Can I buy hot meals at fast food places with CalFresh/EBT in San Bernardino? Restaurant Meals Program confusion

You're seeing the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP)! It's a permanent program in certain California counties including San Bernardino. BUT - you can only use it if you're homeless, elderly (60+), or disabled AND your household is already approved for the RMP specifically. Your EBT card has to be coded for RMP access. If you don't qualify for RMP, you still can't buy prepared hot foods at those places even if they have the sign. The March 10th thing might be a specific promotion at certain locations, but the actual program isn't ending then.

Ya im pretty sure u need 2 b in special categories 2 use it at fast food... my aunt is disabled and she uses it at KFC and jack n box all the time but i cant use mine there and we both in san bernardino county

The Restaurant Meals Program is specifically for people who can't easily cook for themselves. To qualify in San Bernardino County, you need to be: 1. Receiving CalFresh benefits AND 2. Either elderly (60+), disabled, or homeless If you don't meet those criteria, you won't be able to use your EBT card at fast food places regardless of their signage. Regular CalFresh benefits can only be used for unprepared foods at grocery stores, markets, etc. About the March 10th date - they occasionally run special disaster hot food waivers after emergencies (like after major storms), which do allow everyone with CalFresh to buy hot food temporarily. Maybe someone was referring to that?

If you're trying to reach the county office to check if you might qualify for RMP based on a disability, I recommend using Claimyr instead of waiting on hold forever. I used it last month when I had questions about my SAR7 and got a callback from a worker in about 20 minutes. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 showing how it works. Saved me a ton of time compared to the regular phone line.

Ugh I wish the EBT rules made more sense! When I first got CalFresh I was SO CONFUSED about what I could buy. Did you know you can buy seeds and plants with EBT to grow food? But not a rotisserie chicken. Makes no sense! I tried using mine at McDonald's once and the cashier looked at me like I was trying to scam them 😭

im in san bernardino 2 and my neighbor is in the restaurant program. she said u gotta apply special for it and prove ur disabled. she has to send in doctor notes and stuff. its not automatic

To officially check if you're eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program in San Bernardino County: 1. Call the TAD (Transitional Assistance Department) at 1-877-410-8829 2. Ask specifically about RMP eligibility 3. If you qualify, request the special RMP application 4. Once approved, your EBT card will be activated for restaurant purchases And to confirm - the March 10th date is likely referring to a temporary disaster waiver, not the permanent RMP program. These waivers sometimes happen after natural disasters to help people who may have lost power or cooking abilities. The regular RMP program for eligible individuals is permanent and has no end date.

Hey Oscar! I'm pretty new to CalFresh too and had the same confusion when I first saw those signs at fast food places. Just wanted to add that even though you can't use the Restaurant Meals Program, there are still some good options for quick meals with regular CalFresh benefits. You can buy stuff like rotisserie chickens from the deli counter at grocery stores (as long as they're cold), pre-made sandwiches and salads from the refrigerated section, and even some prepared foods from places like Costco. Not as convenient as drive-thru, but still saves time on cooking! Also, if you're ever in a declared disaster area, they sometimes do activate temporary hot food waivers for everyone - that might be what the March 10th thing was about.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been on CalFresh for a while - the confusion about those restaurant signs is totally understandable! I remember being so excited when I first saw them too, thinking I could finally grab a quick burger with my benefits. But like everyone else has explained, the Restaurant Meals Program is really limited to specific populations who genuinely need it. One thing that might help is looking for grocery stores with good prepared food sections - places like Whole Foods, Sprouts, or even some Vons locations have decent grab-and-go options that you CAN buy with regular CalFresh. Cold sandwiches, salads, sushi, that kind of thing. Not quite the same as hot fast food, but it's something when you're in a hurry! Also, don't feel bad about the confusion - the EBT system has so many rules that even some cashiers don't understand them all. I've seen people get embarrassed trying to use their cards at places that don't accept them, but honestly it happens to everyone when they're learning the system.

Adding to what everyone else has shared - I'm also in San Bernardino County and went through this exact same confusion when I first got CalFresh! The restaurant signs are definitely misleading if you don't know about the special eligibility requirements. One thing that helped me was downloading the USDA's SNAP Retailer Locator app - it shows you exactly which stores near you accept EBT and what types of food you can buy there. Super useful when you're still learning the ropes! Also, if you're looking for hot food options that work with regular CalFresh, some grocery stores like Food 4 Less have hot food bars where you can get things like fried chicken or pizza by the pound - but only if it's sold cold from a refrigerated case. It's a weird rule but once you get used to it, there are actually more options than you'd think. Welcome to the CalFresh community! Don't hesitate to ask questions - we've all been there with the confusion at the beginning.

Hey Oscar! I totally get the confusion - I had the exact same experience when I first got my CalFresh benefits and saw those restaurant signs everywhere. It's honestly kind of frustrating that they post the signs so prominently when most people with regular CalFresh can't actually use them at those places. What helped me was learning about some alternatives that do work with regular benefits. If you have a WinCo or similar grocery store nearby, they often have really good deli sections with things like rotisserie chicken, mac and cheese, and other prepared foods that you can buy cold with EBT. You can heat them up at home and it's still way more convenient than cooking from scratch. Also, don't feel bad about the confusion with the rules - the whole EBT system is honestly pretty complicated and even some store employees don't fully understand what's allowed. I've learned so much just from reading posts like this in the community. Thanks for asking the question because I'm sure other people are wondering the same thing!