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Amazon, other online retailers to accept food stamps

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk and Natalie Dreier

Boxes move along a conveyor belt at an Amazon fulfillment center on January 20, 2015 in Tracy, California. 

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk and Natalie Dreier

WASHINGTON — Amazon and six other online retailers will soon be able to take government assistance as payment for groceries under a new plan.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, consumers who are eligible for benefits will be able to use their assistance accounts on Amazon, FreshDirect, Safeway, ShopRite, HyVee, Inc., Hart's Local Grocers and Dash's Market.

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They are using the program to test the feasibility of allowing the use of SNAP benefits across the country.

Right now, only those retailers listed in certain areas are being tested.

The pilot program includes:

  • Amazon - Maryland, New Jersey, New York
  • FreshDirect - New York
  • Safeway - Maryland, Oregon, Washington
  • ShopRite - Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
  • Hy-Vee, Inc. - Iowa
  • Hart's Local Grocers - New York
  • Dash's Market - New York


The program will test online ordering and payment, according to the USDA, and is designed to provide healthy groceries for homebound elderly and disabled customers.

Read more from the USDA here.

Cox Media Group

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