Food Stamp Users Will Soon Be Able To Order Groceries Online

You may not be able to purchase junk food with SNAP in the near future, but using food stamps for groceries just got a whole lot easier: Thanks to a new initiative by the USDA, food stamp users will soon be allowed to do their grocery shopping online.

The USDA will partner with retailers like Amazon, Fresh Direct, Safeway, Shoprite, and other smaller regional chains in select test markets before expanding nationwide. The test will run in both rural and urban areas in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

"Online purchasing is a potential lifeline for SNAP participants living in urban neighborhoods and rural communities where access to healthy food choices can be limited," USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. "We're looking forward to being able to bring the benefits of the online market to low-income Americans participating in SNAP."

During the test, the USDA will evaluate whether national or local retailers are more accessible to SNAP participants. The USDA will also test out a couple different payment methods.

SNAP users will still have to cover all service and delivery fees, according to Engadget.