Can CalFresh EBT be used at Denny's? Tips allowed?

hey so denys does accept ebt but ONLY if they have a "restaurant meals program" sticker in the window!! not all locations participate. its part of the restaurant meals program (RMP) for ppl who are homeless, elderly or disabled. if ur not in 1 of those categorys ur ebt wont work there sorry

The previous commenter is correct, but I want to clarify a few things about the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP). This program allows certain CalFresh recipients to purchase prepared food at approved restaurants. To qualify, your household must include someone who is: - 60 years or older - Disabled (receiving disability benefits) - Homeless - The spouse of a qualifying member You would need to have an EBT card specifically marked for RMP eligibility. Also, regarding tips - EBT cannot be used for tips, service charges, or delivery fees. You would need to pay those separately with cash or another payment method. If you don't qualify for RMP, remember that regular CalFresh benefits can only be used for unprepared foods at grocery stores, farmers markets, and similar retailers.

RMP is NOT available to all CalFresh recipients! I spent 2 hours on hold with the county last month trying to figure this out. The Restaurant Meals Program is only for those who are elderly (60+), disabled, homeless, or the spouse of someone who qualifies. To use it, your household must first qualify for one of those categories. If you do, your EBT card gets specially coded to allow restaurant purchases. Also, even if you qualify, only certain restaurants participate - and it varies by county. I used Claimyr.com to skip the phone wait and speak to a worker about this directly (they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8). The worker confirmed everything and sent me a list of participating restaurants in my county.

To address your original question about tips - EBT cards (even RMP-eligible ones) cannot be used to pay tips. The CalFresh benefit can only cover the cost of eligible food items, not any additional services. When using an RMP-eligible EBT card at an approved restaurant, you'll need to pay the tip separately with cash or another payment method. I'd also like to add that while restaurant meals aren't typically covered by regular CalFresh benefits, your EBT dollars go much further when purchasing groceries to prepare at home. The restaurant markup on food is substantial - you might consider a special home-cooked breakfast as an alternative treat for your children that would cost less and allow your benefits to stretch further.

I TRIED TO USE MY EBT AT DENNYS LAST YEAR AND THEY REFUSED IT!!!! The manager was SO RUDE and everyone was staring at me. Later found out only certain locations accept it and ONLY for certain people. The whole system is designed to embarrass us!!!

FYI - For anyone who wants to check if a restaurant near them participates in RMP, there's no central database you can check online. Each county maintains their own list of participating restaurants. You need to contact your county office to get the current list. Also, some counties in California don't even participate in the Restaurant Meals Program at all! It's not available statewide.

Just to add some context on why the Restaurant Meals Program exists - it was created specifically to help people who might not have the ability to store or prepare food. For example, someone who is homeless might not have access to a kitchen, or an elderly person might have physical limitations that make cooking difficult. That's why the program has specific eligibility requirements and isn't available to all CalFresh recipients. The goal is to ensure these vulnerable populations have access to prepared meals when cooking isn't feasible for them.

Just wanted to share another option for treating your kids to a special breakfast! Many grocery stores sell pancake and waffle mixes that are EBT eligible, and you can get creative with toppings like fresh fruit, whipped cream, or even chocolate chips. I've found that making "restaurant-style" breakfasts at home with my kids is actually more fun because they can help cook and customize their own plates. Plus, the money you save can go toward other treats or necessities. The homemade pancake breakfast idea someone mentioned sounds perfect - your kids will probably love it even more than Denny's!

I work at a local DSS office and wanted to clarify a few things about RMP eligibility that might be helpful. When you apply for CalFresh, your caseworker should inform you if anyone in your household qualifies for the Restaurant Meals Program based on age, disability status, or housing situation. If you think you might qualify but weren't told about RMP, definitely follow up with your caseworker - sometimes it gets overlooked during the initial application process. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that even if you qualify for RMP, there are daily spending limits at participating restaurants (usually around $30-40 per day depending on your county). Also, you can only use RMP benefits for yourself and other qualified members of your household - you can't use them to buy meals for non-qualified family members. For the original poster, the homemade breakfast idea is definitely the way to go! Your kids will probably have more fun helping you make pancakes than sitting in a restaurant anyway.

I'm a single mom who went through this exact same situation a few months ago! My daughter really wanted to go to IHOP for her birthday, and I had to learn about all these RMP rules the hard way. What I ended up doing was using my CalFresh benefits to buy really nice breakfast ingredients - fancy pancake mix, real maple syrup, fresh berries, bacon - and we had an amazing "restaurant breakfast" at home. She even got to be the "chef" and flip her own pancakes! It cost about 1/3 of what a restaurant would have been, and we had enough ingredients left over for several more special breakfasts. Sometimes the homemade version turns out even better than going out, plus your kids get that fun cooking experience too. Hope you have a wonderful breakfast with your little ones!

I just wanted to add that if you're looking to make that homemade breakfast extra special, check if your local grocery store has any sales on breakfast items! I've found that stores like Safeway and Vons often have promotions on pancake mix, syrup, and bacon that can stretch your CalFresh benefits even further. Also, don't forget that fresh fruit like strawberries and bananas are EBT eligible and make great pancake toppings - way healthier than what you'd get at most restaurants too! Your kids are going to love having a special breakfast at home, and you'll probably start a new family tradition. Sometimes the best treats are the ones we make ourselves with love.

As someone who's been on CalFresh for about two years now, I totally understand wanting to treat your kids to something special! I've learned that the homemade approach everyone's suggesting really is the way to go. One thing I'd add is that you might want to check if your local Dollar Tree accepts EBT - they often have fun breakfast items like flavored syrups, sprinkles, or even those fancy coffee creamers that can make a homemade breakfast feel extra special. Also, if you have a Costco membership (or know someone who does), buying ingredients in bulk can really stretch those benefits. Your kids are going to remember the fun of cooking together way more than they would sitting in a restaurant booth!

I'm so glad to see how this conversation evolved from the original Denny's question to all these amazing homemade breakfast ideas! As someone who's been using CalFresh benefits for over a year, I can't emphasize enough how much further your benefits go when you shop smart at grocery stores versus trying to use them at restaurants (even when that's possible). One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you have an Aldi near you, they often have incredibly affordable breakfast items that are EBT eligible. Their pancake mix is usually under $1, and they frequently have seasonal items like flavored syrups or breakfast meats on special. Also, many WinCo stores have bulk bins where you can buy exactly the amount you need of things like chocolate chips or nuts for toppings, which helps avoid waste and saves money. The homemade "restaurant experience" idea is genius - you could even make little menus with your kids and let them "order" their pancake combinations! They'll have such a blast being involved in the whole process, and you'll create memories that last way longer than any restaurant visit. Plus, no worries about tips or eligibility restrictions - just pure family fun!

This whole thread has been so heartwarming to read! As a parent who's also navigated the CalFresh system, I completely understand that desire to treat your kids to something special. What I love about all these homemade breakfast suggestions is that you're not just saving money - you're creating an experience that's probably going to be way more meaningful than any restaurant visit. One thing I'd add is that if you want to make it feel even more like a "restaurant outing," you could set up a special breakfast table with your nicest dishes, maybe some flowers from the yard, or even make paper placemats that your kids can color while you're cooking. I've done this with my own children and they absolutely loved the "fancy" feeling of it all. Also, for future reference about the Restaurant Meals Program - even though it doesn't help your current situation, it's worth keeping in mind that eligibility can change. If your circumstances ever change (like if you become homeless or develop a disability), you could potentially qualify later. But honestly, after reading all these creative homemade breakfast ideas, I think you're going to have way more fun at home anyway!