There is a widespread use of EBT cards in the consumers of US for their regular use as a payment mode for their purchase and other daily needs at the stores.
Target is among the well-known grocery stores in the US and has acceptance to various modes of payment for the convenience of its users. Let us discover whether EBT is accepted in Target?
Electronic Benefit Transfer
EBT is an abbreviation to Electronic Benefit Transfer, an electronic card system that helps the citizens who are struggling with the financial aspect to benefit from the government scheme of food stamps. This system allows these citizens to participate in a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to utilize the benefits for their purchase at the retail stores.
The citizen can enjoy the benefits of EBT with their purchase at the SNAP recognized store. The EBT account gets debited for their purchases at the retail stores when they buy the essentials from the SNAP approved stores. This government scheme is in the working since 2004 and still it is utilized.
The card is similar to any other debit card with a security pin system. The EBT card is credited by the government with the food stamps and money and it is secured using a security pin. The card can be used at the SNAP authorized store to avail the benefits.
The EBT cards are a boon to the citizens facing financial crisis as they help out with the cost reduction to the essential needs and hence saving a good amount of money by the use of EBT card. The card is used to purchase the essentials at an affordable price range.
The government assistance program was started with the intent to provide a healthy diet to the citizens facing financial crisis. The benefits of SNAP are restricted to the purchase of food essentials. The SNAP benefits play a vital role to reduce the poverty in the US.
Does Target Accept EBT Cards?
Yes, the EBT cards are valid for use at the Target stores in the US. The citizens enrolled under the SNAP program can avail the benefits at the stores that are approved by the SNAP program. The EBT card can be used at the Target retail store and it is has not yet availed its use at the online platform. The stores mention the products that can be bought under the banner of government assistance scheme by the use of EBT cards.
Target’s EBT card usage Policy
The second largest US grocery store has more than 1900 outlets in the US itself. The EBT card benefits can be availed at all the retail outlets in the US. The store uses WIC label system to help the user to bifurcate the items than can be bought with the EBT card from the ones which are not available under the EBT card benefit. The items that are not mentioned in the SNAP program are billed by an alternate mode of payment.
Target has a regular 90-day return policy of the essentials bought by the use of EBT card. The refund will not be in the form of cash against the return of the items purchased by the EBT card as it violates the Federal laws. The store may provide the credit in the form of gift card, or replacement with other product, or any other store benefit.
EBT card use at Target
The individual has to select the items from the list of EBT card eligible products. The EBT card will be used in the same manner as the regular debit/credit card with a 4-digit security pin system. The billing system automatically differentiates the eligible products under the SNAP program in the checkout process, and the rest of the non-eligible products have to be billed by the separate payment mode.
The ATM withdrawal is also possible at the particular ATMs with the EBT cards for the citizens falling under the WV work/ Child Support Incentive section. The EBT card purchase does not allow the purchase of the products not falling under the SNAP program.
The necessary actions is taken by the concerned food stamp agency if the citizen intentionally tries to buy the products not listed under the SNAP benefit program. The individual is even penalized if found guilty and may even get banned for the use of his EBT card.
Does Target.com accept EBT cards?
The use of EBT cards is not possible at the online portal of Target store. It can be only used at the retail store outlet. Moreover, the EBT cards are not valid for delivery or pickup mode as well.
Which products can be bought at Target with EBT cards?
The products that fall under the category of SNAP program are highly nutritious and are meant to provide healthy diet to the citizens.
Below is the list of the food items that can be purchased with the EBT card:
- Vegetables & Fruits
- Yoghurt & Cheese
- Breakfast cereals
- Fish, meat & poultry
- Milk & other dairy products
- Rice, pasta & tortillas
- Canned legumes
- Non-carbonated juice
- Peanut butter & cooking oils
- Tofu and soy products
The SNAP program provides special provision for the mothers to buy their baby food items like fruits, cereals, vegetables, and infant formula under the WIC program for the proper growth of the infant.
What products are not allowed to buy with the EBT cards at Target?
The non-essential items such as diapers, tissue papers, cleaning items, household products, and prescribed medications do not fall under the program to buy with the EBT cards.
Moreover, alcohol consumptions like beer, liquor, wine, tobacco, cigarettes, medicines, vitamins, proteins, pet foods, cosmetics, cooked food, and supplements cannot be purchased with the EBT card. Energy drinks like Red Bull are allowed by certain outlets.
What other mode of payments are accepted at Target?
- Gift cards
- Target Red card
- Visa, American Express, Mastercard
- Alipay (in verified stores)
- Cash
- PayPal (on Target online platform)
Can EBT be used in Starbucks in Target?
The Starbucks franchise is a luxury food retail outlet and fall in the non-essential category under the SNAP program. The EBT cards cannot be availed at any of the company-owned Starbucks outlet.
There is an exception for the use of EBT cards at the Starbucks store in the grocery and retail stores like Target. The EBT card holders are allowed to purchase certain items from the Starbucks.
The items such as coffee beans, pumpkin bread, instant coffee, sandwiches, sweets, snacks other than hot foods and processed foods.
Final Words
Target avails the use of EBT cards at its retail outlets for the citizens enrolled under the SNAP program to purchase the essentials for their healthy diet. The WIC program allows the purchase of the essentials for the infant development through the use of EBT cards. The luxury and non-essential items are not under the list of the SNAP program and are exempted from the EBT card purchase.
