Does Carl’s Jr. accept EBT? It depends. The restaurant may be able to process EBT cash benefits or even SNAP food benefit payments depending on where you live and if you’re eligible for the exclusive Restaurant Meals Program.
The determinations for this program are made by each location, so not all Carl’s Jr. locations can accept EBT payments. However, many do!
Does Carl’s Jr. accept EBT?
Carl’s Jr. does accept EBT as payment in Arizona and California. They do not accept EBT as payment in any other state, as of this publication. However, this may change as the Restaurant Meals Program rolls out to other states.
Thus, the answer really depends on where you live.
What can you buy with EBT at Carl’s Jr.?
If you are approved for the Restaurant Meals Program, there are some rules that you will need to follow. For example, you must pick up your meals at the restaurant. You can eat them in-store or take them home, but you cannot order your meals for delivery.
You can use your EBT benefits to buy eligible, edible food from the restaurant. You will not be able to use your food benefits to purchase non-food items. You will need to purchase food, which could include cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, sodas and other edible products.
In order for Carl’s Jr. to accept EBT, the restaurant has to offer discounted meals. These meals could be from their standard value menu, or they may choose to offer special low-cost meals for guests with EBT. It depends on the policies of the participating location.
Who can buy Carl’s Jr. with EBT?
Only specific people are able to purchase Carl’s Jr. meals with EBT. In order to make that purchase, you must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- You must live in an area with a functional Restaurant Meals Program.
- You must be eligible to participate in that program.
- The Carl’s Jr. location must be approved for the RMP and set up to process EBT payments.
If all of those things are true, then can purchase Carl’s Jr. meals with your benefits.
Which Carl’s Jr. locations accept EBT?
Carl’s Jr. accepts EBT at select locations in Arizona and California. This list may expand as the Restaurant Meals Program expands to more areas. It is important to note that not every location in those states is set up to accept EBT.
In fact, only 166 Carl’s Jr. locations nationwide are able to process EBT payments. To make it easy for you to find a Carl’s Jr. location near you, we’ve assembled a list of addresses organized by state, county and city.
You can view the PDF below to find the addresses for all 166 participating Carl’s Jr. locations.
Why aren’t there more locations that accept EBT?
The Restaurant Meals Program is left to the discretion of the states, meaning that each state can decide for itself whether or not to honor the program. Only a handful of states have decided to enact the program.
However, several states have recently begun developing their programs. It is quite possible that we will soon see Carl’s Jr. locations in New York and other states begin accepting those benefits very soon.
How Do I Pay with EBT at Carl’s Jr.?
If the location you are visiting has been approved to accept SNAP benefits through the Restaurant Meals Program, then the state must provide the restaurant with the equipment necessary to process EBT payments. All you’ll need to do is swipe your card like you would at a grocery store.
When you pay with EBT, you should not be charged any sales tax or gratuity. You should also receive a receipt that has your balance printed on it for your records.
What else can I buy with food stamps?
Of course, Carl’s Jr. isn’t the only interesting thing you can buy with food stamps! Your food benefits can be used to buy many things, including:
- Fruits & vegetables
- Meat, poultry and fish
- Dairy products
- Breads and cereals
- Snack foods
- Non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and produce-bearing plants
- Birthday cakes
- Gift baskets
- and more!
You can always find more things you can buy with EBT at buywithfoodstamps.com.
FAQs about Carl’s Jr. EBT policies
There are obviously many questions about Carl’s Jr.’s EBT policies. Here are a few of the ones we receive the most often.
Does Carl’s Jr. accept EBT?
Yes, Carl’s Jr. can accept EBT as payment at certain locations in Arizona and California. However, this is only valid at certain locations as listed in our directory.
Can I use coupons or the app when I buy Carl’s Jr with EBT?
You can use coupons with EBT. However, you may have to pay sales tax on the amount that is discounted. The tax will have to be paid with an alternate payment method.
Nicole Thelin
Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.