Does Jack in the Box take EBT? Yes, as long as you’re buying it from one of the 547 Jack in the Box locations approved to accept SNAP EBT payments through the Restaurant Meals Program!
However, before you rush out the door to purchase your Bacon Buttery Jack or large curly fries, there are a few things you need to know about how this program works. It has a lot of rules and it’s important that you understand them completely before you work up a craving for milkshakes and mini tacos.
Does Jack in the Box take EBT?
Jack in the Box takes EBT at 547 locations across Arizona and California. These locations, listed below, are specifically authorized to accept food stamps through the Restaurant Meals Program.
There are currently 2,228 Jack in the Box restaurants in the United States, which means that SNAP EBT is accepted at around 25% of Jack in the Box locations.
There are several other states that are currently developing a RMP of their own, so you may soon be able to buy Jack in the Box in more states as well. We’ll update this post when that happens.
What can you buy with EBT at Jack in the Box?
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are meant to help low income households purchase food for human consumption. The goal is to help people buy nutritious, lifegiving foods. Of course, if you meet the program requirements, you can also purchase restaurant meals.
However, you can only purchase edible food with your benefits. You will not be able to buy any non-food items, such as those nifty Jack in the Box antenna balls (do they still sell those?) or refillable cups. You must only purchase eligible food items, such as cheeseburgers, rice bowls, mini tacos, milkshakes, sodas, curly fries, onion rings, etc.
Please remember that you don’t get any extra food stamps through the RMP, so you’ll need to budget accordingly! Using coupons and the mobile app can help you stretch your benefits farther.
Who can buy Jack in the Box with EBT?
In order to purchase Jack in the Box meals with EBT, you need to be eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program. This means that all three of the following criteria must be met:
- You must live in a state with a Restaurant Meals Program.
- You must be unable to cook your own meals at home because you are elderly, homeless or disabled.
- You must purchase food from a restaurant that has been approved to take EBT.
All three things must be true or you will not be able to purchase your meals with EBT. If you are eligible, your caseworker should automatically enable your card to work at participating restaurants. If you try and your card is declined, the caseworker may not have enabled that option for you and you may have to follow up with them to fix it.
Which Jack in the Box locations take EBT?
Each and every Jack in the Box location must be individually authorized by the state it is located in. In some cities with multiple Jack in the Box locations, some may accept EBT and others may not. It’s important to confirm ahead of time that the location you are headed to is authorized to take EBT cards.
For your convenience, we have organized a list of every participating location across the United States. We’ve organized our list by state, county and city to make it easy for you to find a Jack in the Box that takes EBT near you.
Please view the following PDF for a list of exact locations.
Why doesn’t every Jack in the Box take EBT?
Currently, SNAP EBT is accepted at around 25% of all Jack in the Box locations nationwide.
There are many reasons why most Jack in the Box locations cannot take EBT. That’s because most states have chosen not to enact the Restaurant Meals Program. Sometimes, restaurant owners in eligible areas just don’t want to deal with the extra paperwork and hassle that the program requires. There are many reasons why not every location can process those payments.
How do I pay with EBT at Jack in the Box?
When you visit an approved Jack in the Box location, the checkout process is actually very easy. You’ll swipe your EBT card the same way you do at convenience stores and grocery stores. The process is exactly the same.
However, you need to be present to swipe your card. You can pick up your meal or enjoy it in the restaurant, but you cannot order it for delivery. You have to physically swipe your card at the restaurant or have your authorized user do it for you.
You should also know that Jack in the Box cannot charge sales tax or gratuity on orders paid with EBT benefits. Sometimes the system glitches, so it always pays to check your receipt so you aren’t accidentally billed for things you shouldn’t have to pay for.
What else can I buy with food stamps?
Typically, food stamps is used to purchase:
- Fruits and produce
- Meat, poultry and fish
- Dairy
- Bread
- Cereal
- Snack foods
- Non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and produce-bearing plants
- Birthday cakes
- Gift baskets
- Live lobster
- and more!
You cannot use food stamps to purchase:
- Alcohol
- Vitamins
- Medicine
- Live animals
- Non-food items
- Hot food (outside of D-SNAP and the Restaurant Meals Program)
Of course, there are many other things you can buy with food stamps! We’ve found over 500 other restaurants that accept EBT! You can also get some incredible EBT discounts just by showing your card.
FAQs about Jack in the Box’s EBT Policies
Most EBT users have always been told they cannot buy hot food or restaurant meals with EBT, so it’s understandable why so many people have questions about this program. We’ll do our best to answer the most common ones in this section.
Does Jack in the Box take EBT?
Jack in the Box can take EBT at 547 locations in California and Arizona. We have a list of all participating locations at LowIncomeRelief.com.
Does Jack in the Box take EBT food or cash?
Some locations can take both! In California, many restaurants that can process food benefits through the Restaurant Meals Program can also take EBT cash as well.
Does Jack in the Box take EBT in the drive thru?
As long as you’re visiting one of the locations in our list, you should be able to pay with EBT in the drive-thru as long as you are present to swipe your card.
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.