How to know if my CalFresh EBT is eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program (hot food)?

It's called the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) and it's not automatic! You only qualify if you're either: - 60 years or older - Disabled (receiving disability benefits) - Homeless - The spouse of someone who qualifies Since you're 67, you should qualify, but you need to contact your county office to have your EBT card specifically coded for RMP access. Not all counties participate though, so that's the first thing to check.

OMG the county NEVER tells anyone about these programs!!!! I was 65 and homeless for 3 months last year and nobody bothered to mention I could use my EBT at restaurants! Would have been so helpful when I didnt have a kitchen to cook in. The system is designed to keep us uninformed!!!!

I work with seniors on benefits, and this is how the Restaurant Meals Program works in California: 1. You must be in a participating county - not all CA counties have RMP 2. You must meet one of the eligibility criteria (age 60+, disabled, homeless) 3. Your EBT card must be specifically coded for RMP access 4. You can only use it at approved restaurants with the RMP logo Since you're 67, you do qualify, but it's NOT automatic. Call your county office to request enrollment. They'll update your card's coding (same physical card). Look for the "CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program" logo at restaurants - typically places like Subway, Denny's, certain McDonald's, etc. Not all locations participate even if the chain does.

After trying to reach my county office for 3 weeks about this exact issue (kept getting disconnected after 40+ minutes on hold), I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that somehow got me through to a real person in less than 10 minutes. They have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 The county worker confirmed I was eligible (I'm disabled) and added the RMP coding to my account right there on the phone. Was super easy once I could actually talk to someone! Now I can use my EBT at certain restaurants.

my neighbor told me the restaurant program is only in certain counties? im in riverside county and she said we dont have it here but i dunno if thats true

Update: I called my county office yesterday (took forever to get through) and they confirmed I'm eligible! The worker said she's adding the RMP coding to my EBT card and it should be active within 3 business days. She also emailed me a list of participating restaurants in my area. Apparently there are quite a few - even some local non-chain places I didn't expect. Thanks everyone for your help!

just fyi the hot food program is different from being able to buy hot deli food at grocery stores. that's only allowed during disasters when the governor declares an emergency. my cousin thought she could buy hot chicken at the safeway deli with her rmp but got denied. restaurants only!

For anyone still confused about finding participating restaurants, there's actually a restaurant locator on the CDSS website! Just search "CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program participating restaurants" and it'll show you a map with all the approved locations in your county. Super helpful since not every McDonald's or Subway participates - it's location-specific. Also heads up that some places have restrictions on what menu items you can buy with RMP (like no alcohol obviously, but sometimes no combo meals or certain promotional items). The staff at participating restaurants should know the rules but it doesn't hurt to ask before ordering if you're unsure!

Just wanted to add that when you call your county office, it helps to specifically ask for the "Restaurant Meals Program" or "RMP enrollment" rather than just saying "hot food program" - some workers aren't familiar with all the different names and might not know what you're talking about. I had to call twice because the first person I spoke with had never heard of it! Also, once you're approved, I'd recommend testing your card at a smaller participating restaurant first rather than a busy chain location. The local deli near me was super patient explaining how it works, while the McDonald's staff seemed confused about the whole process. Good luck getting enrolled!

Great question about checking RMP status online! Unfortunately, most counties don't have an online portal where you can verify your RMP enrollment - you typically have to call to confirm. However, the easiest way to test if your card is properly coded is to try a small purchase at a participating restaurant (maybe just a drink or side item first). As for expiration, your RMP coding should remain active as long as you continue to receive CalFresh benefits and still meet the eligibility criteria (age 60+, disabled, or homeless). If your CalFresh case closes and you reapply later, you'll need to request RMP enrollment again. Some counties do periodic reviews where they might ask you to re-verify your eligibility, but it doesn't automatically expire just because time passes. One tip: keep the email or documentation from when you first enrolled as proof, just in case there are ever any issues with your card not working at restaurants. Sometimes the coding can get accidentally removed during system updates and having that paperwork helps when you call to get it fixed.

I've been on CalFresh for about a year now and only found out about RMP a few months ago when I overheard someone talking about it at the grocery store! I'm 62 so I qualify age-wise, but when I called my county office they told me I needed to bring documentation proving my age even though they already have my birth date on file from my original CalFresh application. Has anyone else had to provide additional age verification for RMP enrollment? Seems redundant but maybe it's a new requirement? Also wondering if anyone knows whether the RMP coding affects your regular grocery store purchases at all or if it's completely separate.

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through this process recently! I'm 64 and had been on CalFresh for almost 2 years without knowing about RMP. When I finally called my county office (San Diego), the worker was really helpful and explained that even though I qualified by age, they don't automatically enroll people - you have to specifically request it. She activated my RMP coding right there on the call and gave me a confirmation number. Took about 48 hours to become active. The first time I used it was at a Subway and I was so nervous, but it worked perfectly! The staff there said they see RMP cards all the time so don't worry about feeling awkward. One thing I learned: make sure to ask the county worker to email or mail you the list of participating restaurants in your area. Some places that look like they should accept it (like certain fast food chains) don't actually participate, while some smaller local spots do. Having that official list saved me from some embarrassing moments at the register!

I'm 68 and just got CalFresh benefits started last month after retiring. Had no idea about this Restaurant Meals Program until reading through all these comments! This is exactly the kind of information they should be giving people when they first sign up. I live alone and sometimes cooking full meals feels like too much work, especially on days when my arthritis flares up. Being able to grab a hot meal at a restaurant with my EBT card would be a game changer. Going to call my county office tomorrow and specifically ask for "Restaurant Meals Program enrollment" - thanks to everyone who shared that tip about using the exact terminology! Also planning to ask for that official restaurant list so I know which places actually participate. Really appreciate this whole thread, you all have been more helpful than any government website I've tried to navigate!