How to apply for CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) to use EBT at fast food places?
I heard from my neighbor that some people can use their EBT cards at places like McDonald's and Subway?? Is this real or was she confused? I'm a single mom working two jobs and sometimes don't have time to cook. If this is actually a thing, how do I sign up for it? Do I need to fill out special paperwork or call my caseworker? I've had CalFresh for about 8 months but nobody ever mentioned I could use it at fast food restaurants!
18 comments
Join the conversation
Amy Fleming
Yes, it's real! It's called the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) but it's not available to everyone on CalFresh. It's specifically for people who are: - 60 years or older - Disabled (receiving disability benefits) - Homeless - The spouse of a CalFresh recipient who qualifies for RMP And it's only available in certain counties in California. If you don't fall into one of these categories, unfortunately you wouldn't be eligible.
0 coins
Juan Moreno
•Oh man, that's disappointing. I don't fit any of those categories. Do you know why they limit it like that? Seems like all busy parents could use that option sometimes.
0 coins
Alice Pierce
its only 4 ppl who cant cook for themselves!! my aunt gets it bc shes elderly n lives alone. u gotta call ur county office 2 check if ur area even has it
0 coins
Esteban Tate
•I've tried calling the county office THREE TIMES about this and each time got disconnected after waiting over an hour. So frustrating!!! Does anyone know if Los Angeles County has this program? The website isn't clear.
0 coins
Ivanna St. Pierre
The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) is specifically designed for CalFresh recipients who can't prepare their own meals. As others mentioned, eligibility is limited to homeless, elderly, and disabled individuals. The program exists in 14 California counties as of 2025. The approved restaurants vary by county but typically include places like McDonald's, Subway, Domino's, and some local restaurants. If you qualify, your EBT card is automatically enabled for restaurant purchases - there's no separate card. To apply, you need to: 1. Verify your county participates (currently includes Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Alameda and others) 2. Meet the eligibility criteria (60+, disabled, or homeless) 3. Contact your county office to have your account coded for RMP participation Once approved, your EBT card will work at participating restaurants. Just be aware that restaurant meals can use up your benefits faster than grocery purchases would.
0 coins
Elin Robinson
•I have this in San Diego and it's a LIFESAVER. Just FYI they don't let you buy like combo meals or anything with the drinks at most places. And you still pay full price minus tax. Kind of a bummer but better than nothing when you're struggling!
0 coins
Atticus Domingo
My grandma uses this at Denny's all the time since she can't stand up long enough to cook anymore. But not every place that takes EBT is part of this program, they have stickers in the window usually. Ive seen them at some Jack in the Box and Subway locations.
0 coins
Juan Moreno
•Thanks for the info! I'm gonna check and see if my mom might qualify since she's almost 62 and on CalFresh too. Do they automatically add this to your benefits when you turn 60 or do you have to specifically request it?
0 coins
Ivanna St. Pierre
To answer your follow-up question: No, RMP access is not automatically added when someone turns 60. Your mom would need to contact her county CalFresh office specifically to request enrollment in the Restaurant Meals Program. She should mention that she's over 60 and qualifies based on age. Make sure she has her CalFresh case number and ID ready when she calls. Some counties may require verification of her inability to prepare meals, though age qualification is usually straightforward.
0 coins
Beth Ford
•I've helped several seniors enroll in RMP and reaching county workers can be extremely frustrating. I recently discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that calls EBT/CalFresh offices for you, waits on hold, and then calls you once they have a real person on the line. Saved me from a 2+ hour wait. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - much better than trying to get through on your own, especially for RMP requests which often get routed around.
0 coins
Esteban Tate
This program is SUCH a joke! They act like it's some big favor letting people use their benefits at restaurants but they RESTRICT it to only certain people. I'm a caregiver working 12-hour shifts and sometimes can't cook, but because I'm not technically "disabled" I can't use MY OWN BENEFITS how I want?! The whole system is designed to control poor people and how we spend our money. Why should the government care WHERE I spend my CalFresh as long as it's on food???
0 coins
Ivanna St. Pierre
•I understand your frustration, but there's some history here worth knowing. The RMP was specifically created to address food access for people who cannot prepare meals due to lack of cooking facilities (homeless individuals) or physical limitations (elderly/disabled). The program wasn't designed as a convenience option but as an accessibility accommodation. The restrictions exist partly because restaurant meals are generally more expensive than grocery purchases, which would deplete benefits faster and potentially leave people without food assistance before month's end. There are also federal restrictions on how SNAP/CalFresh funds can be used, and California had to get special permission to implement RMP even for the limited populations it serves. That said, I agree that the program could potentially benefit from expansion to include other circumstances where meal preparation is challenging.
0 coins
Elin Robinson
just a heads up if anyones interested - not all fast food places in the RMP counties take EBT. i went to 3 different mcdonalds in sacramento before i found 1 that actually participated lol. such a waste of gas. they should have a list online somewhere but i couldnt find one that was up to date
0 coins
Atticus Domingo
•Same thing happened to my uncle! Some places used to participate but dropped out, and the county lists aren't updated regularly. He said to look for the "CalFresh EBT Accepted Here" sticker on the door/window before even bothering to go in. Also Denny's and Subway seem to be the most reliable participants.
0 coins
Juan Moreno
Thanks everyone for explaining! I was getting excited but I don't qualify since I'm not homeless, elderly or disabled. It's too bad they don't consider single working parents for this program. I totally get what that one person said about it being for people who can't prepare meals, but honestly after working double shifts sometimes I PHYSICALLY can't stand up to cook either! Anyway, at least now I know what my neighbor was talking about. Appreciate all the responses!
0 coins
Amy Fleming
•You're welcome! While you may not qualify for RMP, there are other time-saving options that work with CalFresh. Many grocery stores now offer pre-prepared meals that are EBT eligible - things like rotisserie chickens, pre-made sandwiches, and deli salads. Also, some meal kit services like Fresh EBT Kitchen now accept CalFresh payments. Not quite the same as fast food, but might help on those exhausting days when cooking isn't possible.
0 coins
Niko Ramsey
Another option for working parents that might help - some grocery stores like Whole Foods and Safeway have hot food bars and prepared food sections where you can use EBT. You can get things like hot soup, pizza slices, fried chicken, etc. It's not as convenient as drive-through but it's faster than cooking from scratch and usually cheaper than restaurant prices. Just make sure the items are meant to be eaten at home (not restaurant-style dining). I've used this when I'm too exhausted to cook but still need to feed my kids something decent!
0 coins
Ethan Scott
•This is such helpful advice! I had no idea grocery stores had hot food that you could buy with EBT. I always thought it had to be cold/uncooked food only. Do you know if places like Walmart or Target have similar options? Those are closer to where I live than Whole Foods. Also, is there a way to tell which hot foods are EBT eligible vs which ones aren't when you're shopping?
0 coins