What Can I Buy with EBT at Costco? (Some Useful Tips)

Are you curious about exploring the possibility of using an EBT card at Costco? First, you must understand the eligible products or items you can purchase using an EBT card at Costco. Please read our article and discover the category of products under the SNAP benefits at Costco.

Costco, known for its vast online presence and status as a warehouse giant, serves customers globally with a wide range of competitively priced products. The question of whether Costco accepts EBT cards has been answered, but many are now delving deeper, asking: "What can I buy with EBT at Costco?"

In this article, we'll explore the array of products eligible for purchase under the EBT program at Costco, offering insights and tips to enhance your shopping experience. Dive into our expert research to discover what items you should consider buying at Costco with your EBT card.

Table Of Contents

Can I Use an EBT Card at Costco?

Costco uses EBT as one of the payment methods from their stores all over the US. Therefore, if you are eligible to use the EBT to get the SNAP benefits, you can go shopping at Costco to grab the meat, food products, groceries, and fresh produce limited to in-store purchases.

However, there are some limitations on the type of products you can purchase with the EBT card at Costco. In this article, we will explore the category, determine the kind of product eligible for purchase with the EBT and those ineligible, and bring out clear-cut differences. Gadget Mates goes ahead to clarify that Costco Business Center accepts EBT for SNAP benefits and other payment methods like Cash and debit cards.

The above statement clearly shows that Costco has particular policies and stipulations regarding using the EBT card. Before going into the product category, let us start by looking at the Costco policy on the EBT card.

Costco Policy on Using EBT Card

Looking at the Costco policy concerning the EBT card, you can navigate through their website here. Costco states that all their stores in all locations take EBT cards. Then, the company remains loyal to the state laws governing what customers can purchase with EBT. Therefore, Costco recommends contacting the agency for a complete list of the products you can buy.

However, looking at the state's laws, at some points, they exclude particular items still eligible in other places as SNAP benefits, thus exploring the state's speculation on EBT-eligible products or food stamps.

What Can I Buy with EBT at Costco?

Like other participating stores, Costco also has particular rules and regulations that limit the type of products customers can purchase with EBT cards. The federal and local government sets the limitations. Therefore, customers will only get the eligible grocery products and items that account for a particular minimum each month.

Therefore, most products eligible for purchase with the SNAP benefits are basic groceries, food, fresh produce, etc. However, the product limitations vary based on location. Visit the state website and get the full list of the products or items. Also, remember that every state has regulations besides federal rules, including the amount a customer can spend on the card each month and many more.

Still, every state has clear differences concerning food costs and taxes. Because of the limitations introduced by the US Department of Agriculture, we would like to explore the eligible products under each category in detail. The product list ranges from groceries to household supplies.

1. Groceries

presuming you have an EBT card, you can purchase numerous groceries. These consist of food items such as grains, canned goods, dairy products, and fresh produce. According to the Costco website, there is a large collection of eligible groceries. The EBT allows you to get fruits, vegetables, essentials, pantry staples, etc.

2. Non Alcoholic beverages

Still, with the EBT card, you can enjoy multiple SNAP benefits and purchase various non-alcoholic beverages. Such items range from tea, Coffee, juice, soda, water, etc. There is a large collection of beverages at Costco. Some of these are caffeinated beverages, large packs of bottled water, juice boxes, and many more.

3. Bakery items

Costco has numerous store locations, most of which feature in-house bakeries. Thus, expect numerous freshly baked goods. Some of these items are desserts, pastries, and breads. Therefore, these are essentials; you can use the EBT card to shop for them at Costco. They are delicious treats that are affordable in the long run and are still categorized as household items.

What You Cannot Buy with EBT at Costco

Also, there is a large list of products that customers cannot purchase using EBT cards at Costco. With the EBT card at Costco, you can never purchase everything from the store. The card is only meant to buy staple food items. Thus, below is a list of some of the products you cannot purchase at Costco with the SNAP benefits:

Tobacco
Alcoholic products
Medicine and vitamins
Prepared Foods
Live animals
Non-food items and particular household supplies.
Supplements
Pet food
Paper products

Additionally, EBT cards cannot be used for online purchases at Costco.com, at the Costco food court, or Costco gas stations.

Tips on Using EBT Card at Costco

Before you head to Costco to place an order for the eligible products mentioned above, it's important to remember several key tips. Firstly, a Costco membership is mandatory for shopping at Costco warehouses, including purchases made with an EBT card. It's essential to note that the membership fee cannot be covered using an EBT card.

Then make sure to meticulously plan your purchase and familiarize yourself with the USDA guidelines regarding the specifications of eligible items. Additionally, when at the checkout, look for the EBT symbol, usually represented by a logo, and be mindful of any minimum purchase requirements. Specifically, be aware that the deli counter may have its own set minimum purchase amount.

At the checkout point, if you have other normal items, separate the purchase from the EBT-eligible products. When you present the card or the swipe at the designated terminal, you will need to enter the pin. Based on the requirement, you can also pay the remaining amount, and you will be done.

Conclusion

Costco is a popular grocery store well known for offering great deals, product collections, and more at an affordable price. Costco also provides multiple products listed under SNAP benefits. Thus, refer to the above article for a list of Costco's EBT-eligible and ineligible products. Before getting the products, check out the state laws, regulations, and stipulations on products you can purchase.