Will Square ever be able to accept Electronic Benefit Card (EBT) payments?

[MichaelJMutch]

Will Square ever be able to accept Electronic Benefit Card (EBT) (food stamps) payments?

[#2]

For those who might be interested, here is our set-up for EBT.

We use a third party company for running EBT, which has a card reader and a pinpad. The companies vary by state, we use FIS. 

We hold an Arizona restaurant/hot meals EBT license and can accept just about everything on EBT except energy drinks and retail items like coffee mugs or keychains.

We use the code "E" in the notes section to be able to track which sales are EBT. We still record everything in Square so that we have data for all sales in one place.

Here are the steps we provide for our cashiers.

1. Remove non-eligible retail items from ticket for a separate transaction. Tell the customer “I will ring these up separately for you.”
2. Remove tax from ticket.
3. Take payment on EBT machine for total of eligible items and offer customer receipt.
4. Choose “CHARGE” on Square.
5. Choose “OTHER PAYMENT TYPE.”
6. Type “E” in “Notes.”
7. Choose “TENDER.”

[UrbanNaturalist]

Any progress on ebt?  I get this question sometimes.

[Kpay]

Hey @UrbanNaturalist - no update at this time, thanks for your patience. We'll update this thread when we have an update. 

[bananayummies]

any updates on square accepting EBT? we would like to use only one processor

[Russell]

Honestly, I don't know when this would be available and we still have no timeline for EBT to share at this time.

If and when we update our payment options to include EBT, we will make an announcement. 😉

[Danny2]

Just adding my voice to the crowds. Would love if Square accepted EBT.

[RosemarySJ573]

I sale Birria Tacos, beans, rice plate, Chips, Sodas, Water, Ice Creams, Candys, Nachos with Cheese and Chili, Jalapenos... Hot Cheetos Chips with Cheese... Food ONLY!.... I NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT EBT!... WHEN?... is it GOING to happen?... [personal information redacted].

P.S. I would gladly pay more to be able to take The EBT Card!..

[RosemarySJ573]

Using there machine? No.... I've seen it being used WITH a Square Cash Machine!... unless it was a different POS!... THAT LOOKS LIKE SQUARE!... The store is oops!... in Buena Park, California. 

[woodlawnfarmers]

Merchant source offers EBT and credit/debit services through a single machine called clover flex. It would be great if square offered similar service so we didn't need two different machines. See this link about the options for farmers markets. https://farmersmarketcoalition.org/ebt-service-providers/

[BurmeseStore]

I would also like to add my voice to that. And in case of long delay I might have to look elsewhere 

[EJ_]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this @BurmeseStore

I don't have any updates on this, but I'll be sure to post any new information as it comes along.