In a vast majority of states across the country, low-income individuals and families who qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can only use them to purchase food that needs to be prepared at home. This means that their purchases are primarily made at grocery stores and other retailers. However, in a few states, SNAP beneficiaries have the additional option of using their benefits to buy hot meals at participating restaurants through the program’s Restaurant Meals Program (RMP). The RMP is a state option aimed at SNAP recipients who may face challenges in preparing meals for themselves or lack permanent housing for storing and preparing food, as stated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Currently, the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program is available in seven states: Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Virginia. In all other states, SNAP recipients are restricted to using their benefits for food that is intended to be prepared and consumed at home, as explained by the National Council on Aging (NCOA). Even if the hot food is purchased from a grocery store, it cannot be bought using SNAP benefits. To be eligible for the RMP, SNAP beneficiaries must first be certified in a state that offers the program and meet one of the following criteria: being elderly (60 years of age or older), disabled (receiving disability or blindness payments or disability retirement benefits due to a permanent disability), homeless, or the spouse of a SNAP client who is eligible for the RMP.

To enroll in the RMP, individuals can contact the state agency responsible for administering SNAP benefits. In order to purchase a hot meal at an RMP location, they need an active Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card and a confidential PIN. For restaurants to participate in the RMP, they must be located in a state that offers the program. They also need to be approved by the state’s SNAP administration agency and establish a signed agreement with the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Finally, the restaurant must receive authorization from the FNS to accept SNAP benefits.

Each state has the flexibility to establish its own criteria for selecting the number and specific restaurants that can participate in the RMP. States wishing to participate must demonstrate to the USDA that certain high-needs residents are not adequately served by traditional food stamp benefits. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) provides a list of national restaurant chains that accept SNAP EBT payments in states offering the Restaurant Meals Program. However, it’s important to note that not all locations of these chains within RMP states may participate in the program.

Some of the national restaurant chains that accept SNAP EBT payments in RMP states include Blimpie, Burger King, Carl’s Jr., Dairy Queen, Denny’s, Domino’s Pizza, Golden Corral, Jack in the Box, Jamba Juice, KFC, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, Popeye’s, Quiznos, Subway, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s. If you reside in one of the states offering the RMP and want to learn more, you can visit the USDA’s RMP website for contact information regarding all participating states.