Does Costco Take EBT?

EBT Card Costco
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We get this question a lot…does Costco take EBT cards? YES! Costco accepts EBT (aka Electronic Benefit Cards for food stamps, SNAP, WIC, etc) as payment for most grocery items. Using the EBT cards instead of paper vouchers/coupons doesn’t affect item eligibility – you can use the EBT card at Costco to purchase items like fresh produce, milk, eggs, cheese, bread, snacks and more.

At all Costco warehouse locations, you can use your EBT card for food items consistent with your program, and excludes items excluded by your program. Your State agency can provide you with a list of items that you can purchase at Costco with your EBT card. A list of all SNAP agencies can be found here. See below for a list of food categories for which Costco does take EBT.

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EBT benefits vary from state to state and program to program, but in general EBT cards are used for food stamp programs such as CalFresh Benefits, WIC, DCF Department of Children and Families, SNAP benefits, TANF and MANY other program names…in order to make it easier to purchase groceries and food, as funds don’t have a lag time for mailing, and have added safeguards against theft/loss. Currently, most programs have now migrated to an EBT card that can be swiped at retailers like Costco similarly to a credit card.

Does Costco Take EBT
Does Costco Take EBT? Yes!

Can I use my SNAP EBT Card for Rotisserie Chicken at Costco?

Unfortunately, you cannot use your SNAP EBT to buy Costco Rotisserie Chicken. The program prohibits foods that are hot at the point of sale, and this includes the hot rotisserie chickens at Costco.

TIP: You can find packages of fully cooked and shredded Rotisserie Chicken refrigerated next to the hot rotisserie chicken case…that might be a good/close alternative…and would be covered by EBT/SNAP at Costco.

Can I use my SNAP EBT Card for Costco Delivery?

Does costco take ebt for delivery is another very common question. SNAP EBT benefits at Costco for delivery are not accepted at this time from Same Day Costco or Instacart. Amazon however now offers a special reduced price for EBT recipients and you can use your EBT card on Amazon Fresh (which we think offers a lot of great deals when shopping the Amazon branded items).

Can I use my EBT Card at Costco Food Court?

No, Costco does not accept EBT Cards at the Costco Food Court. SNAP Benefits do not include food that is hot at the point of purchase, thus the program excludes hot prepared foods from the Costco Food Court.

Does Costco Take EBT Online?

No, at this time you may not shop online at Costco.com for pantry goods, frozen meat, snacks, etc. Amazon Prime however does accept EBT and offers a EBT reduced Prime Membership price.

Food You Can Buy at Costco using EBT Food Stamp Cards

What Can I buy at Costco with EBT?

Generally speaking, you can use your SNAP EBT Card at Costco for the following food items categories:

  • Fruits and vegetables;
  • Meat, poultry, and fish;
  • Dairy products like Milk and Butter;
  • Breads and cereals;
  • Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages; and
  • Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat.

You cannot use a EBT card at Costco to buy the following item categories:

  • Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
  • Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase.
  • Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store).
  • Foods that are hot at the point of sale
  • Any nonfood items such as:
    – Pet foods  
    – Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies.
    – Hygiene items, cosmetics

See all our money saving tips here to make your money go further at Costco!

Can I use a SNAP EBT Food Stamps benefit card to buy food at Costco? Yes, Costco takes EBT Cards!
Using SNAP EBT Cards at Costco.

Don’t Have a Costco Card? Check out this offer from Amazon for Amazon Prime – just for EBT Cardholders!

Amazon Fresh Grocery Deals We Love You Can Order With Delivery

SEE REDUCED PRIME MEMBERSHIP PRICE FOR EBT

Read Next

FAQs on Using EBT Cards at Costco

Does Costco take EBT in Arizona?

Yes, Costco accepts EBT SNAP benefit cards in all warehouses in the US. See above for eligible item categories.

Does Costco Accept EBT Cards?

EBT Card Costco

Yes, you may use your SNAP EBT Benefit cards at all Costco warehouses.

Does Costco take EBT in Oregon?

Yes, Costco accepts EBT SNAP benefit cards in all warehouses in the US. See above for eligible item categories.

Does Costco take EBT in Washington?

Yes, Costco accepts EBT SNAP benefit cards in all warehouses in the US. See above for eligible item categories.

Does Costco take EBT in Florida?

Yes, Costco accepts EBT SNAP benefit cards in all warehouses in the US. See above for eligible item categories.

Does Costco take EBT in Illinois?

Yes, Costco accepts EBT SNAP benefit cards in all warehouses in the US. See above for eligible item categories.

All opinions expressed on CostContessa are our own. Content and information provided on our site is provided for free and is only for informational purposes. Our content is not intended as a substitute for medical counseling or reading packaging yourself. Please always see actual package information yourself (it can and does change!) and consult your doctor.

2 Comments

  1. How are you supposed to use the card online? I can’t find where to input the card info, and when you try to put the card in regular CC box it does not work

    1. I don’t believe you can use the EBT to order online at Costco.com. My understanding is that EBT can be used in-store or for online orders via Instacart or Same Day Costco – but I don’t believe a regular costco.com order accepts EBT. That said I don’t work for Costco and don’t mean to speak on their behalf – I’d suggest going to the customer service page of their site and using the chat feature to ask them directly 🙂 Good luck, Hope you figure it out ASAP!!
      Marie

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