Using CalFresh EBT at Costco - can I shop there with my benefits?

Yes! Costco does accept EBT/CalFresh. I use mine there all the time. You can buy any food items that are normally eligible for CalFresh (no prepared hot foods, alcohol, etc). But you DO need a Costco membership - they won't let you in without one, even if you're using EBT. The basic membership is around $60/year, but honestly it pays for itself if you shop there regularly.

costco is GREAT for ebt but watch out! they don't take ebt for EVERYTHING in the store. like the hot dogs and pizza at the food court is a no-go with ebt. also the rotisserie chickens aren't covered even tho there so cheap. but all the regular groceries work fine with ebt just swipe like normal. if ur card doesn't work for some items you'll need a second payment method for those things.

The MEMBERSHIP FEE is the real issue here. $60/year might not seem like much but when you're on CalFresh every dollar counts! I tried splitting a membership with my sister but Costco caught on and wouldn't let us both use it. So frustrating that you need to PAY just to use your BENEFITS that you're ENTITLED to. The system is designed to keep poor people poor!!

For a single person, I'm not sure Costco makes the most sense with CalFresh benefits. I've found that: 1) The package sizes are often too big for one person and food might spoil, 2) You might spend too much of your monthly benefits at once, and 3) You'll need storage space for bulk items. I'd recommend checking out discount grocers like Grocery Outlet or Aldi first - they accept EBT with no membership fee and often have great prices on smaller quantities.

I found it SO ANNOYING trying to reach someone at the county office to ask questions about where I could use my CalFresh benefits when I first got approved! I was on hold forever and kept getting disconnected. Finally used a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to a real person at my county office right away. They confirmed Costco takes EBT and answered all my other questions too. You can check out how it works at claimyr.com or see their demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - saved me hours of frustration!

i've been on calfresh for 5 yrs and used to think costco was worth it but then i did the math... even with the "savings" from buying in bulk, after paying the membership fee I wasn't actually saving much. plus i kept buying stuff i didn't really need just cuz it seemed like a good deal. my advice is track ur actual spending for a few months before deciding if its worth it.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you have a friend or family member with a Costco membership, they can buy you Costco gift cards (called Shop Cards). You can use those to enter and shop at Costco WITHOUT a membership! So you could potentially use your EBT at Costco this way without paying the membership fee. Just have someone who has a membership buy you a Shop Card in whatever amount, then you can go in and use your EBT plus the Shop Card.

btwwww i forgot to say costco sometimes has these special food stamp deals that don't get advertized! like last month they had this thing where if u spent $200 on ebt they gave u a $25 gift card to use on non-food stuff. i got cleaning supplies with mine. ask at customer service if they have anything like that going on!!!!

Just so you're fully informed, here are the main items you CAN buy with EBT at Costco: - Fresh produce, meat, dairy - Canned and packaged foods - Bread and cereal - Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages - Seeds and plants that produce food Items you CANNOT buy with EBT at Costco: - Hot prepared foods (rotisserie chicken, food court items) - Vitamins and medicines - Non-food items (toilet paper, cleaning supplies) - Pet food - Alcohol and tobacco Hope this helps with your planning!

Another option to consider if you're on a tight budget is Sam's Club - they also accept EBT and their membership fee is usually about $15 cheaper than Costco (around $45/year for basic membership). The selection isn't quite as good as Costco but still decent for bulk shopping. Also, some locations offer free one-day passes if you want to check it out first before committing to a membership. You just pay a 10% surcharge on purchases, but it's a good way to test if warehouse shopping works for your needs and budget!

Hey @Nia Thompson! Just wanted to share another money-saving tip that might help you stretch your CalFresh benefits further. Before you decide on Costco or any warehouse store, check out your local food banks and pantries - many of them don't have income restrictions and can supplement your grocery budget significantly. I use CalFresh plus visit my local food bank twice a month, and it's made a huge difference in making my benefits last the whole month. The food bank near me even has fresh produce and sometimes bulk items similar to what you'd find at Costco. It's worth looking into while you're figuring out your shopping strategy! You can find local food banks through 211.org or by calling 2-1-1.