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BJ’s has a great number of stores in the US, making them one of the well-known membership only clubs out there. The question arises whether BJ’s accept EBT as their payment method?
What are SNAP and EBT?
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is a federally funded program that offers financial assistance to low-income individuals and families. People who are out of work or who have a low-income for other reasons may apply to the SNAP program for help.
SNAP benefits can be used to purchase qualifying food products at participating retailers. You can buy these items with your SNAP benefits:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Breads and cereals
- Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants to produce food for your family
SNAP benefits cannot be used on the following items:
- Alcoholic beverages (including beer, wine, liquor)
- Tabacco products (such as cigarettes or other tobacco products)
- Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered before pick-up from the store)
- Foods that are hot when you buy them
- Non-food items (such as pet foods, cleaning supplies, paper products, etc.
EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) is an electronic payment system set up under the SNAP program. These benefits allow SNAP participants to buy food when they shop at authorized retailers.
Each SNAP participant is given an EBT card that’s refilled each month under the SNAP program. The card looks like a debit or credit card and can be used in much the same way. It can be used with a traditional cashier or a self-checkout (however, not all stores allow the use of EBT cards at self-checkouts).
Moreover, you can use an EBT card at an ATM to get cash, as well as when checking out with a regular cashier. Bear in mind that the amount you withdraw must not exceed the balance in your EBT account.
Can You Pay with EBT at BJs?
BJ’s stores accept EBT cards at all of their stores. It can be used to pay for groceries at BJ’s grocery stores. There is no minimum purchase limit or additional charges associated with using this method of payment. Using EBT at BJ’s stores is as easy as sticking your card into a reader.
Every BJ’s store accepts payment using the EBT card. If you are unsure about whether or not your store accepts EBT, give them a call. One of their friendly staff members will be more than happy to help you out.
It may surprise you to find out that you can pay using your EBT card at a BJ’s store. This is because many items are already priced very competitively. You do not even need to be a member to shop at BJ’s stores. You may need to purchase a one-day pass to shop at BJ’s. You can do this by bringing your debit card into the store and selecting an eligible item to buy. It allows you to shop and make purchases within a 24-hour window. Check the BJ’s website for more information.
How to Pay with EBT in BJ’s?
The process of using EBT cards at BJ’s stores is fairly straightforward. If this is your first time using EBT, check out our guide below to show you how to do it.
Cashiers will ask you to scan each of your items. If you are buying both non-eligible and eligible items, you can choose to put them all in one transaction or pay for each separately.
Second, you will need to insert your EBT card into the card reader. After scanning all the items, the cashier will tell you to put your EBT card into the card reader.
You will then be asked to enter a four-digit security code in order to complete the transaction. When you activate your EBT card, you will receive a four-digit PIN number. You should never share this number with anyone.
You will be asked to insert your card into a reader and enter your four-digit PIN number into the machine that will allow you to complete the transaction.
Last but not least, pay by using your EBT card. If each of your items is eligible to be paid for using your EBT card, you will be able to leave the store after you have paid for it.
If some of the items you are buying are not eligible for payment using EBT, you will need to pay for the rest of the products using another method.
Can You Use EBT to Pay for Online Orders at BJs?
BJ’s stores now accept payment using SNAP or EBT cards to pay for goods that you order online. This includes orders that you can take to a BJ’s club in order to pick up your merchandise. You can also order to ship your merchandise home. This can be said for most states except Delaware. Delaware is on the list to be added to the list in the near future. If you are having difficulties using your card or need more information about EBT, contact the EBT customer service hotline.
