Why is my EBT card showing 'restricted' on Instacart? Can't use CalFresh benefits online

not all stores on instacart accept ebt and the ones that do have to be specifically approved for the online ebt program... walmart, aldi, food4less and some others work but a lot of stores still dont. which store were u trying to order from?

There are specific requirements for using your CalFresh EBT card online. First, make sure you're selecting a store that's approved for the SNAP Online Purchasing Program. As of 2025, approved retailers include Walmart, Amazon, Aldi, Food4Less, and some others - but Sprouts isn't on that list yet despite accepting EBT in their physical stores. Second, you need to separate your order into EBT-eligible items and non-eligible items. On Instacart, look for the "EBT SNAP eligible" tag on items. Delivery fees, service fees, and non-food items require a secondary payment method. Finally, make sure your EBT card is properly registered and active. Sometimes you need to make your first purchase in-person before online purchases are authorized.

My cousin had the same problem last month!! The error message is super confusing bc it makes it sound like something's wrong with ur card when really its just that store not being in the program. Plus instacart doesnt tell u which stores work with ebt until AFTER u try to check out which is so stupid. Walmart definitely works tho

Another thing to check - sometimes your EBT card needs to be unlocked for online purchases. I had the same issue and had to call my county office. They had to manually update something in their system to allow online shopping. The customer service rep said something about a "restriction flag" that sometimes gets put on accounts by default. I spent 3 hours on hold trying to reach someone at the county office though. It was a complete nightmare - kept getting disconnected or stuck in the automated system.

One more thing to be aware of - there's a common glitch in the system where if you've recently reported income changes on your SAR7 or had a recertification, sometimes the online purchasing ability gets temporarily restricted even though your benefits are still active for in-store purchases. This usually resolves within 7-10 days automatically. Also, make sure you're using the exact same name, address and other details that are registered with your EBT account when setting up Instacart. Even minor differences can cause the system to flag your card as restricted for security reasons.

instacart was a NIGHTMARE with my ebt!!! ended up just using amazon fresh instead way easier and they actually tell u which items r snap eligible before u add them to cart not after. also walmart pickup is free with ebt n u dont have to pay delivery fees

UPDATE: So I tried ordering from Walmart instead, and it worked! Seems like Sprouts just isn't part of the online EBT program as several of you mentioned. The Walmart app was actually much clearer about which items were SNAP-eligible too. Thanks everyone for your help!

Great to hear you got it working! For anyone else having similar issues, here's a quick tip: you can actually check which stores accept EBT online before shopping by going to the USDA's SNAP Retailer Locator website. They have a filter specifically for "online purchasing" that shows all approved retailers in your area. Would have saved you the trial and error! Also, if you're ever stuck between stores, Amazon Fresh tends to have the widest selection of SNAP-eligible items clearly marked, though their delivery fees can add up if you don't have Prime.

Just wanted to add that if you're still having issues with online EBT purchases, you can also try calling the EBT customer service line at 1-877-328-9677. They can tell you right away if there are any restrictions on your account for online purchases. Sometimes the county offices put temporary holds on online purchasing after address changes or other account updates, and the EBT customer service can see that info immediately without the long hold times. They're usually pretty quick to remove those restrictions once they verify your identity.

I just went through this exact same thing last week! The "restricted" error is so misleading - it makes you think there's something wrong with your benefits when it's really just that the store isn't approved for online EBT. I ended up calling around to different stores and found out that even some major chains like Safeway and Target still don't accept EBT online even though they take it in person. It's 2025 and the rollout is still so inconsistent! Amazon Fresh and Walmart are definitely your best bets - they've had the most reliable online EBT systems in my experience. Hope you feel better soon!

Pro tip for anyone dealing with EBT online issues - if you're using Android, there's actually a bug in some versions of the Instacart app where it doesn't properly recognize valid EBT cards even at approved stores. I had this happen with Walmart orders and switching to the mobile website instead of the app fixed it immediately. Also, make sure you're not using any VPN or location services that might make it look like you're ordering from outside California - the system is really strict about state verification for EBT purchases. Sometimes clearing your browser cache or app data helps too if you've been getting persistent "restricted" errors.

For future reference, you can also check your EBT card balance and transaction history online at ebtEDGE.com or by calling 1-877-328-9677 to make sure there aren't any holds or issues before trying to shop online. Sometimes there are temporary system maintenance periods that can cause the "restricted" error even at approved stores. Also, if you're ordering through Instacart at an approved retailer like Walmart, make sure to select "EBT" as your payment method during checkout rather than trying to add it as a regular debit card - the payment flow is slightly different and that can cause confusion. Glad you got it sorted out and hope you're feeling better!

Just wanted to add another potential solution for anyone still having trouble - sometimes your EBT card gets automatically flagged for online restrictions if you've recently moved or changed your address with the county. Even if your regular benefits are working fine in stores, the online purchasing system requires an exact address match and can take a few extra days to sync up after address changes. I had this happen when I moved last year and had to wait about a week for the systems to fully update. You can speed it up by calling your county CalFresh office and specifically asking them to verify your address is updated in the "online purchasing system" - they have to do it manually sometimes. Also, if anyone is looking for more approved retailers, Vons and Pavilions just got added to the online EBT program in some California counties as of early 2025, though they're still rolling it out gradually.

I had this exact same issue a few weeks ago! The "restricted" message is so confusing - I spent hours thinking my benefits were frozen or something was wrong with my account. Turns out it was just that I was trying to order from a store that doesn't participate in the online EBT program yet. One thing I learned is that you can actually call ahead to stores before placing your order - most of them can tell you over the phone if they accept EBT for online orders or just in-store. Saved me a lot of wasted time adding items to my cart only to find out at checkout that they don't take EBT online. Also, if you end up having to call your county office for any reason, try calling right when they open in the morning - I've found the wait times are usually shorter then compared to midday. Hope you feel better soon and get your groceries sorted out!

Another thing to watch out for - some stores like Ralph's and Food4Less that do accept EBT online have weird restrictions on certain product categories. I tried ordering baby formula and diapers through Ralph's online and my EBT got declined even though those items are supposed to be covered. Turns out their online system doesn't recognize some WIC-eligible items as EBT-eligible even when they should be. Had to go in-person to buy those items but was able to get the regular groceries delivered. It's so frustrating how inconsistent these systems are! Amazon Fresh has been the most reliable for me - their item tagging is usually accurate and if something gets flagged incorrectly you can chat with customer service right away to fix it.

Just wanted to share another tip that might help - if you're still having issues after trying the approved stores like Walmart and Amazon, check if your county has any pilot programs for additional retailers. I'm in San Diego County and they just started a pilot with some local chains that aren't on the main USDA list yet. You can usually find info about these on your county's CalFresh webpage or by asking when you call the office. Also, for anyone using Amazon Fresh, make sure you're signed up for their EBT discount which gives you free delivery on orders over $35 - saves a lot on fees! The whole online EBT system is still pretty new so there are definitely growing pains, but it's getting better as more stores figure out their systems.

I just want to say how helpful this whole thread has been! I'm new to using EBT online and was getting so frustrated with the confusing error messages. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions really saved me a lot of trial and error. It's crazy how complicated something as simple as grocery shopping online can be when you're using benefits, but at least now I know it's not just me struggling with this system. Thanks to everyone who shared their tips and workarounds - this community is awesome for helping each other navigate these challenges!

I'm really glad I found this thread! I just started getting CalFresh benefits last month and had no idea that online EBT shopping was even possible. This whole conversation has been like a crash course in navigating the system. I was planning to try ordering groceries online soon since I work long hours, so knowing about the approved stores list and potential issues ahead of time will save me so much frustration. It sounds like Walmart and Amazon Fresh are the way to go for reliability. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's so helpful to learn from people who've actually dealt with these systems instead of trying to figure it out from confusing government websites!

One more thing that might help future users - if you're getting the "restricted" error but you know you're at an approved store like Walmart, try logging out of your Instacart account completely and logging back in before attempting checkout again. I had this weird glitch where my EBT card kept showing as restricted at Walmart even after I'd successfully used it there before. Customer service told me their system sometimes holds onto old error states and logging out/in forces it to refresh. Also, if you're using the mobile app, try switching to the desktop website version - sometimes the mobile apps have bugs that the web version doesn't. These technical workarounds shouldn't be necessary but unfortunately the online EBT systems are still pretty buggy!