Yes, all Costcos accept EBT cards as a form of payment.
If you’re a Costco regular, you are already acquainted with their cheap prices and buying all your essentials in bulk quantities.
It is a great bargain for your monthly groceries to buy items in bulk and wholesale prices. It really helps you out with the monthly expenses.
However, there has been a burning question in the minds of Costco regulars: Does Costco take EBT cards?
The answer is yes, Costco accepts EBT cards.
However, whether you want to pay with an EBT card at Costco or not is subject to certain factors that we will be discussing below!
What is an EBT Card?
Electronic Benefits Transfer card, also known as an EBT card is a card-based monitoring and assistance system provided by the government that allows individuals who qualify for government aid to purchase their essentials such as food with their monthly allotted budget.
Over several decades, EBT cards have been helping several Americans save their valuable dollars on essential commodities such as food.
The American government has made proper provisions for every American citizen to be able to afford the basic essentials in order to sustain a livelihood with low-income sources.
However, the government recognizes the fact that only essential commodities should be covered by government aid. EDT adheres to the rules laid down by the state on which products are eligible to purchase using your EBT debit card.
This is why EDT cards aren’t accepted by Costco gas stations.
List of approved items to purchase with an EBT card:
- Bread
- Cereal
- Milk and Yogurt
- Dairy producs
- Meat
- Vegetables
- Fruit
- Water
History of Costco
Costco was started in 1976 and started operating with the name, Price Club. When they first started they only sold wholesale products to small businesses.
In 1997 Costco changed its name to “Costco” when Price Club and Costco combined.
Costco still operated with the same philosophy today, offering quality products at low prices consumers can afford.
How Does Costco Work?
The functioning, as well as the management system of Costco, is very different from other big retail houses such as Walmart.
In case you want to purchase something from Walmart, all you have to do is to visit a nearby Walmart, choose the groceries that you are looking to purchase, head over to the checkout, and make payment through your preferred modes of payment, which includes EBT cards.
However, Costco doesn’t function in the same way!
If you want to shop at a Costco, you’ll require one of these two things: a Costco membership card or a Costco shop card.
A Costco membership card is a special card that allows all Costco regulars (a.k.a members) to shop from any Costco outlet, be it grocery, gas station, or more!
In order to become a Costco member, you’ll require paying an annual membership fee.
As per the currently available information, Costco offers a basic membership of $60 and a premium membership of $120. Once you showcase your membership card at any Costco, you’ll immediately be granted access!
However, if you are not a member or can’t afford a yearly membership, there is another way in which you can visit a Costco outlet. You’ll require a Costco shop card!
As a non-member, you can get yourself a Costco shop card online through their website. Or else you can take the help of an acquaintance who is a Costco member to share an offline Costco shop card!
The purchase limit of a Costco shop card isn’t unlimited. There is a predetermined shopping limit that has to be maintained when you’re using a Costco card!
Coming to the question of EBT cards, it’s easier for members to access the EBT card in Costco. Non-members with just a Costco shop card might find it inconvenient to use an EBT card!
How to Use an EBT Card at Costco?
Using an EBT card at Costco is a fairly simple procedure. If you’re shopping just for groceries, all you have to do is take your cart to the checkout counter and pay for your purchase using your EBT card.
There are two kinds of account provisions on your EBT card: cash and SNAP accounts. You can pay from either of them.
If you have purchased groceries items at Costco, you can follow this procedure to check out using your EBT card!
- Once you’ve made your purchase, just take all the items to the check-out counter.
- Swipe your EBT card at the machine in the counter and enter your PIN number.
- Let your cashier know if you want to pay via cash or SNAP account.
- Once your total has been charged, re-enter your PIN and provide other necessary details such as a valid photo ID proof to confirm your ownership of the card!
Once this procedure is complete, you have successfully made a purchase at Costco using an EBT card. Once the purchase is over, the shopping amount will be deducted from your EBT card.
Can You Purchase Groceries Online From Costco Using an EBT Card?
The application of EBT cards at Costco is restricted to offline outlets such as stores and warehouses only. You cannot purchase groceries online from Costco’s official website using your EBT card.
The reason behind this is the fact that the government is still expanding its EBT facilities beyond offline measures and preparing a top-notch portal will take time.
In order to compensate for the unavailability of EBT facilities, Costco allows families with food stamp facilities to pay for the pickup and deliveries with their EBT cards!
Final Thoughts
Shopping at Costco is something most American households are accustomed to. The perks are endless. Not only do you get all your essentials available under one roof, but you can also have maximum savings on essential goods.
However, it is also advisable to not ovverspend on your monthly expenses. As long as you have reins over your finances, using an EBT card is the best way to save up some money on your monthly expenses.
