Does Wendy’s Take EBT?

Does Wendy’s take EBT? Surprisingly, there are 61 specific Wendy’s locations around the United States that can process SNAP EBT (food stamps) payments. This is all authorized under a little-known program called the Restaurant Meals Program.

Wait! Before you run out and order that Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger with pub fries, you need to make sure you are eligible for this program and that the location near you participates. It’s actually quite complicated, because the program is only available to specific people in specific areas to use at specific restaurants. But don’t worry; we’ll break it all down in this post.

Does Wendy’s take EBT?

Wendy’s takes EBT at 61 restaurants, most of which are located in Arizona and California. Each individual location must be approved by the government before they can process these transactions, so it’s important to make sure you’re going to the right place.

Fortunately, many states have signaled their intent to develop a program like this so we should be adding more Wendy’s locations to our list very soon. Bookmark this page and check back for updates! We always keep a “last modified” date underneath the headline of our articles so you can check for updates.

What can you buy with EBT at Wendy’s?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is intended to help people purchase food. You need to make sure that you’re only buying eligible food items when you use that card. However, since Wendy’s is a fast food chain, they shouldn’t sell anything that you can’t buy.

You should be able to buy any food item on the menu, including:

• 4 for $4 or $5 Biggie Bag Meals
• Cheeseburgers
• Chicken sandwiches
• Chicken nuggets
• Breakfast meals
• Salads
• Baked potatoes
• Chili
• Lemonade
• Coffee
• Fries
• Frosties
• and more!

You need to know that you don’t get any extra benefits through this program, so you need to budget carefully. For people who get the minimum amount, it’s easy to use all your benefits in a single order. Use the mobile app and printed coupons to help you save money and stretch your benefits farther.

Who can buy Wendy’s with EBT?

Not everyone can buy Wendy’s with EBT. This program is limited to those who are considered vulnerable or especially in need of hot meals. In order to do this, you have to meet all the requirements of the Restaurant Meals Program.

There are three requirements and you must meet all of them:

1. You must live in a state with a Restaurant Meals Program.
2. You must be unable to cook your own meals at home because you are elderly, homeless or disabled.
3. You must purchase food from approved, participating locations.

If you are eligible, the option should be automatically enabled for your account. It’s just a setting that your caseworker has to select. If your card does not work when you expect it to, you should follow up with your local food stamps office for clarification.

Which Wendy’s locations take EBT?

As we’ve said, not all Wendy’s locations can take SNAP benefits. Each location must go through a rigorous approval process with the state before they can start processing these transactions. It’s important to double-check the address of any restaurant you plan to visit to make sure they are enrolled in the program.

To make it easier for you, I’ve aggregated a list of all the participating locations across the United States. Our list is based directly on the latest available government data, and it’s organized alphabetically by state, county and city for your convenience. This should make it easy to find a Wendy’s that takes EBT near you.

The address list is embedded below:

Why doesn’t every Wendy’s take EBT?

Although it would be more convenient if every Wendy’s could take EBT, the program is currently limited to just 61 of the 5,898 Wendy’s stores nationwide. Why can’t more locations take EBT?

It’s because this program is actually quite controversial. Many politicians, health advocates, nutritionists, and even taxpayers have campaigned against it. That has made it difficult to expand into new areas.

Some restaurant owners have chosen not to participate because of all the extra paperwork and requirements involved. Some owners may not even be eligible, since there are strict eligibility requirements.

Ultimately, there are many reasons why not every Wendy’s can process SNAP EBT payments.

How do I pay with EBT at Wendy’s?

The hardest part is figuring out if you’re eligible and where to go. Once you’ve confirmed all that, the rest is easy. Just go to the restaurant, order, and swipe your card like you would at a grocery store!

It’s important to know that you can eat your meal at the restaurant or pick it up. You can pick it up inside or through the drive-thru. However, you cannot order delivery through any apps if you intend to pay with EBT. Your card has to be physically processed at the restaurant.

FAQs about Wendy’s EBT Policies

I totally understand why so many people have questions about this. After all, most people have been warned repeatedly that they can never buy any hot food with EBT. That’s mostly true… but the Restaurant Meals Program is obviously an exception.

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.