- Costco accepts EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) or food stamps for purchases in-store. However, there are restrictions on what can be bought with your EBT card.
1. Does Costco Take EBT In 2021?
Costco doesn’t take EBT cards directly, but any cashier will accept an EBT card when you use it to purchase a Costco Cash Card, which can then be used anywhere that accepts cash or credit cards.
2. How to Use EBT at Costco?
A.) At the register when you’re checking out, tell the cashier you would like to pay with an EBT card. The cashier will swipe your EBT card and enter the amount of your purchase.
B.) If you are using a credit or debit Costco Cash Card that was purchased with your EBT, you’ll need to tell the cashier this at checkout. The cashier will swipe your Costco Cash Card first, followed by your EBT card.
C.) If you are using a credit or debit Costco Cash Card that was not purchased with your EBT, swipe your card first. Then the cashier will swipe the second card.
D.) If you do not have enough money on your Costco Cash Card and it cannot cover the entire purchase price of your item(s), tell the cashier so at checkout.
The cashier will ask if you want to use another form of payment to cover the shortfall. You can use another form of payment such as cash, check, Visa bank draft, etc.
E.) When you’re done shopping and ready to pay for everything, scan all your items at one time by taking each product to a scanner near the exit doors.
Costco doesn’t accept EBT for online purchases, but you can use your EBT card in the warehouse to make cash or check purchases.
3. What is Costco’s Policy on EBT?
The policy at Costco has changed over the years due to different laws and federal guidelines.
At one point, customers were not allowed to purchase tobacco, alcohol, food that was already prepared (hot foods), and other items with their EBT cards.
Nowadays, these items are available when using your EBT at Costco.
4. Where Does Costco Accept EBT?
Currently, you can use your EBT card at all Costco warehouse locations including Puerto Rico.
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5. What can you buy with EBT at Costco?
You’re able to purchase almost anything that is sold in the warehouse when using your EBT cards to make your purchase(s).
6. What Products are Restricted with an EBT At Costco?
There are still some products that are restricted when using an EBT card such as gift cards, CVS photo prints, VUDU movie codes, digital movie codes, Coca-Cola Freestyle fountain drinks, Snapple Iced Tea, Vitamin Water, Muscle Milk, Protein shakes, cigarettes, and alcohol.
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7. Can I use my EBT card at Costco self-checkout?
When using your EBT card and checking out at Costco’s self-service kiosks, you cannot purchase cigarettes or alcohol with these benefits.
You can purchase everything else that is sold at the warehouse including food, non-alcoholic beverages, health & beauty products, photographic services, gas, pharmacy optical services, stationery, jewelry, watches, fax service, luggage, travel agendas, shirts, sweatshirts, caps, ties, etc.
8. Can you buy Costco rotisserie chicken with EBT?
Yes! You can buy a rotisserie chicken from Costco if you use your EBT cards to make this purchase.
9. Can you use your EBT Card at Costco’s Food Court?
In the food court, you can use your EBT benefit cards to purchase almost anything sold there. The only products that cannot be purchased with an EBT card are cigarettes and alcohol.
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10. Does Costco Take EBT Online?
No, it is not possible to buy items from Costco’s website using your cash benefits on these cards.
11. Do Cashiers Know When You Use EBT?
When you’re swiping your EBT card at the register to make a purchase(s), most cashiers will ring up all of your items first before asking for payment information.
Then they’ll ask if you want to pay with another form of payment such as cash, check, Visa, etc.
There will be a code that is entered into the register which will alert the cashier that you want to pay for these items with your EBT cards.
The cashier will be trained to let you know that they cannot accept checks or credit cards when using your EBT card at the register.
