As one of the largest grocery store chains in North America, Safeway strives to provide a convenient and inclusive shopping experience for all its customers. One important way they do this is by accepting a variety of payment methods, including EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) cards.
EBT cards are how recipients of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), formerly known as food stamps, receive and use their benefits to purchase groceries. According to the USDA, over 41 million Americans relied on SNAP benefits in 2022. As such, being able to pay with EBT is crucial for many shoppers.
Whether you currently receive EBT/SNAP benefits or are considering applying for them, you likely want to know: does Safeway accept EBT as a form of payment? And if so, what are the specifics of using it at their stores? In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll answer all those questions and more. You‘ll learn where and how you can use EBT at Safeway, which items are eligible, and get some savvy shopping tips to help stretch your benefits further. Let‘s dive in!
Does Safeway Accept EBT Payments?
The short answer is: yes, Safeway does accept EBT cards as a form of payment at most of its locations across the United States. This allows SNAP recipients to conveniently purchase groceries and take advantage of the wide selection and competitive prices that Safeway offers.
However, there are a few exceptions to be aware of. Some states‘ Safeway stores may not support EBT payments due to differences in regional regulations and systems. Therefore, it‘s always a good idea to check with your local Safeway store first to confirm they accept EBT before assuming or making a special trip. You can typically find this information on your store‘s page on the Safeway website or by giving them a quick call.
Using Your EBT Card at Safeway
Now that you know Safeway generally takes EBT, let‘s get into the specifics of where and how you can use your benefits at their stores. We‘ll cover in-store shopping, online ordering for pickup, and using the Safeway website and app.
Safeway Store Locations That Accept EBT
Currently, Safeway stores in the following states and locations accept EBT payments:
Alaska
- Ketchikan
- Soldotna
- Fairbanks
- Juneau
- North Pole
Arizona
- Tucson
- Phoenix
- Chino Valley
- Chandler
- San Tan Valley
- Goodyear
California
- San Jose
- Sacramento
- Placerville
- Monterey
- Oakland
- Hollister
- Daly City
- Turlock
- Alameda
- Redwood City
- Jackson
- Vacaville
- San Francisco
Colorado
- Cortez
- Aurora
- Denver (4 locations)
- Colorado Springs
- Fountain
- Loveland
- Fort Lupton
- Longmont
- Greeley
- Boulder
- Firestone
Hawaii
- Kihei
Maryland
- Baltimore
- Bowie
- Brandywine
- Prince Frederick
- La Plata
- Westminster
- Townson
New Mexico
- Farmington
Oregon
- Springfield
- Portland
- Salem
- Albany
- Dallas
- Redmond
- Silverton
- Bend
- Molalla
- King City
- Cedar Mills
Virginia
- Reston
Washington
- Des Moines
- Auburn
- Olympia
- Renton
- Seattle
- Bellingham
- Marysville
- Mount Vernon
- Townsend
- Terrace
- Kent
- Lacey
- Yelm
- Tacoma
- Lynnwood
- Arlington (2 locations)
- Bonney Lake
- Monroe
- Puyallup (2 locations)
- Lynden
- Silverdale
- Poulsbo
- Vancouver
Washington D.C.
Note that even if your state is listed, it‘s still wise to verify EBT acceptance with your specific local store, as individual store policies can vary.
Using EBT Online for Safeway Grocery Pickup
In addition to in-store purchases, Safeway also allows customers to use EBT for online orders that they pick up at the store. This is a great option if you want to save time and skip the shopping part. However, note that you cannot currently use EBT for grocery delivery orders from Safeway.
Here‘s how to use your EBT card for online pickup orders:
- Sign in or create an account on the Safeway website or app.
- Reserve a pickup time slot and add your desired items to the cart. Make sure they are EBT-eligible (more on that below).
- Proceed to checkout and look for "Payment Methods" or "Promo Code & Payment."
- Select EBT/SNAP as your form of payment. You‘ll be able to enter your EBT card information.
- Place your order and go to the store to pick it up at your reserved time! A Safeway associate will help load the groceries into your vehicle.
It‘s important to know that while you can use EBT on the Safeway website and app directly, you cannot use it to pay for Safeway orders through Instacart. The only grocery stores that currently accept EBT on Instacart are Aldi locations.
Which Items Can You Buy with EBT at Safeway?
Understanding which products you can and cannot purchase with your EBT card is key to using your SNAP benefits correctly. Safeway follows the USDA guidelines on EBT-eligible items.
Food Items Eligible for EBT
In general, you can use your EBT card to buy most staple food items and ingredients for preparing meals at home. These include:
- Breads and cereals
- Fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- Meats, fish, and poultry
- Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt
- Edible seeds and plants
- Soft drinks and juice
- Candy and ice cream
- Cookies, crackers, and other snacks
- Live seafood like fish and shellfish
- Energy drinks that have a nutrition facts label (not supplement facts)
- Bakery items like cakes, pies, and bread
Pumpkins are an interesting case – they are EBT eligible as long as they are edible and not solely used for decoration.
You can also buy cold prepared foods like deli sandwiches, salads, and chilled entrees with your EBT card at Safeway, as long as they are not sold hot.
Items Not Eligible for EBT Purchase
Some items are not eligible for SNAP benefits, even if sold at grocery stores like Safeway. These include:
- Alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, and spirits
- Cigarettes and tobacco products
- Pet foods
- Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household items
- Hygiene products and cosmetics
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements
- Hot prepared foods and meals, like hot deli items or food from the Safeway cafe
It‘s useful to understand the distinction between eligible and non-eligible items to ensure you use your EBT card properly.
Special Cases: Safeway Starbucks and Bakery
You might be wondering about using EBT at the Starbucks coffee kiosks located inside many Safeway stores. The good news is that yes, you can use your EBT card to purchase cold drinks and food at Safeway Starbucks! Just keep in mind that this only applies to Starbucks locations within Safeway – standalone Starbucks stores do not accept EBT.
At the Safeway bakery, most items are eligible for EBT purchase, with one caveat. If an item has non-edible decorations (like a plastic topper on a cake), those decorations cannot make up more than 50% of the product‘s surface area. Otherwise, that item would not be EBT-eligible.
Purchasing EBT Eligible and Non-Eligible Items Together
Chances are, not everything in your Safeway shopping cart will be EBT-eligible. But don‘t worry – you can still do a mixed transaction and purchase both types of items together at checkout.
When you get to the register, just let the cashier know you‘ll be using your EBT card first. They will total up your EBT-eligible items and have you pay for those with your benefits. Then, you can pay for the remaining non-eligible items however you choose, whether with cash, debit, credit, or Safeway gift card.
Tips to Maximize Your EBT Benefits at Safeway
Stretching your SNAP dollars as far as possible is important for making the most of your benefits. Here are some smart shopping strategies to use at Safeway:
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Look for sales and promotions, both in the weekly ad and on the Safeway app. You can even "clip" digital coupons on the app to use at checkout.
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Consider Safeway‘s store brand items, which are often cheaper than name brands but similar in quality.
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Plan out your meals for the week and make a shopping list before going to the store. This helps avoid impulse buys and overbuying.
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Buy non-perishable items and staples in bulk when they are on sale. This can save money in the long run.
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If you also need to buy non-EBT items, consider using a cash-back or rewards credit card to earn a little something back on that portion of your purchase.
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Check your EBT balance before shopping to avoid going over your available funds. You can do this by calling the customer service number on the back of your card or checking online.
With a bit of planning and savvy, you can make your EBT benefits go further at Safeway and get all the nutritious foods you need.
Helpful Resources
We hope this guide has been useful in understanding how to use your EBT card at Safeway! If you want to learn more, check out these additional resources:
- Safeway‘s official SNAP EBT policy and FAQs on their website
- The USDA‘s SNAP information portal, with details on eligibility, applying for benefits, finding stores that accept EBT, and more
- Local non-profit or government organizations in your area that offer assistance and education around SNAP benefits (try Googling "EBT help + your city/county")
Final Thoughts
To recap, Safeway accepts EBT payments at most of its locations, both for in-store shopping and online orders picked up at the store. You can use your SNAP benefits to purchase a wide variety of grocery items there, from fruits and veggies to meat, dairy, breads, and more.
By understanding Safeway‘s EBT policies and implementing some smart shopping strategies, you can maximize the value you get from your benefits and continue to access the foods you and your family need. Safeway is committed to being an inclusive, convenient place to shop for all its customers, including those using EBT.
We encourage you to take full advantage of your SNAP benefits at Safeway, while being mindful of the guidelines. If you have any other questions, don‘t hesitate to ask your local store or check out the additional resources we‘ve listed. Here‘s to happy, healthy shopping!
