USDA Signs Off On Mass. Online Grocery EBT Pilot

State officials announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has given Massachusetts the green light to participate in a pilot program that will allow households that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to buy groceries online with their electronic benefit transfer cards.

"Online EBT grocery purchasing promotes equity and safety for our residents receiving SNAP benefits, allowing low-income households access to the same purchasing choices as other shoppers," Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner Amy Kershaw said in a statement. "This approval is a key first step in making this critical option available to the families and individuals we serve."

The department said it will now work with Conduent, the state's EBT vendor, and Walmart and Amazon, the two retailers participating in the pilot, "to implement the state's plan as soon as possible."