Does 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.
Does McDonalds accept EBT?
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.
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:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Grains
- Cereals
- Meat
- Fish
- Poultry
- Dairy
- Seeds or food-producing plants
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:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Food designed for immediate consumption
- Vitamins
- Medicine
- Household items
- Nonfood 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.
