We get questions about whether Walgreens accepts EBT Cards (Food Stamps or SNAP Benefit cards). We are not surprised because Walgreens is the largest drugstore in the U.S, with over 8,200 company-operated stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands. Based on the EBT Card food list, or the items you are allowed to buy with food stamps, there is a very limited choice of things you can buy with your card at a drug store, versus say a farmers market or grocery store/supermarket. But since we keep getting the questions, we figured it must be because Walgreens has so many locations and are even in areas where there are not traditional grocery or supermarkets. Here is the answer we found when we looked into the question:
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Does Walgreens Accept EBT Card?
When we searched their website for an answer, this is what we found:
As you can see, they want you to call the store. To find the store nearest to you, see the store locator. If you are not sure about what you can buy with your card, here is a list of items that are allowed:
What can you buy with EBT Card?
Here is a list of food items approved by the United States Department of Agriculture for EBT Cardholders. We have also included the list of prohibited items.
Households CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:
- Foods for the household to eat, such as:
- breads and cereals;
- fruits and vegetables;
- meats, fish and poultry; and
- dairy products.
- Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.
Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
- Any nonfood items, such as:
- pet foods
- soaps, paper products
- household supplies
- Vitamins and medicines
- Food that will be eaten in the store
- Hot foods
Unless your Walgreens sells fresh produce, there are very limited things you can buy. You can probably only get bread and cereal and dairy products. As you can also see, you cannot buy pet food, soap, household suppliers etc. That’s why you are probably best off using your EBT Card at a grocery store where you have a wide variety of items you can buy that are allowed on the list we provided. If you don’t have transportation and can only shop at convenience stores and pharmacies, maybe you should look into farmers markets in your area.