CHICAGO — A viral TikTok video showing a grocery store cashier expressing frustration over a $1,013 EBT transaction has sparked widespread debate online about how SNAP benefits are used — and whether large purchases like this are legitimate.
The short clip, which shows a receipt stretching across the counter and the cashier exclaiming, “And everything won’t even ring up yet — y’all, $1,013!”, quickly drew attention across social media. In the video, the cashier can be heard venting frustration about taxpayers “footing the bill” for what appears to be a large food order spread across three shopping carts.
Cashier’s Reaction Ignites Online Debate
Commenters flooded the post with mixed opinions. Some supported the cashier’s concerns, calling the purchase “excessive” and suggesting stricter monitoring of EBT transactions. Others, however, were quick to defend the shopper, noting that SNAP benefits can legally accumulate or be combined within households, allowing for larger monthly grocery hauls.
“You can’t judge someone based on one big trip,” one commenter wrote. “Families often stock up when they get their benefits, especially if they have kids.”
SNAP Benefit Rules Explained
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a family of four can receive up to $994 per month in benefits depending on income and location. Those funds do not have to be spent all at once, and recipients are allowed to save benefits across months to make bulk purchases or prepare for holidays…