Yes! Both EBT and WIC are accepted by Vons. However, only select groceries qualify. What this means is that you can use both EBT and WIC at Vons to purchase select groceries; not all groceries can be bought with WIC or EBT. The kinds of stuff you can buy or cannot buy with WIC and EBT at Vons are discussed below.
About Vons
Vons is a multipurpose company with over 200 branches in just two states, California in Nevada. Services like groceries, bakery products, deli food counters, etc. are provided. They also sell Western Union and MoneyGram money orders. Due to the many amenities provided by a single business, Vons makes productivity easy so much so it can be achieved on a single task. One could get gas, cash a check, withdraw from the ATM, buy coffee, and order the cheapest food on a budget. The big question is, do Vons accept EBT and WIC? First of all, what are EBT and WIC?
What are EBT and WIC?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a government program to alleviate hunger in vulnerable groups like low-income earners, seniors, the unemployed and people with disabilities. It is an enterprise of the US Department of Agriculture and for smooth management, it runs at the state level. While SNAP distributes government aid to the needy by making use of the Electronic Benefits Transfer Card (EBT), a separate program is dedicated to Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
Does Vons accept EBT?
As mentioned earlier, Vons accept Wic EBT. The challenge is the products that you can buy with EBT. Since EBT is issued by SNAP, they determine what food items people can purchase with EBT. Therefore, you can only buy SNAP-approved foodstuffs with EBT. The list of approved foods includes but is not limited to staple foods such as bread, dairy products, beef, fruits, and vegetables. Foods that are hot at the point of sale do not qualify, alcohols are equally disqualified. The exhaustive list of accepted food products can be found on the SNAP website (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items).
How to use an EBT card at Vons?
EBT is similar to a debit card in its usage for purchases. To pay with an EBT card at Vons, select the items you want to buy from the shelf in a Vons store, and take them to the check-out counter for scanning. After scanning, swipe your EBT card on the machine and that’s it. You’ve made your purchase. Congratulations!
Alcohol, cigarettes, pet food, and live animals are some of the barred foods but they can be paid for with other payment options e.g., cash, credit or debit card. It makes sense to pack them separately to ease the payment process. This means you should pay for one before the other. You could pay for the SNAP-permitted food first while you pay for the ineligible ones subsequently.
Does Vons accept WIC?
Just like many other major stores, Vons accepts WIC, and just like the EBT card, it has certain restrictions on the eligible products since WIC is designed specifically for pregnant women, infants, and mothers that have recently delivered a baby. Examples of licenced foods include baby food, cereals, cheese, etc.
How to use WIC at Vons?
WIC benefits come in two different forms; on cards or as coupons/checks. The good news is that both are accepted at Vons. To make use of your WIC card benefits, shop for the stuff you desire at Vons that you want to purchase, go to the cashier then swipe your card at the machine just like you would any debit or credit card. If you are making use of a coupon or check instead, just go ahead and present it to the cashier at the checkout and it will cover the payment.
If your balance on the card could not cover the items you wanted to buy, you could always pay the balance with cash. The smart thing is to pay first with a WIC card or check.
SNAP is a government-assisted project that alleviates food scarcity among the needy. It achieves this goal by coordinating with the states to distribute electronic benefits to community dwellers that require it. Vons is a large store that offers several services that take both the EBT and the WIC cards. However, some foods are out of bounds to you if you plan to use only your EBT or WIC cards to complete the purchase.
Where can I find Vons stores?
Vons stores are available only in two states of the US; California and Nevada.
Does Vons accept EBT online?
Yes, you can pay for items you order online with your EBT card. Vons makes shopping enjoyable irrespective of the payment method. Your card will be debited once the items are shipped.
Do Vons deli stores accept EBT cards?
Unfortunately, no, and it is for a simple reason. Foods that are hot or ready-to-eat are on the same list as alcohol, i.e., they are controlled products by the SNAP program. Thus, deli Vons will not accept EBT cards.
