Illinois Joins SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot

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02/08/2021

Policy Memo

Summary 

  • Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) has approved the Illinois Department of Human Services' (IDHS) request to provide online purchasing options to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households. SNAP online purchasing allows recipients to purchase eligible food items online through participating retailers using their Illinois Link Card.
  • The current participating retailers are Amazon and Walmart as of 06/02/2020 and Aldi as of December 2020. Delivery for Aldi is available through Instacart. 
  • Grocery retailers that are interested in participating must contact FNS to review the requirements to accept SNAP EBT benefits online. Any retailers interested in the program can find more information and apply at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot.
  • Delivery fees, driver tips, and other associated charges and/or ineligible items cannot be paid for using SNAP benefits online. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) Cash benefits cannot be used for online purchases.
  • All retailers may continue to offer online shopping to SNAP recipients that require the payment transaction to completed once the participant arrives at the store for grocery pick-up. Only the participating stores Aldi, Amazon and Walmart allow an online SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) payment transaction.

Illinois SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot

  • As a continued effort to provide Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients with convenient access to healthy food choices, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) requested approval to participate in the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. The SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot is an alternative on-line and not in-line safe and convenient method of shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides easy access for SNAP households who may have other barriers with in-person shopping.

Participating Retailers

  • Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) has approved the request with 3 retailers:
    • Amazon and Walmart as of 06/02/2020; and
    • Aldi as of December 2020. Delivery for Aldi is available through Instacart.
  • Other retailers may participate in the pilot. Retailers that are interested in participating must contact FNS and meet the requirements to be added to the program. Only FNS has the authority to authorize retailers to accept online SNAP purchases. The requirements include making changes to their website, contracting with a Third-Party Processor for encryption of EBT card Personal Identification Number (PIN), ensuring secure transaction processing, and certifying and successfully testing changes to their online shopping site. Retailers that contact the Family Community Resource Center for information may be given the FNS link http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot
  • This announcement is available on the Link website, Link hotline, and ABE Homepage.

Eligible Purchases

  • Only eligible food items normally covered by SNAP can be purchased online with SNAP benefits.
  • Delivery fees, driver tips, and other associated charges and/or ineligible items cannot be paid for using SNAP benefits online. The SNAP household will need to use another method of payment to cover non-covered items and fees, such as a credit or debit card. 
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) Cash benefits cannot be used for online purchases.

Nonparticipating Retailers

All retailers may continue to offer online shopping to SNAP recipients that require the payment transaction to be completed once the participant arrives at the store for grocery pick-up. Only the participating stores Aldi, Amazon and Walmart allow an online SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) payment transaction.

Illinois Link Program (WCS 9203) brochure

The Illinois Link Program brochure is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Polish and Urdu. All versions are currently under revision to include the information about the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot.

Frequently Asked Questions

  QUESTION   ANSWER
Can SNAP benefits be used to buy groceries online at any store that offers online shopping? No. The only currently approved online retailers in Illinois are:
Can the SNAP participant buy groceries online and pay using their SNAP Benefits when the groceries are picked up at the store? Yes. the grocery order may be completed ahead of time. The transaction to pay can be completed once the participant arrives for grocery pick-up. This is still an option all SNAP retailers can continue to use.
Where can interested retailers find more information about how to become authorized to accept SNAP benefits online? Any retailers interested in the program can find more information and apply at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot.
What can SNAP benefits buy online?  Only eligible food items normally covered by SNAP can be bought online with SNAP benefits using the Illinois Link card. Delivery fees, driver tips, and other associated charges and/or ineligible items may not be paid for with SNAP benefits online. Another method will need to be used as a method of payment for these fees, such as a debit or credit card. TANF and AABD Cash Benefits cannot be used online for this project/
How do SNAP participants sign up to use their benefits for online? To use SNAP benefits online, visit https://shop.aldi.us/ , Amazon.com/SNAP or Grocery.Walmart.com and follow the instructions on the screen. If you are not already an Aldi, Amazon or Walmart customer, you will need to create an account, add your SNAP EBT card, and zip code to make sure that you are eligible. There are also opportunities to add an EBT card during checkout.
How will SNAP participants know which items are eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits?  SNAP-eligible food items have a special label "SNAP EBT eligible." This label appears after a SNAP participant adds their SNAP EBT card to their Amazon account. Only items shipped and sold by Amazon.com, including Amazon Pantry and Amazon Fresh are eligible for purchasing with SNAP benefits.  
Can SNAP participants use benefits to pay for shipping or delivery? No, federal regulations do not allow SNAP benefits to be used to cover shipping or delivery fees. However, it is possible to earn free shipping at some retailers by adding enough qualifying items to your order. Amazon waives grocery delivery fees for orders over $35.
Can Illinois households participating in the SNAP program purchase eligible food from Whole Foods using their SNAP benefits? No, SNAP cannot be used to purchased foods from Whole Foods. However, Whole Foods brands are available on the Amazon Grocery, Fresh, and Pantry "stores."

[signed copy on file]

Grace B. Hou

Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services

Forms referenced:

WCS 9203