Yes, Trader Joe’s accepts EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), formerly known as food stamps.
Trader Joe’s 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.
Trader Joe’s is a grocery store that sells groceries, alcoholic drinks, pet supplies, plants, household items, and personal care items. Please proceed to read the rest of this article to fully understand the details of shopping at Trader Joe’s with EBT.
What Can You Buy With EBT at Trader Joe’s?
The Trader Joe’s items that may be purchased with EBT include any grocery items such as dairy, produce, meat, salads, frozen food, bakery items, snacks, and packaged goods.
What Can You NOT Buy With EBT at Trader Joe’s?
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, Trader Joe’s items that may not be purchased with EBT include alcoholic beverages, home goods, supplements, pet supplies, and personal care items. These items can be purchased with TANF funds, however.
How to Use an EBT Card at Trader Joe’s
- Check Your Balance: Before going to Trader Joe’s, 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.
- 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.
- Swipe your EBT card and enter your PIN. Alternatively, you may need to hand the card to the cashier.
- Take your receipt. Your current EBT balance is on the receipt.
What is the Trader Joe’s 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.”
Trader Joe’s allows you to return or exchange most items, with or without a receipt.
What Trader Joe’s Locations Accept EBT?
All Trader Joe’s locations accept EBT. You may find a Trader Joe’s location here. There are Trader Joe’s stores in 42 states:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
EBT Card FAQ at Trader Joe’s
Do Cashiers at Trader Joe’s Know if I’m Using EBT?
Yes, you should tell the cashier that you are using EBT in case they would have to run an EBT card differently from a credit or debit card.