Yes, you can buy deli meat with your EBT card.

The rules depend on whether you are using SNAP or EBT Cash benefits. Both payment methods can be on your EBT card, but they follow different guidelines for purchases.

Your EBT SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps, can be used to buy cold deli meat. SNAP is intended for staple food items that you prepare at home, and cold cuts sold by the pound fit into this category.

However, SNAP does not cover hot, prepared foods. This means you could not buy a hot deli sandwich. You could, however, purchase the cold deli meat and other ingredients separately to make a sandwich at home.

If you have EBT Cash benefits, you have more flexibility. You can use these funds to buy any kind of deli meat, including hot and prepared options from the deli counter. EBT Cash can be used like a debit card.

How to Check If an Item Is EBT-Eligible

Here’s how to determine if your deli items are covered by your benefits.

Checking Eligibility for SNAP-Approved Deli Meat

SNAP eligibility is based on the item itself, not where you buy it. The simplest test for deli meat is temperature. Cold deli meats, whether pre-packaged or sliced at the counter, are generally approved as staple foods. Hot foods, like rotisserie chicken or a toasted sandwich, are not.

For a detailed breakdown, the USDA provides an official list of eligible foods. While cold prepared sandwiches can be purchased with SNAP, they are not considered staple foods for the purpose of retailer certification. This distinction is important for store owners but doesn't affect your purchase.

If you try to buy a hot deli item, the store’s checkout system will automatically decline the SNAP payment for that specific item. You would then need to pay for it with another method, like EBT Cash or a debit card, or ask the cashier to remove it.

An exception is the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), which allows certain households in participating states to buy hot, prepared foods. To see if your state has this program, you can check the directory of state SNAP agencies for current rules before you shop.

Checking Eligibility for EBT Cash

EBT Cash benefits, such as TANF, operate differently. These funds can be used to purchase almost any item, including hot and prepared deli foods, because the restrictions are based on the merchant, not the item. You have the same freedom as you would with a debit card.

While you can buy any type of deli meat from a grocery store, state laws do prohibit using EBT Cash funds at specific locations like liquor stores or casinos. The rules focus on where you spend the money, not what you buy in an approved store.

If your shopping cart contains both SNAP-eligible groceries and items that are not, like a hot deli sandwich, it is best to run two separate transactions. Pay for the SNAP-approved items first, then use your EBT Cash balance to cover the rest of the purchase.