ops to buy raw ingredients you cook yourself.

However, some grocery delivery services do accept SNAP. Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Walmart+ accept SNAP in certain states and regions. These services let you order groceries online and have them delivered — the same groceries you could buy in person with your SNAP card.

Key Takeaways

  • Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, and other restaurant delivery apps do not accept SNAP because they deliver prepared meals, which SNAP does not cover.
  • Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Walmart+ accept SNAP in some states, but you must order groceries, not restaurant food.
  • SNAP covers raw meat, produce, bread, dairy, and pantry staples — anything you prepare yourself at home.
  • To use SNAP on a grocery delivery service, you need to link your EBT card to your account and order from their grocery section, not restaurant partners.

Which grocery delivery services accept SNAP

Amazon Fresh accepts SNAP in California, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. You link your EBT card to your Amazon account, then order groceries for delivery or pickup. Not all items in the Amazon Fresh catalog are SNAP-may be able to access — alcohol, hot prepared food, and non-food items will not work with your EBT card.

Instacart accepts SNAP in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. You must order from grocery stores that participate in the SNAP program, such as Kroger, Safeway, Whole Foods, and regional chains. Instacart's restaurant partners do not accept SNAP.

Walmart+ accepts SNAP in all states for online grocery orders. You can use your EBT card to pay for groceries at Walmart.com or through the Walmart app, then pick up at a store or have items delivered. Walmart's grocery delivery through Walmart+ works the same way as shopping in person — only food items are covered.

What you can and cannot buy with SNAP on delivery services

SNAP covers the same items on delivery services as it does in stores. You can buy fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, breads, cereals, snack foods, non-alcoholic beverages, seeds and plants that produce food, and baby formula. These are raw or uncooked items you prepare at home.

SNAP does not cover hot or prepared food, restaurant meals, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicine, pet food, paper products, soap, or anything not meant to eat. On grocery delivery services, the system usually blocks these items automatically — you will not be able to add them to your cart if they are not SNAP-may be able to access.

Some items sit in a gray area. Rotisserie chicken, deli salads, and hot bar items are prepared food and do not may have access to. Pre-made sandwiches and sushi from the grocery store's prepared section also do not may have access to. Cold items from the deli case — like sliced cheese or deli meat you take home and do not eat right away — do may have access to.

How to set up SNAP on a grocery delivery service

The process differs slightly by service, but the basic steps are the same. First, create an account on the app or website if you do not have one. Then go to your payment settings or wallet section and select "Add EBT card" or "Add payment method." Enter your EBT card number, expiration date, and PIN — the same PIN you use at the store.

Some services ask you to verify your identity or confirm your address before the EBT card is linked. This can take a few minutes or up to 24 hours. Once your card is linked, you can shop normally. When you check out, select your EBT card as the payment method. The system will separate SNAP-may be able to access items from non-may be able to access ones and charge only the may be able to access items to your EBT card.

If you have questions about whether a specific item qualifies, contact the service's customer support before you order. They can tell you whether an item will go through on SNAP or not.

Delivery fees and SNAP

Delivery fees, service fees, and tips cannot be paid with SNAP. You must pay these with a credit card, debit card, or other payment method. Some services let you add a second payment method at checkout so the SNAP-may be able to access groceries come out of your EBT card and the fees come out of your debit card automatically.

If you are on a tight budget, consider pickup instead of delivery. Most grocery stores that accept SNAP through Instacart or Walmart+ offer free or low-cost pickup, which saves you the delivery and service fees. You still use your EBT card to pay for the groceries themselves.

What to do if your state is not listed

SNAP delivery services are expanding, but coverage is not nationwide yet. If your state is not on the list for Amazon Fresh or Instacart, check back periodically — the list changes. You can also contact your state's SNAP office to ask which delivery services are available in your area. Your state may have partnerships you have not heard of yet.

In the meantime, you can still use your SNAP card at any grocery store, farmers market, or food co-op that accepts it. Many farmers markets now accept SNAP online or by phone for pickup, even if they do not have a website. Call ahead to ask.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use SNAP to pay for delivery fees on Instacart or Amazon Fresh?

No. SNAP only covers the cost of the groceries themselves. Delivery fees, service fees, and tips must be paid with a credit card, debit card, or other non-SNAP payment method. You can add a second payment method at checkout so both charges process at once.

What happens if I order something that is not SNAP-may be able to access by mistake?

The system usually prevents you from checking out with non-may be able to access items if you are using only your EBT card. If a non-may be able to access item does get through, the store or service will remove it before delivery or pickup and refund that amount to your EBT card. Contact customer support if this happens and the refund does not appear within a few days.

Can I use SNAP on restaurant delivery apps like DoorDash or Grubhub?

No. Restaurant delivery apps do not accept SNAP because they deliver prepared meals. SNAP only covers food you prepare yourself at home. Grocery delivery services like Instacart and Amazon Fresh accept SNAP, but only for groceries, not for restaurant partners on their platforms.

Do I need a separate account to use SNAP on Instacart or Amazon Fresh?

No. You can use the same account you already have. Just link your EBT card to your payment methods in your account settings. If you do not have an account yet, create one and add your EBT card during signup or in your payment settings afterward.

Will using SNAP on delivery services affect my monthly benefit amount?

No. Using your SNAP benefits on a delivery service works the same way as using them in a store. The amount you spend comes out of your monthly balance, but the way you spend it does not change how much you receive each month.