Does Chick-Fil-A accept EBT? (all you must know)
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EBT is the government’s mechanism in partnership with many food sellers to provide nutrition to otherwise unaffordable Americans.
The government’s most important partner in the EBT scheme is the grocery store, but certain restaurants can participate under the RMP. Read on to find out if Chick-Fil-A is a participant!
Will Chick-Fil-A accept EBT in 2022?
Unfortunately, Chick-Fil-A does not accept EBT as it is not a participant in the 2022 RMP. Customers who rely on EBT and qualify for the RMP can buy from Burger King, Del Taco, Domino’s Pizza, and more. If your state has RMPs and participating restaurants, your local SNAP/EBT office.
Join me in finding out where you can use EBT to buy food, how to know if you qualify for the RMP, and more!
Can I use my EBT card to buy food from Chick-Fil-A?
Unfortunately, Chick-Fil-A does not accept EBT cards as payment for any products.
Because foods sold by Chick-Fil-A are not normally eligible for SNAP benefits, they need to be eligible for the RMP.
Under the RMP, restaurants can sell hot, ready-to-eat meals to those whose cooking presents them with additional challenges, such as the homeless.
Chick-Fil-A has not yet applied to participate in the RMP, even in states that offer the program.
Is Chick-Fil-A eligible for RMP?
Chick-Fil-A is not eligible to provide RMP services and accept EBT payments.
To be eligible, restaurants must meet the following criteria:
- Restaurants must go through a two-tier application process in which a memorandum of understanding is completed with the relevant state authority in an RMP-eligible state and:
- Seeking approval to participate in the USDA Food Assistance Program as a food retailer.
- Restaurants must provide catering facilities on-site
- Restaurants must be fully accessible to people with disabilities
- The restaurant must be in good standing and comply with all relevant laws and regulations
- Restaurants must offer low-priced meals
- Restaurants must have POS devices available for eligible recipients
All restaurants with multiple branches must meet all of these requirements for each branch.
Chick-Fil-A is a franchise, which means it doesn’t have full control over all of its stores, and applying for RMP certification is cumbersome and expensive.
Additionally, the restaurant primarily offers take-out meals and is therefore disqualified from the program. It’s too expensive to build a catering facility.
Lastly, while you don’t need to spend a fortune for a chicken pheasant meal, it can hardly be considered low-cost.
In any case, its food prices are determined by market forces.
Where can I use my EBT card if I’m not at Chick-Fil-A?
You can use your EBT card to buy food at any fast food restaurant participant under RMP.
Here is a list of some fast food restaurants that accept EBT cards:
- Burger King
- Deltaco
- Domino’s Pizza
- Popeye
- Pizza Hut
- Danny’s
- subway
- Wendy’s
- Taco Bell
- El Pollo Loco
- jack in the box
- KFC
- Papa John’s Pizza
- Uncle Sam’s
This list is by no means exhaustive, as the actual number is well over 3,000 fast food restaurants in the three states with RMPs.
You can check with your local SNAP benefits office to find out which restaurants near you accept EBT cards.
Which states have RMPs?
The RMP is optional and administered at the state level after application to USDA.
The state must demonstrate that it has mechanisms in place to ensure that aid will reach its intended target of vulnerable groups.
So far, only four states are part of the RMP through which EBT beneficiaries who cannot cook can purchase ready-to-eat meals.
Those states include California, Rhode Island, Michigan and Arizona.
Participating counties in California are Almeida, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz.
Of the three states, only Arizona has implemented the program statewide. Only two counties in Rhode Island use it, while 17 counties in California use it.
Illinois, Maryland and New York have applied to the USDA to become part of the RMP and bring the greater utility of the SNAP system to their citizens.
How do I qualify for EBT under the RMP?
EBT does not allow the purchase of ready-to-eat hot meals. Instead, you must buy and cook all food at home.
However, for some people cooking is not an option or a major inconvenience in situations like this.
To be eligible for EBT under the RMP, you must be one of these individuals and meet the following criteria:
- Your state must be an RMP participant and you must be eligible for SNAP benefits
- You must be at least 60 years old
- You must have a permanent disability and must receive disability-related payments or retirement benefits as it is certified permanent
- you must be homeless
- You must be the spouse of someone who is eligible for the RMP
Remember, you don’t have to meet all qualifications. It is enough to satisfy only one condition.
How do I use my EBT card to buy food from restaurants?
You use your EBT card the same way you use it to buy groceries. You go to the point of sale designated to use the card.
Show it after shopping, insert the card into the machine and enter the password.
The cashier will then issue you a receipt stating the cost of your purchase and the balance.
If you want to learn more, you can also read our post on whether Chick-Fil-A accepts Apple Pay and whether Chick-Fil-A offers it.
in conclusion
Chick-Fil-A does not accept EBT cards as it is not a participant in the RMP. However, those eligible for RMP services have many other options.
Currently, you can use your EBT card at Burger King, Del Taco, Domino’s Pizza, Popeye’s, Pizza Hut, Denny’s, Subway, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, El Pollo Loco, Jack in the Box, KFC, Papa John’s Pizza and Uncle Sam .
