SNAP Benefits Expanded: You Can Now Order Food With DoorDash And Use It As Payment

DoorDash has introduced a new initiative allowing SNAP recipients to utilize their benefits on its platform in a pioneering effort to aid low-income families.

This progress, stemming from a strategic collaboration with payment expert Forage, enables customers to make payments for their purchases with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.

Since being introduced, SNAP benefits expanded to more than 1.1 million individuals who have included their SNAP/EBT cards as a payment choice, demonstrating the program's effectiveness.

DoorDash Partnership With Forage

The collaboration between DoorDash and Forage aims to simplify the USDA approval process for merchants, cutting down the time needed to begin receiving SNAP payments.

This program expands the variety of stores providing SNAP-eligible food items through DoorDash. The company is dedicated to increasing food availability for SNAP beneficiaries through this partnership.

Ofek Lavian, the co-founder and CEO of Forage, showed excitement regarding the collaboration.

Lavian expressed their excitement about teaming up with DoorDash to enhance on-demand grocery delivery for SNAP beneficiaries.

Their mission centers around collaboration, and they take great pride in helping to eliminate obstacles in order to improve food access for low-income Americans.

DoorDash expects that this effort will help more than 14 million individuals in food deserts and over 40 million people in areas where one out of every ten households currently receive SNAP benefits.

Using EBT Cards on DoorDash as Payment

Fuad Hannon, Vice President of New Verticals at DoorDash, emphasized the significance of this collaboration in helping communities in need. Hannon claimed that teaming up with Forage demonstrates their dedication to expanding food access for at-risk communities.

Increasing the use of SNAP/EBT payments can assist families in fulfilling childcare and work responsibilities, ease the burden on seniors who may find it challenging to shop for groceries, and provide assistance to individuals with disabilities experiencing mobility limitations.

The increase in SNAP benefits available through DoorDash is particularly important considering the difficulties experienced during the pandemic, resulting in the shutdown of numerous stores that catered to marginalized communities.

Alex Beene, who is a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, commended the partnership for being a forward-thinking step. He stated that there will always be individuals who mock SNAP benefits in general and who will be upset by any attempts to make it easier for eligible individuals to access them.

Nevertheless, this is a reasonable move for individuals receiving SNAP benefits in today's economy. Beene thinks that eventually other apps will also adopt this idea.

Broader Impact on Low-Income Families

Accessing SNAP benefits through DoorDash can significantly benefit low-income families by providing nutritious meals without the burden of transportation costs.

Lavian noted that on-demand grocery delivery reduces barriers faced by low-income families who rely on SNAP. Many of these families cannot visit physical stores due to various constraints.

Data shows that among the 42 million Americans receiving SNAP, one in five is disabled, one in eight is elderly, and over 17 million live in food deserts.

Lavian explained that traditional in-store shopping is often very difficult due to these factors, such as conflicting work schedules and childcare responsibilities.

As SNAP benefits expanded through new EBT card payments, DoorDash and Forage are making significant strides in supporting low-income families, alleviating barriers to food access, and enhancing the convenience of grocery shopping for vulnerable communities.