Amazon launches Cash EBT payment option in 17 states, Washington, D.C.
Customers in select U.S. states and Washington, D.C. can now purchase a wide range of products and services beyond food with federal benefits payment.
In an email to Chain Store Age, an Amazon spokesperson said the e-tail giant is now accepting federal Cash EBT benefits as a payment option on its website in 17 states and Washington, D.C.
Cash EBT can be used to purchase almost anything on Amazon.com, including products in categories like electronics, toys, beauty and personal care, and home and kitchen. Eligible customers can also use Cash EBT as payment for goods including non-food items, shipping fees and products sold by third-party sellers.
The e-tailer is accepting Cash EBT payments via Amazon Access, which acts as a “one-stop-shop” for customers to explore programs, discounts, and features that make shopping on Amazon easier and more affordable, including information on payment options like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) EBT federal benefit payments and Prime Access, Amazon’s discounted Prime membership for qualifying customers.
[READ MORE: Exclusive Q&A: Amazon makes SNAP payments a priority]
"Amazon Access was created to make it easy for customers to find discounts and programs that make shopping on Amazon even easier and more affordable, like payment with SNAP EBT, Prime Access membership, and Access Discounts," Nancy Dalton, director of Amazon Access, said in the email. "Cash EBT acceptance on Amazon.com is another step forward in expanding access and convenience for low-income customers."
Amazon is currently accepting payment with Cash EBT in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Idaho, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, Washington D.C. and West Virginia.
Amazon an early leader in accepting online federal benefit payments
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot launched in April 2019, originally slated as a two-year program, and Amazon was one of the first retailers to launch SNAP online purchasing in partnership with it.
Since becoming one of the first retailers to launch SNAP online purchasing, Amazon has expanded its reach to serve all U.S. SNAP households with one or more SNAP online purchasing option.
