Where your EBT card works — and what it buys

A checkout counter with a basket of produce and a plain blue card — Illustration: Next Chapter Today

Groceries, yes. But also online ordering, farmers markets that match your produce dollars, and discounts most cardholders never hear about.

By Kwame Kuadey

August 16, 2026

Adjunct Professor of Finance, Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School · Author, The Social Security Playbook

Key takeaways

SNAP buys groceries, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks and seeds or plants that produce food, but not alcohol, hot prepared foods or paper goods.
You can order groceries online with SNAP, but delivery fees, service fees and tips need another payment method, so pickup avoids the problem.
Ask your farmers market whether it runs a SNAP match program, which adds to your produce dollars, and ask your state about the Restaurant Meals Program.

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What can you buy with SNAP?

Fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, cereal
Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks
Seeds and plants that produce food — one of the most under-used rules there is

What can't you buy with SNAP?

Alcohol, tobacco, vitamins and supplements, hot prepared foods, pet food, and household or paper goods.¹

One exception worth knowing: some states run a Restaurant Meals Program that lets eligible households buy prepared meals at participating restaurants. Eligibility is decided for the household, not the person: generally, every member must be 60 or older, disabled, or homeless, and the spouse of an eligible member can qualify too. If cooking is hard for you, ask your state whether it participates.³

Can you order groceries online with SNAP?

You can use SNAP to buy groceries online for delivery or pickup from many major retailers.²

The catch: SNAP pays for the food only. Delivery fees, service fees, and tips cannot be paid with SNAP — you need another payment method for those.² Pickup is often free, which avoids the problem entirely.

How do you stretch your dollars at farmers markets?

This is one of the best-value rules in the program. Many farmers markets and states run SNAP matching programs, often through programs such as Double Up Food Bucks: spend SNAP dollars on produce and get extra to spend on fruits and vegetables. Match rates, eligible items and caps vary by market and program, so ask at the market.

Ask at the market's information booth for the "SNAP match" or "Double Up" program.

What discounts does your card unlock?

Museums, zoos, and science centers — many offer free or reduced admission through Museums for All when you show your EBT card and a photo ID. Each participating institution sets its own price.⁴
Discounted internet through provider low-income programs.
Reduced-cost memberships at some retailers and warehouse clubs.
Free or reduced admission at some state and national parks.

What should you do next?

Find your nearest farmers market that accepts SNAP and ask about matching.
If getting to a store is hard, set up online pickup to avoid delivery fees.
Ask whether your state runs a Restaurant Meals Program.
Keep your card and PIN secure — card skimming is a real and growing problem. Check your balance regularly and report theft immediately.

Sources

fns.usda.gov — What Can SNAP Buy?
fns.usda.gov — SNAP Online Purchasing
fns.usda.gov — SNAP Restaurant Meals Program ↗
Museums for All — museums4all.org ↗

By the numbers

-13.3%change in people on SNAP nationally, July 2025 to July 2026

5.5Mfewer people receiving SNAP than a year earlier

Arizona -51%the largest drop of any state

See the data: SNAP participation by state: July 2026 vs July 2025 →

Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP program data, Data as of October 9, 2026

Fact-checked against primary sources. Every figure in this piece was checked against the agency or study that publishes it, and independently verified on November 7, 2026. Last reviewed November 7, 2026. Spotted something? hello@benefitsinsider.co

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Next Chapter Today is not a government website and is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration or any agency. This article is educational and is not individualized legal, medical, tax or financial advice. Confirm your own figures with the agency before you act.

Key takeaways

SNAP buys groceries, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks and seeds or plants that produce food, but not alcohol, hot prepared foods or paper goods.
You can order groceries online with SNAP, but delivery fees, service fees and tips need another payment method, so pickup avoids the problem.
Ask your farmers market whether it runs a SNAP match program, which adds to your produce dollars, and ask your state about the Restaurant Meals Program.