Kroger has begun accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) payment for its Pickup low-contact curbside service.

The retailer currently supports EBT card payments for Pickup in Ohio, northern Kentucky and select stores in Nashville, Tenn., and is in the process of rolling out the capability nationally. Kroger anticipates that all stores will take EBT payments at curbside by the end of April. Eligible food products that can be paid for with SNAP include milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables, fresh meat, bread and other staples. Customers will be able pay for ineligible purchases at curbside using a debit or credit card.

With Pickup, customers place orders online or through the Kroger mobile app and choose an available pickup time. These shoppers pull into specially marked parking spots and call the phone number on the signs, and their groceries are delivered directly to the customer’s vehicle.

“Kroger is excited to now have this SNAP/EBT payment option available for Pickup customers as we rapidly activate the feature in all our markets,” said Yael Cosset, Kroger’s Chief Technology and Digital Officer in a statement.

Starting April 24, Kroger also will be supporting the federal CARES Act by temporarily waiving the check-cashing fee for government-issued checks for customers and associates.

To support higher volumes of Pickup ordering, available at more than 2,000 stores, Kroger is hiring additional e-Commerce associates, adding more pickup slots, increasing customer communication and piloting a pickup-only location in Cincinnati. Kroger has waived the Pickup fee (generally $4.95) for all orders, with no minimum purchase threshold required, to encourage more customers to use the low-contact service. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kroger Co.’s Zero Hunger|Zero Waste Foundation has committed more than $5 million to fund local food banks and to ensure children with school closures have access to nutritious meals.