If you are a New Jersey Families First EBT cardholder and are wondering if you can buy groceries online with your New Jersey EBT Card for delivery, we can help. In this post, we will explain the USDA online EBT pilot that has been approved for specific merchants and states, including New Jersey to allow food stamps recipients to buy groceries online for delivery.
We will explain how the program works when the New Jersey program will begin and where you can expect to be able to use your EBT card online to buy groceries.
We will also cover:
- EBT Online Purchasing Pilot Program
- When New Jersey’s EBT Online Program will be Launched
- New Jersey EBT Card FAQs
To learn more about the New Jersey EBT online grocery purchase program, continue reading below.
EBT Online Purchasing Pilot Program
In 2017, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a pilot program for online EBT purchases. The program allows EBT Cardholders to purchase groceries online for delivery or pick-up.
The program was only launched in select states. These states include:
When the USDA launched the program in 2017, each state was paired with specific grocery merchants that were approved for EBT shoppers in that state.
Here is the breakdown of grocery merchants and pilot states:
EBT Online Retailers and the Pilot States
Amazon – Maryland, New Jersey, New York
FreshDirect – New York
Safeway – Maryland, Oregon, Washington,
ShopRite – Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
Hy-Vee, Inc. – Iowa
Hart’s Local Grocers – New York
Dash’s Market – New York
In 2019, the first program was launched in New York.
As a result, New York food stamp recipients could use their EBT Card online to purchase groceries at select grocery merchants including Amazon.
Since the launch of the New York program, more states have been added to the program.
The table below shows the states that are currently running the online EBT pilot program and where they can use their EBT Cards to shop online.
| State | Merchant Name |
| Alabama Iowa Nebraska New York Oregon Washington |
Walmart, Amazon, and Wright’s Markets, Inc. Amazon and Walmart Walmart and Amazon ShopRite, Walmart, and Amazon Amazon and Walmart Amazon and Walmart |
When will New Jersey’s EBT Online program be Launched?
New Jersey and Maryland are the two states left in the original pilot to launch their online programs.
While the state has not announced a date yet, the speed at which Alabama, Iowa, and Nebraska launched their programs this year shows that New Jersey should follow in the next few months.
We will update this post as soon as we hear a specific date from the state.
Furthermore, the coronavirus pandemic has led to growing pressure on the USDA to quickly expand the online program to the entire country.
Recent articles in high profile national publications, including Chicago Tribune, CNBC, Politico, New York Post, and Kaiser Health News are all pushing for EBT cardholders to use their cards online for grocery shopping, especially given the pandemic.
Pressure from U.S Senator Bob Casey
Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey has written to the grocery and retail associations urging them to accept food stamps for delivery immediately.
He also wrote to the USDA asking for backup in encouraging retailers to make their policies flexible to accommodate EBT cardholders, especially during the pandemic.
This is particularly important as grocery stores in New Jersey and other parts of the country are putting new restrictions on shoppers in an effort to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
Ohio Click and Collect Program
States like Ohio have come up with creative ways to allow EBT cardholders to be able to buy groceries online in an effort to minimize exposure to grocery stores.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, recently announced a new program that will allow food stamps recipients to order groceries online and pick them up curbside.
The Click and Collect program allows families in the food stamps program to place grocery orders online or over the phone.
If grocery stores have wireless mobile point-of-sale devices, they can swipe customers’ EBT cards at curbside.
What you should Expect for New Jersey
We think this will put pressure on New Jersey’s food stamps authorities to launch the program in the next month or two.
In the meantime, you can still shop online on Amazon for essential home items with your EBT card through Amazon Prime.
If you are not an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up with your EBT Card and get 50% OFF a membership. To learn how to sign up, continue reading below.
Discounted Amazon Prime Membership
As a New Jersey Families First EBT Cardholder, you can get over 50% OFF Amazon Prime when you sign up with your EBT Card. With the Amazon Prime EBT discount, you can get all the great benefits of Prime at a fraction of the cost.
For just $5.99 per month you get all these EBT Amazon Prime benefits:
- One-Day FREE Shipping on millions of eligible Amazon items
- Two-Day FREE Shipping on millions of eligible Amazon items
- Access to instantly stream thousands of FREE Movies & TV Shows
- Access to Unlimited FREE Prime Music streaming
- FREE 2-Hour Delivery on Prime Now items
To learn more about the Amazon Prime EBT Discount and the benefits and perks you get with Amazon Prime membership, click here.
CLICK HERE to Sign up and Save with the Amazon Prime Discount for EBT Cardholders.
New Jersey EBT Card FAQs
Here is a list of our most frequently asked about the New Jersey EBT Card.
Will more grocery stores be added to the list from the pilot?
As the USDA Pilot rolls the program to more states, more retailers will be launching the ability to pay with SNAP EBT online.
To find out when more retailers accepted for online grocery shopping, check here for updates.
How do I check my New Jersey EBT card balance?
You can check your New Jersey Families First EBT balance online, in-person, or by phone. To complete your New Jersey EBT Card balance check, please call 1-800-687-9512 or visit the New Jersey Connect EBT website.
For help checking your New Jersey EBT balance, click here.
How do I replace a lost or stolen New Jersey EBT card?
If you can’t find your Families First EBT card, or you think it’s lost or stolen, you should call the New Jersey EBT customer service phone number immediately.
You can reach them at 1-800-997-3333.
It is important that you call as soon as possible to prevent someone from using your EBT card for unauthorized purchases.
When are my New Jersey benefits deposited into my account?
New Jersey benefits are deposited once a month into your EBT account on your scheduled benefit deposit date. See the New Jersey EBT Payment Schedule below:
| If the 7th digit of your Case Number is | Benefits are deposited on the |
| 1 or 2 | 1st of the month |
| 3 or 4 | 2nd of the month |
| 5 or 6 | 3rd of the month |
| 7 or 8 | 4th of the month |
| 9 or 0 | 5th of the month |
|
Exceptions: In Warren County, all benefits are made available on the 1st of the month
|
If the day you receive your benefits for any month falls on a weekend or holiday, your benefits are still available on that day.
If you do not receive your SNAP EBT benefits, contact your local county SNAP office.
Can I have someone else help shop with my EBT Card?
Ask your local county food stamps caseworker about setting up an Authorized Representative (AR). The AR will have a separate card with his or her own account number and PIN. The AR will have access to your entire EBT benefit account.
How do I apply for New Jersey food stamps?
The easiest way to apply for food stamps is online. Click here for help in applying.
You can also apply in person by calling your local County Board of Social Services office.
For an office location near you, click here.
Finally, you can also call the New Jersey Food Stamps hotline at 1-800-687-9512) to have an application form mailed to you.
Can you buy Groceries Online with New Jersey EBT Summary
We hope this post on whether you can buy groceries online with New Jersey EBT Card was helpful to you.
If you have additional questions or need help using your New Jersey EBT Card, leave those in the comments section below.
To find out how you can save even more with your New Jersey EBT card, be sure to check out our New Jersey EBT Discounts. You can save on things like phone service, museum admission, and much more!
Be sure to check out our other articles about New Jersey Food Stamps and EBT, including:
- How to Check New Jersey EBT Card Balance
- Income Limit for New Jersey Food Stamps
- How to apply for New Jersey Food Stamps Online
- Can you Buy Groceries Online with New Jersey EBT Card?
- Grocery Stores that Accept EBT online
- How to Get 50% off Amazon Prime with EBT
