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Great News for Ohio Food Stamps Recipients!! You can now shop for groceries online on Amazon and the best part is you can pay with your Lone Star SNAP EBT card. If you are on Food Stamps and have an EBT card, you can now get buy groceries from Amazon Fresh and Amazon Grocery, pay with SNAP, and have them delivered to you.
Why is this a great deal?
Until recently, SNAP EBT recipients were unable to use their food stamps online. Since COVID-19 began, the USDA has expanded an online purchasing pilot to include most states (see below).
As a result, you can now use your SNAP EBT card to shop online with select merchants, including Amazon and Walmart.
In this post, we will provide a detailed review of how you can add your SNAP EBT card to your Amazon account and shop online.
We will also cover:
- EBT Online Purchasing Pilot Program
- How to Use Ohio SNAP EBT Online at Amazon
- Guide to Amazon Grocery and Amazon Fresh
- Ohio SNAP FAQs
EBT Online Purchasing Pilot Program
The United States Department of Agriculture, the federal agency that oversees the foods stamps program started the Online Purchasing Pilot in January 2017 with select retailers for the initial launch of the EBT Online Purchasing Pilot.
The first state to actually launch an online EBT program was New York, starting in 2019.
Since New York launched its program, more states have followed.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA expanded the program to include nearly the entire country.
As of April 2022, 49 states and the District of Columbia have been added to the pilot program to allow SNAP recipients the option to shop online with their EBT cards for delivery or pickup.
You can now use your Lone Star SNAP EBT Card to shop online at the following places in the state of Ohio:
- ALDI
- Amazon
- BJs Wholesale Club
- Dave’s Supermarket
- Earth Fare
- Giant Eagle
- Lucky’s
- Meijer
- Sam’s Club Scan and Go
- Walmart
As you can see above, Amazon is one of the stores approved for Ohio SNAP EBT shopping online.
For a step-by-step guide on how to add your Ohio SNAP EBT card to Amazon and purchase groceries online for delivery, continue reading below.
How to Use Ohio SNAP EBT Online at Amazon
Here’s how you can use your Ohio SNAP EBT card to buy groceries online from Amazon for Delivery.
Here are the steps to pay for your Amazon Groceries with your EBT Card.
Step 1 – Log into Amazon or Create an Account
The first step in the process is to add your EBT card to your Amazon account. Click here to get started.
You will be taken to a page like the one below where you will be required to sign in to your Amazon account, as shown below.
If you do not have an Amazon account, click on the “Create your Amazon account” as shown by the arrow below.
Next, you will then be asked to enter your email address/phone number and password to sign in.
Step 2 – Add your Food Stamps EBT card to Amazon
After you log into your Amazon account, you will be taken to a page like the one below, where you will be asked to enter your SNAP EBT Card Number
Once you enter the requested information, click “Continue” to complete the process.
Step 3 – Shop Amazon Groceries
Now that you have added your EBT card to your Amazon account, you can now shop for groceries on Amazon.
Below are the Amazon grocery options available to you. Click on each to be taken to the grocery page.
Below is a summary of what you get with Amazon Grocery and Amazon Fresh with your food stamps EBT card.
For the difference between Amazon Grocery and Amazon Fresh, see our FAQs section below.
NOTE: You are not allowed to use your food stamps EBT card to pay for shipping or delivery costs.
Therefore, if you want free delivery, be sure to note the free shipping minimums for each program as stated below.
Amazon Fresh
Here is what you can buy on Amazon Fresh with your EBT Card
- Groceries and fresh produce
- Get FREE access to Amazon Fresh when you add your SNAP EBT card
- Look for items labeled Amazon Fresh
- Free shipping on eligible orders over $35 (over $50 in select regions)
- Available in select regions
The video below provides a great explanation of AmazonFresh and how it works.
Go to Amazon Fresh.
Amazon Grocery
Here is what you can buy on Amazon Grocery with your EBT Card
- Large packs, everyday food
- SNAP EBT can be used on eligible items that are shipped and sold by Amazon
- Free shipping on eligible orders over $25
Go to Amazon Grocery.
Step 4 – Enter your EBT PIN to pay
When you are ready to checkout, the final step in the process is to enter your food stamp EBT card pin number to confirm your identity and ownership of the card.
Discounted Amazon Prime Membership
As an Ohio SNAP EBT Cardholder, you can get over 50% OFF Amazon Prime when you sign up with your EBT Card.
With the Amazon Prime EBT discount, you can get all the great benefits of Prime at a fraction of the cost.
Also, as an Amazon Prime member, you get FREE shipping on Amazon Fresh groceries.
The regular Amazon Prime monthly membership fee is $14.99. As an Ohio SNAP EBT cardholder, you get Amazon Prime for $6.99 per month.
That’s more than a 50% discount on the regular membership fee.
Best of all, you can try Amazon Prime for FREE for 30 days. After 30 days, you can sign up for the SNAP EBT discount.
Click here to sign up for a FREE 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.
For just $6.99 per month you get all these EBT Amazon Prime benefits:
- One-Day FREE Shipping on millions of eligible Amazon items
- Two-Day FREE Shipping on millions of eligible Amazon items
- Access to instantly stream thousands of Free Movies & TV Shows
- Access to Unlimited FREE Prime Music streaming
- FREE 2-Hour Delivery on Prime Now items
CLICK HERE to Sign up and Save with the Amazon Prime Discount for EBT Cardholders.
Amazon Prime is now offering discount subscriptions to Medicaid and EBT recipients in the United States. This could be particularly helpful for low-income individuals and families with disabilities that make getting out of the house difficult. https://t.co/PbcBbRiHl6
— The Ehlers-Danlos Society (@TheEDSociety) March 24, 2018
Ohio SNAP FAQs
Here is a list of our most frequently asked about the Ohio SNAP.
How does the Ohio Direction Card work?
The Ohio Direction EBT card looks similar to and works like a credit or debit card.
It can be used in most food store checkout lines, including Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Costco.
To make an eligible grocery purchase with your Ohio EBT card, simply swipe the card through a reader at the register.
The purchase amount is deducted from your SNAP benefits balance.
Remember that “eligible purchases” means food or food products but excludes alcohol, tobacco, and food prepared to eat immediately, such as food at restaurants.
How do I reset the PIN on my Ohio EBT Card?
If you think someone else might have learned your secret PIN or if you cannot remember your PIN, call the EBT Customer Service at 1-866-386-3071.
You can also call the Ohio EBT customer service:
- If you believe your Ohio DIRECTION Card has been lost or stolen
- If you believe there was an inaccurate transaction made to your account
Will there be an increase in Ohio SNAP for 2022?
The Biden administration is increasing food stamps benefits by 25%. Yes, you read that right.
Starting in October 2021, average food stamps benefits will rise more than 25% above pre-pandemic levels.
This marks the biggest-ever increase for the program. The boost comes as a temporary increase of 15% was set to expire in September.
The increased assistance will be available indefinitely to all Ohio SNAP beneficiaries.
This increase is part of efforts by the Biden Administration to strengthen the country’s social safety net, including SNAP benefits.
The table below shows the maximum SNAP benefit amount per household, including the average SNAP benefit per household.
| Household Size | Maximum Monthly Benefit, Fiscal Year 2022 |
Estimated Average Monthly Benefit, Fiscal Year 2022 |
| 1 | $250 | $175 |
| 2 | $459 | $334 |
| 3 | $658 | $520 |
| 4 | $835 | $638 |
| 5 | $992 | $748 |
| 6 | $1,190 | $869 |
| 7 | $1,316 | $941 |
| 8 | $1,504 | $1,137 |
| Each additional person | +$188 |
Ohio P-EBT benefits Extended into 2022
P-EBT benefits have been extended in Ohio for the 2021-22 school year. Here’s what you need to know:
To be eligible for P-EBT benefits, a school must be eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program and are either participating in the National School Lunch Program or the Seamless Summer Option in school year 2021-2022 and meet at least one of the following conditions:
- The school has operated fully remote or closed with no instruction due to COVID for at least five consecutive days between Aug.1, 2021-June 30, 2022;
- OR, The school has operated a hybrid schedule for all students for at least five consecutive days between Aug. 1, 2021-June 30, 2022; OR
- The student’s assigned school building provides fully in-person instruction between Aug. 1, 2021-June 30, 2022, but has students fully remote learning by parent option due to COVID-19; OR
- The school provides fully in-person instruction between Aug. 1, 2021-June 30, 2022, but has at least one student who has stayed home at least five consecutive school days due to COVID-19 or COVID-19 quarantine.
When are Ohio EBT Benefits Deposited?
In the state of Ohio, the JFS distributes SNAP benefits to those who qualify.
In addition, there is no single date on which all SNAP benefits are issued.
Instead, Food Stamps Benefits are deposited on EBT Cards from the second of the month to the twentieth of the month.
When your food stamps benefit is deposited on your EBT Card depends on the last digit of your case number.
Any remaining balance on your EBT card is added to the next month’s balance.
Here is the schedule of payment based on the last digit of your case number:
| If your Case Number ends in | EBT Benefits are available on the |
| 0 | 2nd of the month |
| 1 | 4th of the month |
| 2 | 6th of the month |
| 3 | 8th of the month |
| 4 | 10th of the month |
| 5 | 12th of the month |
| 6 | 14th of the month |
| 7 | 16th of the month |
| 8 | 18th of the month |
| 9 | 20th of the month |
Once your benefits are deposited into your account, you can begin using them with your SNAP EBT card to purchase eligible food items.
If you need help finding your Ohio SNAP Case Number, please contact your local JFS Food Stamps office.
To find a JFS office near you, click here.
How to Use Ohio EBT Online at Amazon Summary
We hope this post on how to Use Ohio EBT online at Amazon was helpful.
Questions?
If you have further questions about Ohio SNAP or Ohio EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about Ohio SNAP and Ohio EBT, including:
Free Admission with Ohio EBT (60+ Locations)
Ohio SNAP Office Locations
Ohio Food Stamps Balance and Login
SNAP Benefits increase for Ohio Recipients
How to file an Appeal for Food Stamps in Ohio
