Last updated on 8/19/22
If you have been issued a New York SNAP EBT Card, you probably have lots of questions, including where you can use the card, whether restaurants accept EBT and what can I buy with New York EBT card? We can answer that question for you.
In this post, we will provide the list of eligible food stamps items, including what you can and cannot buy with your New York SNAP EBT Card.
First, we will provide a list of places you can use your New York EBT Card
Also, we will explain how you can use your New York SNAP EBT card to shop online for groceries for delivery.
Next, we will provide the list of food items you can purchase with your EBT card.
Lastly, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about foods you can and cannot buy with New York EBT.
This post will cover:
- What stores accept New York EBT cards online?
- What you can buy with New York EBT card
- New York SNAP Eligible Food Items FAQs
What stores accept New York EBT cards online?
You can use your New York EBT card to make purchases online at the following grocery stores:
- 3 Guys From Brooklyn
- ALDI
- Amazon
- BJs Wholesale Club
- Dash’s Market
- Ferreira Foodtown
- Food Bazaar
- Foodtown-Freshtown
- GreenStar Food Co-op
- Hannaford
- Manhattan Fruit Market
- My Foodtown
- Price Chopper Supermarkets
- Price Rite
- Sam’s Club Scan and Go
- Schneider’s of Kirkwood
- ShopRite
- Stop & Shop
- Tops Market
- Walmart
- Wegmans
- Weis Markets
- Whole Foods
As you can see above, you can purchase groceries online for home delivery using your New York EBT card at Amazon and Walmart.
What you can buy with New York EBT card
New York Food Stamps benefits can be used to purchase any food EXCEPT heated foods.
See below for the complete list of foods you are allowed to buy.
Additionally, we have listed below foods that you CANNOT buy with your New York EBT card.
Restaurant Meals Program
If there is anyone in your home who is over 60, has a disability, or if you are homeless, you may be able to use your SNAP benefits at participating restaurants as a part of the Restaurant Meals Program.
For more on Restaurants that accept New York SNAP EBT, see our post on Restaurants That Take EBT in New York.
Here’s what you can buy with New York SNAP EBT:
- Fruits and vegetables;
- Meat, poultry, and fish;
- Dairy products;
- Breads and cereals;
- Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages; and
- Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat.
You CANNOT use New York SNAP EBT benefits to buy:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase.
- Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store).
- Prepared Foods fit for immediate consumption
- Hot foods
- Any nonfood items such as:
– Pet foods
– Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies.
– Hygiene items, cosmetics
Get More Groceries with Health Bucks (NYC)
If you live in NYC, you can stretch your SNAP dollars through the Health Bucks program.
Health Bucks are $2 coupons that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at all NYC farmers’ markets.
Here’s how it works:
For every $2 spent at farmers’ markets using your New York SNAP on an EBT card, you can get $2 in Health Bucks up to $10 per day.
Health Bucks are available year-round at NYC farmers’ markets that accept EBT.
For a list of NYC Farmers’ Markets that offer Health Bucks, click hereand locate the “Farmers Market Map”.
Additionally, you can email farmersmarkets@health.nyc.gov for more information.
Get More Groceries with FreshConnect Coupons (New York State)
FreshConnect Coupons are $2 coupons that can be used at farmers’ markets in New York State to purchase any SNAP-eligible item.
The FreshConnect Program was launched in 2011 to create new farmers’ markets and support existing markets that provide outlets for fresh food in high-need neighborhoods.
FreshConnect aims to expand access to fresh food in underserved communities to improve the diets of individuals in those communities and foster economic development.
The FreshConnect Checks Program (FCC) was designed to increase the purchasing power of SNAP consumers.
In 2014 the FreshConnect Checks Program also became available to Veterans, Servicemembers, and their immediate family members at regional Division of Veterans’ Affairs offices to be used to purchase fresh foods at participating farmers’ markets and farm stands.
FreshConnect coupons are accepted at allGreenmarket,Farmstand,andFresh Food Boxlocations.
To learn more about how to apply for Fresh Connect coupons, click here.
New York SNAP Eligible Food Items FAQs
We usually get questions from our readers about specific food items so we have provided answers to the most frequently askeditems.
Can I order groceries online and have my items delivered?
You can purchase groceries online using your New York SNAP EBT card and have them delivered.
However, you cannot use your food stamps benefits to pay for the delivery fee if you have one.
Walmart delivers in a radius of 9 to 10 miles from the physical store.
However, not all Walmart locations participate in delivery.
Do farmers’ markets accept New York EBT?
Yes! Many New York farmer’s markets accept SNAP benefits.
Additionally, some farmer’s markets in New York will match the SNAP dollars you spend on produce, up to a $10 limit per day.
See the FreshConnect Coupons program above, which is available in New York State.
Also, New York City residents can take advantage of the Health Bucks program, also described above.
Both programs double your SNAP spending on fruits and vegetables, up to $10 a day.
For example, if you spend $10 in New York SNAP benefits, you will get $20 total to spend on healthy food at the farmer’s market.
Can you buy energy drinks with New York Food Stamps?
Energy drinks that have a nutrition label are eligible foods you can buy with your New York SNAP benefits.
However, energy drinks that have a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements and are therefore not eligible under food stamps rules.
Can you buy cold rotisserie chicken with EBT?
Unfortunately, No. You cannot use New York SNAP to buy rotisserie chicken the program rules prohibit spending on hot foods.
Can I buy deli food with New York SNAP EBT?
You are not allowed to use New York SNAP to buy food you can eat at the premises or hot food in general.
You are only allowed to buy food you are taking home to prepare.
Therefore, when it comes to Deli foods, you cannot buy hot food from the deli or prepared foods like mac n cheese, chicken or sandwiches, stuff from the salad bar.
However, you can buy deli meats and cheeses and cold uncooked items from the deli with your New York SNAP EBT card as long as you are going to take them home to prepare.
Furthermore, some delis that take New York SNAP will display items that are eligible.
Can you buy a birthday or Ice Cream cake with New York Food Stamps?
Items such as birthday and other special occasion cakes are eligible for purchase with New York SNAP benefits as long as the value of non-edible decorations does not exceed 50 percent of the purchase price of the cake.
Can you buy Vitamins, Supplements, and Power Bars with New York SNAP?
The eligibility of vitamins and supplements, power bars, energy drinks, and other branded products must meet the following guidelines:
- Items that carry a nutrition facts label are eligible foods
- Items that carry a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements and are therefore NOT eligible
Can you buy Pet Food with New York Food Stamps?
No, you cannot use your New York SNAP EBT benefits to buy pet food.
This is directly from the USDA Website.
If you attempt to use your New York SNAP card to buy pet or dog food, you will be violating the law – which could land you in jail.
How about Diapers and Personal Hygiene Products?
Hygiene items like soaps, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, and cosmetics are not eligible to be purchased using New York SNAP.
Additionally, baby wipes and diapers aren’t SNAP-eligible and they are also not allowed under the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC).
Can you Buy “Junk Food” like Chips and Soft Drinks with New York SNAP?
Yes. While junk foods like chips, candy, snack crackers, ice cream, and soft drinks may not be particularly nutritious or healthy, they are eligible for purchase with New York SNAP benefits.
Additionally, while there have been calls by politicians to prohibit the purchase of “junk food” with SNAP benefits, a survey by the Huffington Post found there was no difference in “junk food” purchases by SNAP households and non-SNAP households.
What you can buy with New York SNAP EBT card Summary
Here’s the bottom line:
New York SNAP benefits can be used to purchase any food EXCEPT heated foods.
Furthermore, You CANNOT use New York SNAP benefits to buy non-food items, including Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco.
New York SNAP recipients over age 60, or those who have a disability, or are homeless, may be able to use your New York SNAP at participating restaurants as a part of the Restaurant Meals Program.
Questions?
We hope this post on what you can buy with New York SNAP EBT card was helpful.
If you have further questions about the New York SNAP, or New York EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about New York SNAP and New York EBT, including:
- Double your EBT Dollars at these Manhattan Farmers Markets
- New York to Get 25% SNAP Increase
- Get Free Admissions with New York EBT Card
- New York P-EBT Extension for 2021
- How to Get a Free Phone With New York Food Stamps
- New York SNAP Facts
