Does Target Take EBT Card? – A Complete Answer

By Phillip Adcock
Last updated: May 1, 2023
Does Target accept EBT

Target – the second-largest U.S retail grocery, almost accepts every payment method to facilitate its customers’ buying. But Does Target have EBT? It may be the question many EBT users are wondering when coming to Target’s stores.

If you use this card in daily shopping, the information below will help.

What Does “EBT” Mean For?

Before digging into EBT allowances, you need to understand what EBT is first.

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is a payment type through a plastic card having a strip and PIN function. It acts based on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to support those suffering from financial burdens.

The cardholders can get benefits from the U.S Government to spend at SNAP-authorized stores. However, not all kinds of goods can be purchased here. They only choose WIC/EBT-label pasted grocery items to avail of promotions from EBT cards.

Does Target Accept EBT?

Yes, Target totally agrees to EBT payment at authorized store locations in 2024.

But it still becomes the ideal shopping place for EBT customers. This card can purchase nutritious food such as meat, tinned fish, juice, vegetables, grain, etc., at affordable prices. It has somehow helped them to save the cost of regular daily foods.

So, are the benefits Target offers to EBT holders any different from regular shoppers? Read on to find out!

What Benefits Can EBT Users Gain From Target’s Policy?

There is not much difference in Target’s purchasing policy to EBT cardholders from no-EBT others. If you are not satisfied with these EBT products, you can utilize its standard 90-day return policy.

However, Target will refund directly on your EBT card or give you the same good in exchange instead of a cash refund. Target also uses WIC or EBT labels to help you distinguish the items you can buy.

Note that you can only shop within the card’s balance limit. If you buy over your card limitation, you have to choose another payment.

How To Use EBT Card At Target?

Let us show you step-by-step how to do the payment process with this card at Target.

When you come to the traditional counters, let’s take your EBT items apart from normal ones first for cashiers to process. When receiving the receipt for EBT goods, you can pay by swiping or inserting your card and then entering the Pin code. After that, continue paying to other wares by other alternative payment types.

If you are standing at the self-checkout, you do not need to separate anything because the computer can automatically identify which product is in EBT discounts when you scan them.

How Many Stores Of Target Accept EBT Cards?

SNAP is known as the most common form of EBT, so all Target’s grocery stores (over 1900) accept it. Meanwhile, the WIC EBT card only applies to authorized Target superstores.

Let’s contact your closest local store to check whether they take your EBT card. Also, you can use the online store locator to identify nearby alternative groceries.

Target stores
Target stores

Is EBT Payment Type Available In Target’s MiniStores?

Target has cooperated with so many other well-known brands aiming to create many options for its customers when visiting to purchase. You can easily get insight into many branded mini-stores here, such as Starbucks, Apple, CVS pharmacy, etc.

Normally, you cannot use this card to pay for Starbucks coffee, Apple electronics, or CVS pharmaceuticals. But some specified SNAP packages still allow you to enjoy cakes and coffee at authorized Starbucks stores located in Target.

Does Target Accept EBT Online For All Goods And Delivery?

As mentioned above, Target doesn’t agree to accept this card (SNAP and WIC) once buying on its website Target.com – And of course, this policy applies to all available items. 

To avail of all EBT benefits, you have to buy directly at the store. Let’s see the list of items you can feel free to choose with EBT.

What Goods Can I Purchase?

This retail store chain always takes pride in its variety of products, including many diverse EBT grocery packages with great nutritional value.

Below are some food packages available in Target stores that you can refer to:

  • Original plant products: cereal, wheat bread, grains, pasta, rice, tortillas
  • Fresh food: meat, poultry, fish
  • Fermented food: yaourt, cheese
  • Canned products: legumes, many kinds of fishes 
  • Nourishing food: fruit, vegetables, juices
  • Other: peanut butter, tofu, soy milk

Not only that, but WIC mothers now can also buy many infant specialized goods and some iron supplements for themself throughout their breastfeeding process with the EBT cards.

What Types Of Product Can I Not Buy?

The first product you need to get rid of from your basket is stimulant variants and energy drinks such as beer, wine, liquor, tobacco, and cigarettes. Yet, some EBT-specific allowances still permit Red Bull.

Additionally, you cannot purchase non-grocery items, including paper items and diapers, household appliances, cleaning goods, and medicine with and without a prescription.   

Do Cashiers Know About My EBT Welfare?

Absolutely! Each cashier will have the register obtaining WIC card information to verify customer identity and cardholder’s welfare. They always do this step before going through the payment procedure to ensure customers’ interests.

Target, in addition, adds label stickers “EBT” on their wide range of individual products to set them apart from the others. It is also a way for cashiers to realize your welfare.

With the above guarantee from Target, you can shop here with complete peace of mind.

Final Thoughts

If you reach the end of the post, we ensure you’ve got the answer. Though there are still some limitations in shopping online, it is clear that Target has brought great conveniences to EBT consumers.

Let’s contact the local Target stores to get detailed instructions! Hope you can feel most comfortable when purchasing here.

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* Disclaimer: We do not buy, sell or provide service, we only share with you our trusted sources, and experience. In case of any changes in the products or services of the companies, all the information below is supposed to change at any time.

Phillip Adcock is the founder and Managing Director of the research agency Shopping Behaviour Xplained (SBXL), a shopping research organization using psychological consumer insight to explain and help consumers answer their questions about stores and services.

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