Can I use CalFresh EBT for Costco hot food like rotisserie chicken during disaster periods?

Yes, during a disaster period when the hot foods waiver is active, you CAN use your CalFresh EBT to purchase hot prepared foods like rotisserie chicken from Costco! The hot foods waiver basically temporarily removes the normal restriction against buying prepared hot foods with CalFresh benefits. This includes things like:\n\n- Rotisserie chickens\n- Hot deli items\n- Prepared hot foods from the food section\n\nHOWEVER, Costco food court items are typically NOT included because the food court is usually considered a separate restaurant entity, even though it's in the same building. This is true at most stores with separate food service areas (like Walmart's McDonald's, etc.).\n\nThe waiver typically lasts 30 days from when it's approved but can be extended. Make sure to check the specific end date for your county!

Wait really?? I tried using my EBT at Safeway last week for their rotisserie chicken and the cashier told me I couldn't. But maybe she didn't know about the waiver?? Do I need to tell them about it or show them something?

i got a hot chicken from walmart with my ebt card yesterday so yeah its working there at least

Thanks! I'll give it a try at Costco tomorrow then. Did you have to say anything special or did it just work when you swiped?

This hot food waiver thing is amazing! I've been using mine at grocery stores but didn't know Costco would work too. Does anyone know if this applies to ALL counties in California right now or just some? My mother-in-law lives in a different county and I want to let her know.

It's only active in counties that have been declared disaster areas due to the flooding. The list changes as new areas get added to the disaster declaration. You can check which counties are currently under the hot foods waiver by calling the CalFresh customer service line, but good luck getting through - those wait times are brutal!

I've helped several clients navigate this recently. The hot foods waiver applies to any retailer that normally accepts EBT AND sells hot prepared foods. So Costco rotisserie chickens - yes! Costco food court - no, because they don't normally accept EBT for any items there.\n\nIf you're having trouble reaching CalFresh to verify which counties are included or when the waiver ends, I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They'll get you through to a live person at the county office without the usual 2+ hour wait. They have a quick video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8\n\nThis is especially useful now because call volumes are extremely high with everyone asking about the disaster benefits and hot food waivers.

omg thank you for that tip!!! i spent 3 HOURS on hold yesterday and eventually gave up. will definitely try this!!

So wait I'm confuse. Does this mean we can buy like subway sandwiches and McDonald's with our EBT??? Or just grocery store hot stuff??

It's specifically for places that already accept EBT for regular grocery items and also happen to sell hot prepared foods. So places like:\n\n- Grocery store deli counters\n- Supermarket hot food bars\n- Prepared foods sections\n\nFast food restaurants like McDonald's or Subway generally don't participate in CalFresh at all (unless they're part of the Restaurant Meals Program for elderly, disabled, or homeless recipients, which is a separate program).

Just wanted to update - I tried at Costco today and it DID work for the rotisserie chicken! But like others said, it didn't work at the food court for a pizza slice. The cashier told me the waiver lasts until March 17th in our county.

Thanks so much for confirming! I'll definitely pick up a chicken on my next Costco run. That'll help stretch my food budget so much during this stressful time.

anyone know if safeway hot deli foods are included?? i want to get some of their fried chicken but don't wanna be embarrassed if it gets declined

Yes, Safeway hot deli foods are definitely included under the waiver! If the cashier seems confused, politely mention there's currently a

I think SOME of you are mixing up CalFresh with the Restaurant Meals Program!!! Those are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS!! Regular CalFresh can't buy hot food EXCEPT during disasters when they issue these special waivers. But RMP lets you buy from restaurants all the time if you qualify (elderly, disabled, homeless). I see so much confusion about this every time there's a disaster waiver.

You're absolutely right about the distinction! The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) is ongoing and only for specific populations, while the hot foods waiver is temporary during disasters and applies to all CalFresh recipients in the affected counties. Good clarification for anyone who might be confused.

Update: I was able to use my EBT for a rotisserie chicken at Costco yesterday! The cashier didn't even blink an eye, so they must be processing a lot of these. Such a relief to have this option while dealing with all the flooding issues in our area. Thanks everyone for the helpful info!

nice! glad it worked for u. my power was out for 3 days so being able to grab hot food was a lifesaver

This thread has been so helpful! I'm in Riverside County and wasn't sure if we were included in the disaster declaration, but I called using that Claimyr tip someone mentioned and got through in about 10 minutes instead of waiting hours. Turns out we ARE covered until March 20th here. For anyone still unsure about their county status - the rep told me that the hot food waiver applies to any store that normally accepts EBT for cold items AND has a hot food section. So think grocery store delis, prepared food sections, rotisserie areas, etc. But NOT places like Starbucks inside Target or fast food counters that are separate businesses. Also learned that you don't need any special documentation - if your EBT card works for regular groceries at that store, it should work for hot foods during the waiver period too. The system is automatically updated on their end.

Just wanted to add that I successfully used my CalFresh EBT at Whole Foods yesterday for their hot bar items! The cashier mentioned they've been getting a lot of EBT customers for hot foods since the disaster waiver started. One tip - if you're unsure whether a store participates or if the cashier seems confused, you can always ask to speak with a manager. They're usually more familiar with the disaster waiver policies. Also, keep your receipt! I've heard some people have had issues with returns/exchanges on hot food items purchased with EBT during the waiver period, so documentation helps. Has anyone tried using it at Target for their prepared foods section? I'm curious if their deli counter accepts EBT for hot items during the waiver.

This is such valuable information! I had no idea about the hot food waiver during disasters. I'm in San Bernardino County and we've been dealing with flooding too, but I haven't received any notifications about this. Does anyone know if all CalFresh recipients get automatically notified, or do you have to sign up for alerts somewhere? I'm definitely going to try this at my local Vons - they have a great hot deli section and I could really use some prepared meals right now since my kitchen got water damage. It would be amazing to not have to worry about cooking while dealing with cleanup and insurance stuff. Also wondering - if the waiver is active in your county, does it work at ALL stores that accept EBT, or do individual stores have to opt in somehow? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

Just wanted to share my experience from yesterday - I successfully used my CalFresh EBT at Ralph's for their hot rotisserie chicken and some items from their hot food bar! The transaction went through smoothly and the cashier said they've been processing lots of these since the disaster waiver started. One thing I learned is that you can also use it for things like hot soup from the deli counter and even those pre-made hot sandwiches they keep under the heat lamps. Really helpful during this flooding situation when cooking at home has been challenging. For anyone still nervous about trying it - just go for it! The worst that happens is it gets declined and you pay a different way. But in my experience at multiple stores now (Ralph's, Albertsons, and Food 4 Less), it's been working great. The cashiers seem pretty familiar with the disaster waiver at this point. Hope this helps others who are dealing with the aftermath of all this crazy weather we've been having!

I'm new to CalFresh and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I just moved to California from Nevada and had no idea about disaster waivers for hot foods. We've been dealing with flooding in my area too and I've been struggling to cook meals safely with all the power outages. A couple questions for the community: 1. Do these disaster waivers get announced on the CalFresh website or is it mainly through text alerts? I want to make sure I don't miss future notifications. 2. For those who have used it at multiple stores - have you noticed any difference in which hot food items are accepted? Like, are there certain types of prepared foods that consistently work versus others that might be hit or miss? Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. It's amazing to see the community helping each other navigate these challenges during such a difficult time with all the flooding. Planning to try this at my local grocery store tomorrow - fingers crossed it works as smoothly as it has for all of you!

This has been such an informative thread! I'm in Orange County and we were hit pretty hard by the recent storms too. I had no idea about the hot food waiver until I stumbled across this discussion. I tried using my CalFresh EBT at my local Pavilions yesterday for some rotisserie chicken and items from their hot deli bar, and it worked perfectly! The cashier mentioned they've been seeing a lot more EBT transactions for hot foods lately, so it seems like word is getting out. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I found that shopping earlier in the day (like mid-morning) tends to work better because the staff seems more knowledgeable about the disaster policies, and there's usually a manager nearby if you need clarification. Later in the evening, I've noticed some cashiers are less familiar with the waiver rules. Also, for anyone dealing with damaged kitchens like some of you mentioned - this has been a lifesaver for my family. Being able to grab ready-made hot meals while we're dealing with repairs and insurance has taken so much stress off our shoulders. Really grateful this option exists during disasters. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips, especially about that Claimyr service for getting through to CalFresh quickly!