Does Dollar General Take EBT?

Yes, Dollar General accepts EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), formerly known as food stamps. 

Dollar General appears on the SNAP Retail Locator, which finds locations near you that accept EBT. Locations can be found by city and state or zip code. 

For those who qualify, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) deposits funds onto the same EBT card as SNAP benefits, and TANF funds can be used like cash, to be spent on necessities such as food, rent, medical bills, transportation, or child care.

Dollar General is a national discount store that sells a variety of items, including food. Please proceed to read the rest of this article to fully understand the details of shopping at Dollar General with EBT.

What Can You Buy With EBT at Dollar General?

The Dollar General items that may be purchased with EBT include any grocery items such as frozen food, snacks, cereal, candy, baby formula, and non-alcoholic beverages.

What Can You NOT Buy With EBT at Dollar General?

According to this government website, products such as hot foods, alcohol, tobacco products, non-food items, vitamins, medicines, and supplements may not be purchased on EBT. For example, Dollar General items that may not be purchased with EBT include home goods, medicine, supplements, pet supplies, personal care items, cleaning supplies, party supplies, toys, and office supplies. These items can be purchased with TANF funds, however.

How to Use an EBT Card at Dollar General

1. Check Your Balance:  Before going to Dollar General, check your balance on your EBT account to make sure you know your spending limit. You can check your balance by calling the number on the back of your card and following the prompts on the call.
2. Separate Items:  In order to avoid charging items that are not eligible on your EBT card on accident, it’s best to separate EBT eligible items and regular items before checkout. It is a good idea to present the EBT eligible items to the cashier first and pay first using your EBT card. The cashier will then tell you your total for the non-EBT items, and you would pay for them another way. You may use cash or a debit card for non-EBT items. Aldi does not accept credit cards.
3. Swipe your EBT card and enter your PIN. Alternatively, you may need to hand the card to the cashier.
4. Take your receipt. Your current EBT balance is on the receipt. 

What is the Dollar General Return Policy for Items Purchased With EBT?

According to this federal law, all SNAP recipients must be treated like any other customer. It says that “you may return or refund an item bought with a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, so long as store policy allows it. 

All refunds for food items that you purchased with SNAP benefits go directly onto your EBT card. Cash refunds are not allowed for food items purchased with SNAP benefits under any circumstances.”

Dollar General’s return policy states: “If you are not satisfied with an item that you have purchased, you may return it within 30 days. Include all paperwork, parts, and accessories. All items must be returned in good condition, to ensure credit.” Please see the Dollar General Return Policy for more information.

What Dollar General Locations Accept EBT?

It has been reported that some Dollar General locations accept EBT while others do not. It is a good idea to check with the location you would like to visit beforehand whether they accept EBT. You may find a Dollar General location here. There are Dollar General stores in every state except Alaska, Hawaii, and Montana.

EBT Card FAQ at Dollar General