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EBT relies on a vast network of grocery stores to help people who are hungry or who are severely malnourished. Some people try using their EBT cards to purchase things at a discounted price in grocery and retail stores. If youre wondering if you can shop at Big Lots using your EBT card, here is everything you need to know!
EBT-eligible food and household products are sold at Big Lots stores in all 50 states by 2022 if they are listed under the SNAP guidelines. Big Lots is working to have all its outlets comply with the EBT/ SNAP requirements, in order to reach more people. You can also check out the Big Lots website to find out which stores accept EBT.
What is Big Lots?
Big Lots is a large discount chain retailer that sells a wide range of products, from clothes to electronics and more. Most of the items sold at Big Lots are offered at great prices. It’s possible to find some products for as cheap as $1!
Big Lots opened its first store in 1956 and has expanded. They now have over 300 stores across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The stores have become pretty popular, especially in recent years when prices have been skyrocketing. But does Big Lots take EBT?
Does Big Lots Accept EBT Cards?
Yes! But not all Big Lots accept EBT—only select stores accept this payment method. To find out if your local Big Lots takes EBT, use their store locator page. Enter your zip code or city and state to find Big Lots stores near you. Next, use the “SNAP/EBT” filter to locate participating Big Lots stores.
What is SNAP?
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) offers food support for anyone or families who have a low income, including working families/individuals, low-income older adults, and people who have disabilities, etc.
Under this program, the federal government pays full cost of SNAP benefits and splits the cost of administrating the program with the states (which run the program). The SNAP program runs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands.
The EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) program is under the SNAP program. Through EBT’s electronic payment system, SNAP benefits can be used by eligible participants to pay for food. EBT can only be used in SNAP-authorized stores.
Each month, the participant’s EBT card is “loaded” with a specific amount of credit (money). They can then be used much like a regular credit or debit card to pay for eligible food items.
So, the combination of SNAP and EBT can be a huge help for anyone who has a low income and needs help putting food on the table.
How to Pay with EBT in Big Lots?
EBT/SNAP is a program that is funded by the Federal government, but states have the power to administer it. If you are eligible to use your EBT card at Big Lots stores in your state, you may have to go through the steps in each state separately. However, if you are eligible to use your EBT card at Big Lots stores in your state, the procedure will generally look like this.
You will need to check your balance each time you shop and check the amount you are able to spend by looking at your receipt or calling the number written on the back of your card. Take your groceries to checkout. Pay attention to whether the items you are shopping for are eligible for EBT. You need to give your EBT card to the clerk or simply swipe it at a Big Lots POS terminal. Enter four numbers to enter the PIN then press ENTER. Then, the clerk will ask you for the amount of money you spent, and if it’s correct, press OK.
You will receive a receipt with the store name and address, the amount of your purchase and your EBT balance. Keep the receipt handy to get an idea of how much your purchase was worth. Keep a copy of your receipt to tell you when you will receive your balance for the next time you shop at Big Lots. You will not be charged a fee to shop on EBT.
Big Lots is not yet announcing that it accepts EBT from online shoppers. You can only shop at Big Lots stores that accept EBT payment to enjoy the wonderful products that Big Lots offers.
Big Lots does not have any requirements to become EBT-qualified. If you are eligible to shop at Big Lots with your SNAP/ EBT card, just go to any Big Lots outlet that accepts EBT.
If you are an eligible SNAP participant, you must meet the following requirements:
- It is important that the household income be at or below 130% of the poverty level before any benefits are payable.
- Your income should not exceed the Federal poverty level.
- If there is no one in the household who has a disability, assets must be below $2500. If a member of the household is disabled, the total amount of their assets must be less than $3,750.
You don’t qualify if you are an illegal immigrant, a class of people who are on strike, or if you are a certain class of people who go to college more than half the time. If you are a single parent with no disabled children, you can only receive SNAP benefits for three months every three years.
Big Lots tries to provide its shoppers with lots of good, affordable food by facilitating government programs like SNAP/ EBT. It may sound scary, but now that you know how to shop at Big Lots with EBT, give it a try!
