If you find you cannot, try again with a different store and a different product. Not all stores and states use the same POS software or use the same inventory databaes. If the item is coded a certain way like "medical food" or "nutritional aid", you might get the kibosh. If the slim fast is coded as medical food, kibosh. Enhanced/enriched food, good to go food. If your vendor has an offline backup, and the item is outside to inventory/database, it would not register as a prohibited item, but that would only work if the vendor was offline at the time. Show My suggestion assumes you are using the food stamps portion of EBT, not cash. (Last Updated On: January 22, 2019) Most Common Questions about EBT Food ListHere are the most common questions we get from our readers regarding the food stamps eligible food list:
List of foods you can buy with EBT CardThe items you can buy with your card is governed by The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 which defines eligible food as any food or food product for home consumption and also includes seeds and plants which produce food for consumption by SNAP households. You are allowed to use your SNAP benefits card to buy foods that your household will eat, including the following :
Now that you know what you can buy with your SNAP card, here is the list of things you CANNOT buy with the card:
NOTE: In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals. For more details, visit the USDA’s website. Food Stamps FraudIf you buy foods or items that are not on the approved list, you are committing food stamps fraud. As we mentioned earlier, that can land you in jail. The USDA is serious about arresting business owners who allow cardholders to use their benefits for illegal items. Also, EBT cardholders who are caught not only could go to jail but are may be denied future benefits, in some cases FOREVER. In addition, do not sell your EBT card for cash. It is not worth taking the chance to use your EBT Card for what it is not intended for. Possible Punishment for Food Stamps FraudHere are the possible penalties you could face if you are caught committing food stamps fraud:
If you are charged with food stamp fraud in a federal court, the possible penalties are based on the nature of the fraud, and the dollar value of the food stamp benefit involved. Here is the range of penalties:
In addition to possible jail time, you will lose your food stamps benefits if you are found guilty of food stamps fraud. Here is how long you may lose your benefits based on how many times you’ve been caught committing food stamps fraud.
As you can see, food stamps fraud has serious consequences. You should only spend food stamps on the approved food items at approved food stamps locations. Popular EBT Store QuestionsHere are some popular questions about places that accept EBT we think you will find useful:
We hope this post was helpful to you. If you have any questions regarding what you can and cannot buy with your EBT card, please leave it comments section below. We love to hear from you! Commentscomments |