Restaurants that accept ebt food stamps near me: Are you wondering what restaurants accept ebt? If you answered yes, here is a comprehensive and straight to the point article on the list of All Restaurants that Accept EBT and How to Locate Them step by step.
Nevertheless, before you are considered eligible to use the EBT card at restaurants, you must have to qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) and your state has to offer the RMP for you to be able to buy food at designated restaurants.
Thus, if you have been asking yourself this question over and over again, I bring good news to you today, and that is “YES”, you can use it to pay for your meals.
Additionally, since the Restaurant Meal Program is left to the states, we’ve researched each state to find out if you can use your food stamps at local restaurants!
Thus, here in this post today, you will get to know what is Restaurant Meal Program and how it works, Who is qualified for the RMP program, states that offer the program, and lists of restaurants that are approved in each state for accepting EBT Food Stamps.
But firstly, let’s take a look at one the unfamiliar Acronym here (EBT).
What is EBT – Everything You Need To Know
Abbreviated as EBT, the Electronic Benefits Transfer is an electronic system that allows a recipient to authorize a transfer of their government benefits from a federal account to a retailer account to pay for products received.
Since 2004, the EBT has been implemented in all states, and it’s currently used in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.
Transfer services will be made possible through EBT with the use of the EBT card that looks and works like a debit or credit card but is loaded with food stamps and/or cash benefits. You can use it at stores or fast-food restaurants that accept EBT.
How Does the Food Stamp Program Works
Also known as SNAP benefit, the Food Stamps Program benefits is a federally funded program run by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) but administered at the state level that offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families.
However, if you want to sign up for food stamps, you have to apply through the agency in your state that runs the program.
There are strict eligibility criteria and requirements that you have to meet to be approved for SNAP benefits, including income requirements.
But, if you are successfully approved as a food stamps recipient, an EBT Card will be issued to you, and as we stated earlier that the EBT card is just like a debit card that enables you to purchase foods that are on the approved list at any approved merchant locations.
What is Restaurant Meal Program
Since 1977, the Restaurant Meals Program has been an essential part of the food stamps program. It enables qualified elderly, disabled, and homeless SNAP recipients to buy food at authorized restaurants. Any state or county can enrol in the Restaurant Meals Program.
The purpose of the program is to help expand food access to those who do not have a place to store and cook food, who may not be able to prepare food, or who don’t have access to a grocery store.
Who is Eligible for this Restaurant Meals Program?
You can recall that we said that the Restaurant Meals Program is created for those who do not have a place to store and cook food OR who may not be able to prepare food or who don’t have access to a grocery store to gain access to food.
So, here are the set of people who are considered eligible for the program and what will qualify him/her for this offer;
1. Homeless
For a homeless person to be eligible, the person/household must lack a fixed and regular nighttime residence or be living in a shelter, halfway house, or a place not designed for sleeping.
This includes those who are temporarily staying in the home of another person (90 days or less).
2. Elderly
To be eligible, the elderly person/household must have only members who are 60 or older, or an elderly individual and his or her spouse.
3. Disabled
To be eligible, the person/household must have only members who are designated disabled by a government entity, or a disabled individual and his or her spouse.
3. Elderly or Disabled
To be eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program, the individual/household must have only members who are age 60 or older or designated as disabled by a government entity, or an elderly or disabled individual and his or her spouse.
List of Products that You Can & Cannot Currently Purchase with SNAP
Below are the lists of what you can currently buy with SNAP. So, If you are now receiving food stamps, you are allowed to buy food that you plan to take home and prepare at home to eat.
That excludes hot food or buying food at restaurants. However, there are exceptions, which we will explain below.
However, here are what you can buy with SNAP and what you can’t buy with it;
What You Can Buy: You are allowed to buy the following with your EBT Card
- bread and cereals;
- fruits and vegetables;
- meats, fish, and poultry; and
- dairy products.
- Seeds and plants produce food for the household to eat.
What You Can’t Buy With SNAP; You are not allowed to use your EBT card to purchase the following items.
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
- Any nonfood items, such as:
- pet foods
- soaps, paper products
- household supplies
- Vitamins and medicines
- Food that will be eaten in the store
- Hot foods
Fast Food Restaurants that Accept EBT According to States
- California
- Burger King
- Carl’s Jr.
- Church’s Chicken
- Del Taco
- Denny’s
- Domino’s Pizza
- El Pollo Loco
- Great Steaks
- Jack in the Box
- Jamba Juice
- KFC
- Papa Murphy’s
- Popeye’s
- Pizza Hut
- Quiznos
- Rally’s Hamburgers
- Subway
- Taco Bell
- Wendy’s
- Wienerschnitzel
Participating Counties: Alameda County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Diego County, San Francisco County, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Clara County, and Santa Cruz County
Check this link for a list of participating countries
Rhode Island
- Subway
Check this link for a list of participating countries
Arizona
- 24th st Pizza & Gyros
- Blimpie
- Burger Shoppe
- CiCi’s Pizza
- Dairy Queen
- Denny’s
- Dominos Pizza
- Eegees
- El Pollo Loco
- Fat Sub
- Firestone Subs
- Golden Corral
- Harris and Smith Coffee Company
- Helpings Cafe and Market
- Jack in the Box
- Jimmy and Joe’s Pizzeria
- KFC
- Moon Light Family Restaurant
- Papa Johns Pizza
- Papa Murphy’s
- Rally’s Hamburgers
- Smoke Dem Bones BBQ
- Speedy Street Tacos Corp
- Subway
- Taco Bell
- Tasty Box
- Uncle Sams
- WaBa Grill
Check this link for a list of participating countries
Restaurants that DON’T Accept EBT Food Stamps
Are you surprised? Oh, you should not. Because in every disciple, there must be a judas, likewise this case now, there fast-food restaurants that do not accept EBT, but they are also participating in the Restaurant Meals Program. These restaurants include;
- A&W Restaurants
- Arby’s
- Chick-fil-A
- Chipotle
- Cinnabon
- Dairy Queen
- Dunkin’ Donuts
- Einstein Bros. Bagels
- Five Guys
- Hardee’s
- In-N-Out Burger
- Krispy Kreme
- Long John Silver’s
- McDonald’s
- Panda Express
- Panera Bread
- Qdoba Mexican Grill
- Shake Shack
- Starbucks
- TCBY
- Tim Hortons
- Whataburger
- Wingstop
- WingStreet
- Zaxby’s
For more details on restaurants that accept EBT, you can watch this video from the ABC affiliate station in Arizona – ABC15.
How to Locate Restaurants that Accepts EBT
Locating a restaurant that accepts EBT is not hard these days. All you need to do is to look for the signage that states the “Participating Restaurant: SNAP Restaurant Meals Program” with the “Fork & Knife” logo displayed on the door or window.
Nonetheless, some of the fast-food restaurant vendors will keep a signboard with a writeup saying “We Welcome EBT” or something similar to that as of that as you can Pizza Hut signboard image below.
How to Use the EBT CARD to Buy Food
To use your EBT card to buy food at a restaurant, they will have to swipe it or run it through the point of sale machine, similar to how it is currently used at a grocery store.
Electronic Benefits Transfer FAQ
People usually ask questions about EBT. Below are some of the questions and answers
How do I know the eligibility criteria for the restaurant meals program?
The criteria are sky-high. the restaurant meal program mostly prioritizes the less privileged, the aged and incapacitated people. For more info, kindly reach out to your local department of Human service office.
What are the qualifications needed for an EBT card?
There are certain criteria needed, everybody cannot qualify for the card. To qualify your income will be checked according to the federal poverty level. But people with disabilities and less privilege are mostly taken into consideration.
What is the purpose of the Restaurant Meals Program?
As stated by the United States Department of Agriculture,
(The) Restaurant Meal Program has been an option for states — state run, state contracted, state administered — since the 1977 Food Stamp Act. The decision to establish a restaurant meal program is made entirely at the state level.
Most importantly, the ONLY people who qualify are the elderly, disabled, and homeless, as this provision is intended to assist people who are unable to prepare meals at home or in a traditional kitchen setting.
Since 1977 the decision to establish a restaurant meal program has been made by only a handful of states and because of this participation is very low.
Is EBT safe?
Yes, EBT is safe and secure and your information is kept private.
Can the food stamp program access my bank accounts?
Yes, in situations where you lie about your assets and funds in order to swindle the Federal Government and state. so it is important that the information you give to the program is accurate.
How can I bring this program to my area?
If you would like to see fast-food restaurants that accept EBT in your area, contact your local lawmakers! You can easily find your elected officials on USA.gov. As we said before, this option has been available to states since 1977 but is very rarely used.
To help you, we’ve drafted a sample message below. You can copy and paste it if you’d like – just be sure to change the names!
Dear [Elected Official],
The federal Food Stamp Act granted states the authority to implement the Restaurant Meals Program in 1977. This initiative provides meals to vulnerable and at-risk groups, such as the homeless and elderly, who are unable to prepare for themselves. These qualified people may use their food benefits to buy inexpensive meals at participating restaurants such as Subway.
Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, and Rhode Island have all successfully implemented this program. It is not, however, yet accessible in our state.
Kindly act to bring the Restaurant Meals Program to our state.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
FINAL THOUGHT
You can only use EBT at fast food joints in states that have restaurant meal programs. People who will be attended for EBT are elderly, homeless, physically challenged and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients.
There are very few fast-food restaurants that accept EBT for foodstuff to prepare at home. A lot of fast-food restaurants do not currently have EBT foodstuff.
The restaurants listed above will sell food items to you as long as you have your EBT card.
Now that you have seen this vital information. Please don’t forget to share as usual.
That is it on Fast Food Restaurants that Accept EBT Near Me. I hope this article was helpful. Kindly share!!!