Verified & Updated Mar 17, 2021 Show
Short AnswerMcDonald’s only accepts EBT at select locations in Arizona and California. For more information on using EBT at McDonald’s, see below. Does McDonald’s Accept EBT?McDonald’s doesn’t accept EBT/food stamps at most locations. However, a few McDonald’s locations in Arizona and California accept EBT as a part of the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP).[1][2] RMPs allow some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to buy meals at individual, participating restaurant locations. States can extend their SNAP programs to include the RMP, but relatively few states do so. To qualify for RMP benefits, you must be either elderly, disabled, or homeless.[3][4] See our related research for more information on what you can and can’t buy with your EBT card. We confirmed this information with the Arizona Department of Economic Security and CalFresh benefits agencies in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, and San Luis Obispo counties. See the CA EBT Locator or Arizona Restaurants/Retailers list to determine whether a McDonald’s location in your area takes EBT or to see the complete list of participating restaurants. Other Places That Take EBTWhile only select McDonald’s locations in California and Arizona take EBT, these aren’t the only states with Restaurant Meals Programs. For more information about RMPs, including which states have one, see our dedicated research on restaurants that take EBT. If your state’s SNAP program doesn’t allow restaurant meals, find other places where you can use your card in our list of stores that accept EBT. Most Popular Next ClicksDoes McDonalds accept EBT? The answer is more complicated than you might think. As one of the most popular and affordable fast-food chains in existence, McDonalds feeds millions of people every day and their locations are seemingly everywhere. If you’ve ever wanted to spend your EBT dollars at a McDonalds, here’s what you need to know. It depends. Some EBT users in some areas may be able to purchase McDonalds with their EBT cards, but it really depends on where you live and which specific benefits you are eligible for. In order to determine if you are one of the lucky few who are eligible to buy food at McDonalds with food stamps, you’ll need to understand how EBT works and the differences between the programs that can all put funds on your EBT card. Can I use EBT cash benefits at McDonalds?If you receive cash benefits through a program like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), then you may be able to use those cash benefits at your local McDonalds. If you see someone ordering fast food with an EBT card, it is very possible that they are using cash benefits instead of food benefits to make that purchase. That is because there are far fewer restrictions on the cash side of EBT. However, it is also much harder to qualify for cash benefits than food benefits. That’s why only one million households receive cash benefits but over 38 million people receive SNAP benefits. Does McDonalds accept food stamps?In some cases, yes! The Restaurant Meals Program allows certain people who live in certain areas to purchase restaurant meals with their food stamps (SNAP EBT) benefits. In order to be eligible for the RMP, you must live in a participating area and be elderly, disabled or homeless. Although the Restaurant Meals Program is authorized by the federal food stamps law, individual states can choose whether or not to authorize the RMP in their area. Currently, there are only a handful of states that allow elderly, disabled and homeless people to purchase fast food and restaurant meals with their food benefits. In California, the decision is left to individual counties. Where can I use food stamps at McDonalds?If you live in an area with the Restaurant Meals Program and you are eligible to use it, then you need to realize that each individual McDonalds location can decide whether or not to accept EBT. Not every McDonalds location will accept it. The exact locations change frequently but you can always find an up-to-date list of participating states and restaurants in this list. At the time of this writing, we were able to identify 140 McDonalds locations that accept SNAP EBT benefits. They are primarily located in Arizona and California, so if you are wondering “Does McDonalds accept EBT in California?” or “Does McDonalds accept EBT in Arizona?” then you are in luck!
Why aren’t there more McDonalds locations that accept EBT?Like we described earlier, the Restaurant Meals Program is part of the federal food stamps law but it has to be approved by each individual state (and sometimes county). Many areas have chosen not to authorize the RMP because they are afraid it will encourage abuse of the benefits. In areas where the RMP is authorized, each individual McDonalds location must be approved to accept EBT benefits. Since many McDonalds locations are owned by individual franchisees, there are a lot of decision-makers involved and it requires a lot of paperwork. Some may not realize that it’s something they can offer, and others may decide that it just isn’t worth the hassle. Why would McDonald’s accept EBT?The Restaurant Meals Program is designed to help people who are elderly, disabled or homeless eat whole meals that they otherwise could not prepare at home. It makes a lot of sense from a financial and safety perspective. If someone does not have a kitchen to store food, buying all of the ingredients for a meal can be far more expensive and wasteful than picking up a value menu burger. For seniors or disabled people who cannot safely prepare meals at home, picking up a burger can keep them safe and well-fed. Some people get very upset about the Restaurant Meals Program, but it’s important to remember that the program is limited only to those who cannot prepare their own meals at home. Not everyone who gets food stamps can use their benefits there even if the location accepts EBT. What else can I buy with food stamps?Food benefits, also known as SNAP or food stamps, are different than cash benefits even though the funds are sent on the same EBT card. There are a lot of rules governing what can be purchased with SNAP benefits. For example, you can only use SNAP funds to purchase eligible food items. These typically include:
These limitations are meant to ensure that families can access healthy foods. However, it also means that, with a few exceptions, SNAP funds cannot be used for the following items:
As you can see, your EBT card is pretty limited with just SNAP funds. The program is designed to encourage people to shop at grocery stores and prepare their own meals, as opposed to buying less healthy, ready-made food. Save Money & Get Free Stuff!Nicole leads the Low Income Relief team with over 20 years of professional research and writing experience. Nicole started Low Income Relief after a personal experience with poverty. When her husband was medically discharged from the US Army, their family experienced tremendous financial hardship. Nicole was able to gather help from multiple community agencies and move into a nearby low income housing unit in just two weeks! Since then, Nicole has been dedicated to helping low income families in crisis. She regularly spends hundreds of hours combing through countless resources to make sure that Low Income Relief has the most comprehensive and complete resource directories on the internet today. Prior to starting Low Income Relief, Nicole worked as a novelist, journalist, ghostwriter and content creator. Her work has been featured in various print and online publications, including USA Today, eHow, Livestrong, Legal Beagle, The Daily Herald, The Chronicle and more. Can I use EBT for fast food CA?There are restaurants that take EBT in California. Your CalFresh EBT Card or Golden State Advantage card can be used at select restaurants and fast food places if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Where can I pay with EBT fast food?Fast Food Restaurants That Take EBT. Burger King.. Subway.. Taco Bell.. Domino's Pizza.. Jack in the Box.. Rally's.. Denny's.. Where is EBT accepted California?A. Currently, Albertsons, Amazon, Safeway, Vons, and Walmart are the only retailers that accept EBT cards online in California.
Does Taco Bell accept EBT in California?Counties in California that accept the use of EBT at Taco Bell include: Los Angeles. Orange County. San Diego County.
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