iTexasFoodStamps.com is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. You can read our full disclaimer here.
Great News for Texas Food Stamps Recipients!! You can now shop for groceries online on Amazon and the best part is you can pay with your Lone Star SNAP EBT card. If you are on Food Stamps and have an EBT card, you can now get buy groceries from Amazon Fresh and Amazon Grocery, pay with SNAP, and have them delivered to you.
Why is this a great deal?
Until recently, SNAP EBT recipients were unable to use their food stamps online. Since COVID-19 began, the USDA has expanded an online purchasing pilot to include most states (see below).
As a result, you can now use your SNAP EBT card to shop online with select merchants, including Amazon and Walmart.
In this post, we will provide a detailed review of how you can add your SNAP EBT card to your Amazon account and shop online.
We will also cover:
- EBT Online Purchasing Pilot Program
- How to Use Texas SNAP EBT Online at Amazon
- Guide to Amazon Grocery and Amazon Fresh
- Texas SNAP FAQs
EBT Online Purchasing Pilot Program
The United States Department of Agriculture, the federal agency that oversees the foods stamps program started the Online Purchasing Pilot in January 2017 with select retailers for the initial launch of the EBT Online Purchasing Pilot.
The first state to actually launch an online EBT program was New York, starting in 2019.
Since New York launched its program, more states have followed.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA expanded the program to include nearly the entire country.
As of April 2022, 49 states and the District of Columbia have been added to the pilot program to allow SNAP recipients the option to shop online with their EBT cards for delivery or pickup.
You can now use your Lone Star SNAP EBT Card to shop online at the following places in the state of Texas:
- ALDI
- Amazon
- Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy
- FRESH by Brookshire’s
- H-E-B
- Joe V’s Smart Shop
- Sam’s Club Scan and Go
- Spring Market
- Super 1 Foods
- Walmart
As you can see above, Amazon is one of the stores approved for Texas SNAP EBT shopping online.
For a step-by-step guide on how to add your Texas SNAP EBT card to Amazon and purchase groceries online for delivery, continue reading below.
How to Use Texas SNAP EBT Online at Amazon
Here’s how you can use your Texas SNAP EBT card to buy groceries online from Amazon for Delivery.
Here are the steps to pay for your Amazon Groceries with your EBT Card.
Step 1 – Log into Amazon or Create an Account
The first step in the process is to add your EBT card to your Amazon account. Click here to get started.
You will be taken to a page like the one below where you will be required to sign in to your Amazon account, as shown below.
If you do not have an Amazon account, click on the “Create your Amazon account” as shown by the arrow below.
Next, you will then be asked to enter your email address/phone number and password to sign in.
Step 2 – Add your Food Stamps EBT card to Amazon
After you log into your Amazon account, you will be taken to a page like the one below, where you will be asked to enter your SNAP EBT Card Number
Once you enter the requested information, click “Continue” to complete the process.
Step 3 – Shop Amazon Groceries
Now that you have added your EBT card to your Amazon account, you can now shop for groceries on Amazon.
Below are the Amazon grocery options available to you. Click on each to be taken to the grocery page.
Below is a summary of what you get with Amazon Grocery and Amazon Fresh with your food stamps EBT card.
For the difference between Amazon Grocery and Amazon Fresh, see our FAQs section below.
NOTE: You are not allowed to use your food stamps EBT card to pay for shipping or delivery costs.
Therefore, if you want free delivery, be sure to note the free shipping minimums for each program as stated below.
Amazon Fresh
Here is what you can buy on Amazon Fresh with your EBT Card
- Groceries and fresh produce
- Get FREE access to Amazon Fresh when you add your SNAP EBT card
- Look for items labeled Amazon Fresh
- Free shipping on eligible orders over $35 (over $50 in select regions)
- Available in select regions
The video below provides a great explanation of AmazonFresh and how it works.
Go to Amazon Fresh.
Amazon Grocery
Here is what you can buy on Amazon Grocery with your EBT Card
- Large packs, everyday food
- SNAP EBT can be used on eligible items that are shipped and sold by Amazon
- Free shipping on eligible orders over $25
Go to Amazon Grocery.
Step 4 – Enter your EBT PIN to pay
When you are ready to checkout, the final step in the process is to enter your food stamp EBT card pin number to confirm your identity and ownership of the card.
Discounted Amazon Prime Membership
As a Texas SNAP EBT Cardholder, you can get over 50% OFF Amazon Prime when you sign up with your EBT Card.
With the Amazon Prime EBT discount, you can get all the great benefits of Prime at a fraction of the cost.
Also, as an Amazon Prime member, you get FREE shipping on Amazon Fresh groceries.
The regular Amazon Prime monthly membership fee is $14.99. As a Texas SNAP EBT cardholder, you get Amazon Prime for $6.99 per month.
That’s more than a 50% discount on the regular membership fee.
Best of all, you can try Amazon Prime for FREE for 30 days. After 30 days, you can sign up for the SNAP EBT discount.
Click here to sign up for a FREE 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.
For just $6.99 per month you get all these EBT Amazon Prime benefits:
- One-Day FREE Shipping on millions of eligible Amazon items
- Two-Day FREE Shipping on millions of eligible Amazon items
- Access to instantly stream thousands of Free Movies & TV Shows
- Access to Unlimited FREE Prime Music streaming
- FREE 2-Hour Delivery on Prime Now items
CLICK HERE to Sign up and Save with the Amazon Prime Discount for EBT Cardholders.
Now, both EBT and Medicaid cardholders qualify for a discounted Prime membership which gives you fast, free shipping on over 50 million items, access to Prime Video, Prime Music and more: https://t.co/1u92lXbnHR pic.twitter.com/I7t3MSYeTS
— Amazon (@amazon) April 6, 2018
Texas SNAP FAQs
Here is a list of our most frequently asked about the Texas SNAP.
How Long Can I Recieve Amazon SNAP EBT Discounts?
Once you have signed up and added your Texas EBT card to your Amazon account, you must re-qualify for those discounts every twelve months.
This means that 12 months after you sign up, and every 12 months after, you have to prove that you are still a SNAP recipient to continue to get any Amazon benefits that are specifically for SNAP recipients.
Also, only personal Amazon accounts can qualify for select discounts with a SNAP EBT card. Amazon Business accounts are not eligible for SNAP EBT payment.
What Can I buy Online at Amazon with SNAP EBT?
Here is the list of items you can purchase with your Texas Lone Star card on Amazon:
- Fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products.
- Breads, cereals, canned vegetables, and pantry staples.
- Other foods such as snacks, seeds, and non-alcoholic beverages.
- Look for items labeled SNAP EBT Eligible.
Can I Use My Texas EBT Card To Pay for a Prime Membership?
Unfortunately, you cannot use your EBT card to purchase an Amazon Prime membership.
However, Amazon does offer a discounted membership for SNAP households. Click here to sign up for a FREE 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.
Can I Use Coupons on Amazon SNAP Orders?
Yes, but they have to be Amazon online coupons.
While Amazon does not accept paper coupons, the company does offer its own online coupons that can be applied to SNAP orders.
For more information, visit the Amazon Coupons page for details on how to use Amazon coupons on SNAP and other orders.
What Restaurants Accept EBT in Texas?
Unfortunately, you cannot use your Lone Star EBT card at restaurants in Texas.
That is because Texas does not currently participate in the Federal Restaurant Meals Program.
The program is currently available in the following seven (7) states:
- California
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Arizona
- New York
- Illinois
- Rhode Island
Will there be an increase in Texas SNAP for 2022?
The Biden administration is increasing food stamps benefits by 25%. Yes, you read that right.
Starting in October 2021, average food stamps benefits will rise more than 25% above pre-pandemic levels.
This marks the biggest-ever increase for the program. The boost comes as a temporary increase of 15% was set to expire in September.
The increased assistance will be available indefinitely to all Texas SNAP beneficiaries.
This increase is part of efforts by the Biden Administration to strengthen the country’s social safety net, including SNAP benefits.
The table below shows the maximum SNAP benefit amount per household, including the average SNAP benefit per household.
| Household Size | Maximum Monthly Benefit, Fiscal Year 2022 |
Estimated Average Monthly Benefit, Fiscal Year 2022 |
| 1 | $250 | $175 |
| 2 | $459 | $334 |
| 3 | $658 | $520 |
| 4 | $835 | $638 |
| 5 | $992 | $748 |
| 6 | $1,190 | $869 |
| 7 | $1,316 | $941 |
| 8 | $1,504 | $1,137 |
| Each additional person | +$188 |
How to Use Texas SNAP EBT Online at Amazon Summary
We hope this post on how to use Texas SNAP EBT Online at Amazon was helpful.
Questions?
If you have further questions about Texas SNAP or Texas EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about Texas SNAP and Texas EBT, including:
What can I buy with the Texas Food Stamps card?
Texas Food Stamps EBT Phone Number
Where You Can Use Texas EBT card
Get more Texas Food Stamps
