Yes — Sam’s Club accepts EBT for SNAP-eligible food items at all warehouse locations, in-store and through the Scan & Go app. Like other warehouse clubs, membership is required to shop there — but Sam’s Club offers something Costco does not: a significant membership discount specifically for SNAP and other government assistance recipients, making warehouse club access considerably more affordable.
This guide covers exactly how EBT works at Sam’s Club, the SNAP membership discount details, what is and is not eligible, and how online ordering differs from in-club shopping.
The Sam’s Club SNAP Membership Discount — A Real Advantage
This is the most important thing that sets Sam’s Club apart from Costco for SNAP households. Sam’s Club offers qualifying government assistance recipients — including SNAP participants — a substantial discount when joining online as a new member:
| Membership | Standard Price | SNAP/Government Assistance Discount |
|---|---|---|
| Club | $50/year | 60% off (approximately $20/year) |
| Plus | $110/year | $50 off (approximately $60/year) |
This discount is only available to new members who have not held an active Sam’s Club membership in the previous 24 months, and must be claimed by joining online. You will need to verify your government assistance enrollment, often through a third-party verification service like ID.me, during signup.
Important: even with the discount, the membership fee itself still cannot be paid with your EBT card. You need a separate payment method — cash, debit, or credit card — to complete the discounted membership purchase. But the substantially reduced cost makes bulk warehouse shopping considerably more accessible for SNAP households than at Costco, which offers no comparable discount.
How to Use Your EBT Card at Sam’s Club In-Store
- Shop for SNAP-eligible items throughout the warehouse
- Proceed to any staffed checkout lane, or use self-checkout (EBT is supported at both)
- Swipe or insert your EBT card at the payment terminal
- Enter your 4-digit PIN
- The register automatically separates SNAP-eligible items from non-eligible items in your cart
- Pay for non-eligible items separately with another payment method
Using EBT With Scan & Go
Sam’s Club’s Scan & Go feature lets you scan items as you shop and check out directly through the app, skipping the register line. To use EBT with Scan & Go, enter your EBT card details in the app during checkout — once saved, it functions as a stored payment method for future Scan & Go purchases. If your order includes non-eligible items alongside groceries, you will need to add a backup payment method in the app to complete the transaction.
Sam’s Club EBT Online — Does It Work?
No. This is a significant limitation to understand before planning: Sam’s Club does not accept EBT for purchases made through SamsClub.com, including standard online orders, ship-to-home delivery, or curbside pickup — curbside pickup orders are processed as online transactions in Sam’s Club’s system, so EBT does not work for them even though you are technically picking up in person.
EBT at Sam’s Club works only for purchases made physically inside the warehouse — at a staffed register, self-checkout, or via Scan & Go while you are in the club. If you want to shop with EBT, you need to go in person.
What You Can Buy With EBT at Sam’s Club
Federal SNAP rules govern eligibility, the same as at any retailer:
Eligible items:
- Fresh produce, meat, poultry, and seafood (including raw and frozen seafood with a Nutrition Facts label)
- Dairy products and eggs
- Bread, cereal, pasta, and rice
- Frozen foods — including frozen meals, frozen chicken tenders, and items like Totino’s Pizza Rolls, as long as sold frozen and prepared at home
- Snacks, candy, and non-alcoholic beverages
- Baby food and infant formula
- Sam’s Club’s Member’s Mark private-label grocery items
Not eligible items:
- Hot prepared food from the Sam’s Club café, including hot dogs, pizza, and the well-known $4.98 rotisserie chicken (excluded because it is hot at the point of sale)
- Ice cream sundaes and other prepared café items
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Vitamins and supplements (Supplement Facts label)
- Fuel at the Sam’s Club gas station — SNAP cannot be used for gasoline anywhere
- Household goods, electronics, and general merchandise
- Live animals, except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pickup
- Food and drinks containing controlled substances (such as THC or CBD products)
Sam’s Club Cafe and the Rotisserie Chicken
Like Costco, Sam’s Club’s popular low-cost rotisserie chicken is hot when sold and therefore excluded from SNAP eligibility under the standard federal hot food rule. However, you can still use EBT to buy the raw ingredients or frozen equivalents to prepare something similar at home. See our rotisserie chicken EBT eligibility guide for the complete temperature-based rule that applies at any store.
EBT Returns at Sam’s Club
If you return an item purchased with your EBT card, the refund is credited directly back to your EBT card, not issued as cash — this is a federal anti-fraud requirement that applies at every SNAP-authorized retailer, not a Sam’s Club-specific policy. Returns are generally accepted within 90 days of purchase.
Sam’s Club Membership Cash Back and EBT
If you choose the Plus membership, you earn 2% cash back on qualifying Sam’s Club purchases (up to $500/year). If you accumulate $110 or more in cash back over the year, you can apply that credit toward your next year’s Plus membership renewal — effectively allowing frequent shoppers to offset or eliminate the membership cost over time using purchase-based rewards rather than SNAP benefits.
FAQs
Does Sam’s Club take EBT?
Yes, for SNAP-eligible food items purchased in person at any Sam’s Club warehouse — at staffed registers, self-checkout, or through the Scan & Go app. Sam’s Club does not accept EBT for any online purchase, including curbside pickup.
Is there a Sam’s Club EBT membership discount for SNAP recipients?
Yes. New members who qualify for SNAP or other government assistance programs can get 60% off a Club membership (about $20/year) or $50 off a Plus membership (about $60/year) when joining online. The membership fee itself still cannot be paid with EBT — you need a separate payment method even at the discounted rate.
Can you use EBT at Sam’s Club for curbside pickup?
No. Curbside pickup orders are processed through the Sam’s Club website and are treated as online purchases, which do not accept EBT. EBT only works for purchases made in person inside the warehouse.
Can you buy the Sam’s Club rotisserie chicken with EBT?
No. The rotisserie chicken is sold hot and is excluded under SNAP’s federal hot food rule, the same as at Costco or any other retailer. Frozen chicken and other raw ingredients remain fully SNAP eligible.
Does Sam’s Club EBT work at self-checkout?
Yes. Self-checkout lanes at Sam’s Club accept EBT the same way staffed registers do, and EBT also works through the Scan & Go app for in-club shopping.
Summary
Sam’s Club accepts EBT for SNAP-eligible groceries purchased in person — in-store, at self-checkout, or via Scan & Go — but not for any online order, including curbside pickup. Unlike Costco, Sam’s Club offers a genuine membership discount for SNAP recipients (60% off Club, $50 off Plus for new members), though the membership fee itself must still be paid with a non-EBT payment method.
For more retailers that accept EBT, see our grocery stores that take EBT directory. Check your current monthly SNAP benefit with our food stamp calculator.