Did you know that there are over 9,500 7-Eleven stores in the United States Alone?
While best well known for being one of the world’s largest convenience store chains in America, many 7-Eleven stores also have gas stations as well, that can be used to refuel your car.
But does 7-Eleven take EBT or food stamps, and if so, what items are eligible?
In this article, we cover everything that you need to know.
Does 7-Eleven Take EBT Cards?
We’re pleased to discover that 7-Eleven does accept EBT cards on the majority of food and drink items purchased inside of their stores.
In fact, 7-Eleven is such a popular place to use EBT, that the company has made additional efforts specifically to cater to SNAP recipients, and make it easier for them to purchase.
One example includes a loophole 7-Eleven used allowing hot pizzas to be purchased, where hot food would normally be not allowed. They did this buy selling the pizza to the customers cold, then kindly heating it up for them after it had already been purchased.
Note that acceptance of EBT is unfortunately limited to certain food and drink items. You cannot use your EBT card to purchase gasoline at 7-Eleven gas pumps.
Here are some examples of food that can be purchased using EBT cards or food stamps at 7-Eleven:
- Meat, poultry and seeds.
- Candy, ice cream, and other pre-packaged, non-prepared desserts
- Cold beverages (including soda and eligible energy drinks.)
- Other cold drinks, such as slushies or iced coffee. Note that this also includes 7-Eleven’s famous Slurpies, as long as they are consumed outside the store. This is because Slurpies consumed inside 7-Eleven may be considered ‘prepared’ and thus ineligible for EBT.
- Bread, cereal, and other grains
- Pizza
- Pre-packaged snacks
- Fruits, vegetables, and produce
Note that if you are uncertain whether or not an item can be paid for using EBT, do not hesitate to ask the clerk or a 7-Eleven staff member. They’ve heard it all before, and should be able to give you a clear answer for each item in the store.
There are some items that will not be covered however. Some of these may include:
- Gasoline at 7-Eleven gas pumps, and other items for your automobile
- Non-food items, such as medicine or hygiene products
- Hot, prepared foods (perhaps with some exceptions – you can always ask about this)
- Hot beverages, including coffee
- Pet food
- Supplements (including protein bars)
- Alcoholic drinks
Again, 7-Eleven has been known to use loopholes in the past to make certain hot food items EBT-eligible. So, this is always something you can ask about at the register.
How To Use Your EBT Card At 7-Eleven
Usage of an EBT card at 7-Eleven is straightforward. Simply swipe it like you would any other debit or credit card.
However, pay attention to the items in your order. If your order consists of items that are eligible to be covered by EBT, but also contains items that AREN’T eligible to be covered, then these transactions will need to be done separately.
For example, you could pay for your certain items with your EBT card first, then pay for the rest using another payment method.
What Payment Methods Are Accepted At 7-Eleven?
Other than EBT cards / SNAP (which can only be used for eligible items), 7-Eleven also supports a number of other payment options.
Some of the payment options that 7-Eleven accepts include:
- Most major debit cards
- Most major credit cards
- American Express
- Discover
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Cash
- Apple Pay
- Samsung Pay
- Google Pay
- 7-Eleven gift cards
Note that 7-Eleven also has their own credit card, the Fleet Universal Card, which can give up to 7 cents back per gallon of gasoline (or up to 10 cents on diesel) at the time of writing.
Other credit cards are available that can give up to 5% cash back on fuel purchases, which may also be a good option to save some additional money.
Can You Use Your EBT Card At 7-Eleven Gas Pumps?
Because gasoline is not covered under EBT, you are unable to fill up your car and pay for it using your EBT card.
Due to this fact, you’ll want to be sure that you have an additional payment method available to you should you intend to purchase gas at 7-Eleven.
Other Gas Stations That Take EBT Cards
7-Eleven isn’t the only gas station that takes EBT cards! Here is a list of other gas stations that take EBT, SNAP, or food stamps.
Again, these can’t be used to purchase gas – only for eligible food and drink items inside the convenience stores themselves.
Some gas stations changes operate under a franchise model. This means there’s a chance that individual gas stations may not accept EBT, even if the majority of them do.
Be sure to contact the gas station ahead of time if this is important to you! This way, you can confirm for sure.
Conclusion
Does 7-Eleven take EBT cards or SNAP? Yes, as long as you’re purchasing items that are eligible for the benefits program.
While you can’t use EBT to purchase gasoline or other non-food items, 7-Eleven is still a great place to stock up on some snacks and drinks before hitting the road.
Have any questions about 7-Eleven’s EBT policy? Ask them using the comment form below, or reach out to your local 7-Eleven for guidance!
Disclaimer:
7-Eleven is a registered trademark of its owner. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by 7-Eleven in any way. We cannot guarantee accuracy of this information and facts may change at any time. For the most up-to-date information, contact 7-Eleven directly or visit their official website. 7-Eleven’s name is used only for nominative fair use.