Can I buy toilet paper and paper towels with my EBT card?

Asked by: Prof. Avis Gottlieb  |  Last update: July 13, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (69 votes)

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy: Any nonfood items such as: Pet foods. Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies. Hygiene items, cosmetics.

Can you buy paper towels and toilet paper with EBT?

No paper products of any kind (napkins, paper towels, toilet paper, etc) can be bought with food stamps. Some will use rags in place of disposable toilet paper if they have it available. But without laundry detergent, these rags are usually thrown away rather than reused.

What does an EBT card not cover?

Even if a customer says it is an emergency, or they do not have other money to pay for it, do not accept SNAP benefits for items that are not allowed, including: Hot Food. Beer/wine/other alcoholic drinks. Cigarettes/cigars/other tobacco products.

Can you buy toilet paper with snaps?

Nonfood items such as pet foods, soaps, paper products, medicines and vitamins, household supplies, grooming items, and cosmetics, also are ineligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. Soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers, and ice cream are food items and are therefore eligible items.

Why are tea bags not covered by EBT?

Tea, too, is limited to packaged and unbrewed because the USDA doesn't allow SNAP funds to be used to buy any hot beverages.

Can You Buy Toilet Paper With Food Stamps? - CountyOffice.org

32 related questions found

What can you not use SNAP on?

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:
  • Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco.
  • Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. ...
  • Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store).
  • Foods that are hot at the point of sale.
  • Any nonfood items such as:

Does EBT cover laundry detergent?

What about soap, deodorant, household cleaners, diapers, baby wipes, toothpaste, mouthwash, or makeup? Since none of these is considered food, SNAP won't cover them. If you have the time, space, and ability to start a small garden, you may be happy to learn that you can use your SNAP benefits to do it.

Do I qualify for food stamps if I make $2000 a month?

Maximum income for food stamps must be at or below 130% of the poverty line. For a family line of three, the poverty line to calculate SNAP benefits for the federal fiscal year 2022 is $1,830 a month. 130% of this number is $2,379 a month, or about $28,550 a year.

Can I buy deodorant with my EBT card?

3. Diapers and Personal-Care Products: No. Hygiene products like soaps, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, and cosmetics can't be purchased using SNAP.

Can a store refuse EBT card?

The federal government does not mandate private businesses to accept the form of payment, the same way they don't mandate stores to accept credit or debit cards. However, it can be in a store's best interests to accept SNAP EBT.

Can you buy rotisserie chicken with EBT?

Generally, food that is hot when sold or food that is sold to be eaten in the store cannot be purchased with your EBT card. This also rules out rotisserie chicken and prepared deli foods.

Can you buy protein shakes with EBT at Walmart?

Like meal replacement shakes, you can use SNAP benefits to pay for protein powders, bars, or shakes that have Nutrition Facts labels — but not ones with Supplement Facts labels.

Can you buy wet wipes with EBT?

No, you cannot use your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to buy baby diapers or baby wipes, as they are not food items.

Can you buy Ziploc bags with EBT?

California voters passed Proposition 67 in 2016, "which prohibits retailers from providing single use, carry-out plastic bags to consumers in the State of California," which requires stores to charge 10-cents for recycled, compostable, reusable bags, in addition to providing free reusable grocery bags to customers ...

What does EBT not cover?

According to the USDA, the following items are excluded from SNAP benefits: Beer, wine and liquor. Cigarettes and tobacco. Vitamins, medicines and supplements.

Why do I only get $23 in food stamps?

Remember: Only about 36% of SNAP households receive the maximum amount. Some one- and two-person households only get $23 per month, which is the minimum possible benefit. Your actual benefit depends on your income, allowable deductions, and household size.

Can food stamps see your income?

How the Technologies Work. Public assistance programs like SNAP use The Work Number® from Equifax to instantly verify employment and income. Typically, they perform this step before providing a person benefits.

How much do you get for one person on SNAP 2024?

Maximum SNAP benefit amounts

1, 2024, the maximum SNAP benefits in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. will be: Household size 1 – $292. Household size 2 – $536. Household size 3 – $768.

Can I use my EBT card for clothes?

Clothes are not SNAP-eligible items.

What does EBT not cover at Walmart?

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products of any kind. Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. The way to determine if an item qualifies as one of these is to look for a “supplement facts label.” This indicates it is a supplement and can't be purchased with SNAP benefits.

Can you get frozen pizza with EBT?

Food Items You Can't Buy With SNAP Benefits

pizza. Also excluded are heated foods — foods cooked or heated on-site by the retailer before or after purchase.

What is forbidden in SNAP?

Community Guidelines

Our Guidelines explicitly prohibit bullying or harassing others, sharing sexually explicit content of oneself or others, spreading false information, engaging in criminal activity like threatening violence or buying or selling drugs, and more.

What disqualifies you from getting food stamps?

Net income, or household income after deductions are applied, must be at or below the poverty line. Assets must fall below certain limits: households without a member aged 60 or older or who has a disability must have assets of $3,000 or less, and households with such a member must have assets of $4,500 or less.

Can you use SNAP on gas?

However, you cannot use your SNAP benefits to purchase fuel unless you can withdraw cash from the card. It's helpful to know that Shell allows you to pay using EBT. First, however, you must know what to purchase and how to pay using your EBT card.