Everything You Need to Know About Using EBT at Family Dollar

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, provides critical support to help millions of low-income individuals and families afford healthy food each month. According to the USDA, SNAP served an average of 41.5 million people per month in 2021, with an average monthly benefit of $218.14 per person. That‘s a lot of spending power that can make a real difference for struggling households.

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SNAP benefits are distributed via Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, which work similarly to debit cards and can be used at authorized retailers nationwide, including superstores, grocery stores, farmers markets, and even some discount stores like Family Dollar.

Can You Use EBT at Family Dollar?

Yes, all Family Dollar locations accept EBT as a form of payment for SNAP-eligible food items. According to a Family Dollar spokesperson, "Family Dollar is proud to accept EBT benefits at each of our more than 8,000 stores nationwide as a way to better support our customers and the communities we serve."

This allows SNAP recipients to conveniently shop for groceries while maximizing their monthly food budget by taking advantage of Family Dollar‘s everyday low prices and frequent sales. With frozen and refrigerated food sections, Family Dollar is a one-stop shop for all your grocery needs.

"It‘s great that Family Dollar takes EBT because it gives me more options for where to shop," says Sarah Johnson, a mother of three who relies on SNAP to feed her family. "I can stretch my benefits further by buying things like cereal, pasta, canned goods, and snacks at Family Dollar. They have a pretty good selection and the prices are hard to beat."

What Can You Buy With EBT at Family Dollar?

The general rule is that any food item meant to be taken home and prepared for consumption is SNAP-eligible. According to the USDA, this includes:

  • Fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned)
  • Meat, poultry, and fish
  • Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt
  • Breads and cereals
  • Snack foods like chips, nuts, and crackers
  • Non-alcoholic beverages (soda, juice, bottled water, etc.)
  • Seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat

At Family Dollar, you‘ll find a wide selection of SNAP-eligible items in all these categories. Some affordable, nutrient-dense staples to look for include:

  • Frozen fruits and vegetables (no added sugar or sauce)
  • Canned beans, tomatoes, and other veggies
  • Brown rice, whole wheat pasta, and quinoa
  • Plain oats and other whole grain cereals
  • Peanut butter and other nut butters
  • Canned tuna, salmon, and chicken
  • Eggs and low-fat dairy products
  • Dried or canned legumes
  • 100% fruit or vegetable juices

Of course, everyone deserves a treat now and then! You can also use your EBT to buy things like:

  • Ice cream and popsicles
  • Cookies, candy, and chocolate
  • Bakery items like muffins and donuts
  • Pretzels, popcorn, and potato chips
  • Soda and other sweetened drinks

Basically, if an item has a "Nutrition Facts" label, it‘s most likely SNAP-eligible. However, some items sold at Family Dollar cannot be purchased with EBT, such as:

  • Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
  • Vitamins, medicines, and supplements (anything with a "Supplement Facts" label)
  • Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up)
  • Prepared foods fit for immediate consumption
  • Hot foods and any foods eaten in-store
  • Non-food items like pet food, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, cosmetics, or paper goods

So while you can‘t use your EBT card to grab a hot rotisserie chicken from the deli, you can buy a pre-packaged cold rotisserie chicken to take home and eat. And while you can‘t buy cat food or toilet paper, you can get all the ingredients you need to prepare nutritious meals from scratch.

How to Pay With EBT at Family Dollar

Using your EBT card at Family Dollar is quick and easy. Just follow these steps:

  1. When you‘re done shopping, take your items to the checkout lane as usual.

  2. Separate your EBT-eligible items from any non-eligible items you may be purchasing. The cashier will need to run these as separate transactions.

  3. When prompted, swipe your EBT card through the point-of-sale (POS) machine, just like you would a debit or credit card.

  4. Enter your secret Personal Identification Number (PIN) on the keypad. This is the same secure PIN you use to access your EBT account balance and transaction history.

  5. The POS machine will communicate with the EBT system to verify your account and check your available balance. If approved, your EBT account will be debited for the total purchase amount and the transaction will be complete.

  6. Collect your receipt, which will show the remaining balance in your EBT account.

  7. For any non-eligible items (or if you went over your EBT balance), you can pay the remaining amount with cash, check, a credit/debit card, or a Family Dollar gift card.

Note that while Family Dollar does accept EBT for in-store purchases, you currently cannot use your EBT card for online orders at FamilyDollar.com. Some major retailers like Amazon and Walmart now allow EBT payment for qualifying grocery orders, but Family Dollar does not support this feature yet. For now, you‘ll need to shop in person to take advantage of your SNAP benefits.

Tips for Maximizing Your EBT Benefits at Family Dollar

With some smart strategies, you can get the most nutritional bang for your EBT buck at Family Dollar. Here are some expert tips for maximizing your benefits:

  1. Plan ahead. Before you shop, take inventory of what you already have on hand and make a list of what you need. Plan out a week‘s worth of meals based on affordable, nutritious ingredients, with a focus on sale items and staples you can use in multiple dishes. Stick to your list to avoid impulse purchases that can quickly eat up your benefits.

  2. Take advantage of sales and promotions. Family Dollar‘s ad comes out every Sunday with the latest deals. You can also check the Weekly Ad online or in the Family Dollar mobile app. Stock up on non-perishables and frozen goods when they‘re discounted, but be sure you have a plan to use them up before they expire or get freezer burn.

  3. Compare unit prices. The largest package isn‘t always the best deal. Look at the price per ounce, pound, or unit to see which size is most economical. You can find the unit price on the shelf tag. Bring a calculator (or use your phone) to figure out the best value and stay within your budget.

  4. Buy generic or store brands. Family Dollar‘s private labels, like Family Gourmet, Kidgets, Golden Harvest, Modessa, and Montclair, offer comparable quality to national brands at a much lower price point. No need to spend your benefits on fancy packaging when what‘s inside is basically the same!

  5. Stack coupons and discounts whenever possible. Family Dollar regularly offers digital coupons and promo codes in their app and ad. You can "stack" these with paper manufacturer‘s coupons and your EBT discount to lower your out-of-pocket costs even more. Just keep in mind that SNAP benefits can‘t be used to cover sales tax, so you‘ll need another payment method for that.

By putting these strategies into practice and being a savvy shopper, you can significantly stretch your EBT benefits at Family Dollar without compromising on nutrition or taste. It just takes a little planning, flexibility, and know-how.

The Bottom Line

The fact that Family Dollar accepts EBT is a huge advantage for the millions of Americans who participate in SNAP. Having an affordable, accessible option like Family Dollar, with over 8,000 locations in 44 states, makes it that much easier for low-income families to keep food on the table. In a country where food insecurity affects 1 in 8 households, every little bit helps.

"SNAP is the nation‘s most important anti-hunger program, providing vital support to struggling families," says Ellen Vollinger, legal director at the Food Research & Action Center. "Retailers like Family Dollar that accept EBT are key partners in the fight against hunger and poverty. They help ensure that SNAP recipients can access the food they need in their own communities."

As the cost of living continues to rise and wages fail to keep up, programs like SNAP and retailers that accept EBT will only become more critical. While there‘s still much work to be done to address the root causes of food insecurity, being able to use EBT at Family Dollar is a small but meaningful step in the right direction. No one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, and everyone deserves access to affordable, nutritious food choices.

So the next time you‘re shopping at Family Dollar with your EBT card, know that you‘re not alone. You‘re part of a larger movement to fight hunger and poverty in America, one grocery trip at a time. With a little planning and savvy, you can make the most of your benefits and nourish your family without breaking the bank. That‘s the power of SNAP and retailers like Family Dollar working together for the greater good.