If you have a Florida EBT Card and have questions about your card, including what fast food places or restaurants take EBT in Florida, you’ve come to the right place. In this detailed guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about the Restaurant Meals Program and answer the question about Restaurants that take EBT in Florida.
Before we get into how to the Restaurant Meals Program, we will first explain how the Florida EBT program works.
Additionally, we will walk you through what the Restaurant meals program is about.
Next, we will explain whether Florida Participates in the Restaurant Meals Program.
Finally, we will answer the most frequently asked Florida EBT questions, including the 15% extra SNAP benefits approved by Congress.
Table of Contents:
- What is Florida EBT?
- What is the Restaurant Meals Program?
- Who is Eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program
- Does Florida Participate in the Restaurant Meals Program?
- SNAP Restaurant Exceptions during Natural Disasters
- Florida EBT FAQs
What is Florida EBT?
An EBT (electronic benefits transfer) card is a plastic card that acts like a debit card that is used to distribute public assistance benefits.
The Florida EBT Card is used for the delivery of benefits such as Food Stamps, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Additionally, the Florida EBT card is also used to distribute the Florida Temporary Cash Assistance program (TCA).
Once you are approved for food stamps or cash assistance, you will receive your benefits each month on a Florida EBT Card.
How Does Florida EBT Work?
The Florida EBT benefits are issued to those who meet the Florida SNAP eligibility requirement and are approved for benefits.
The EBT card works like a debit card and can be used to buy eligible food at most grocery stores and many farmers’ markets.
Additionally, the EBT card can even be used to buy seeds or plants to grow food.
However, you cannot use the EBT card to purchase alcohol, hot foods, and foods prepared for immediate consumption, like toasted sandwiches at the deli.
What is the Restaurant Meals Program?
The Food Stamps program or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) only allows you to use your EBT card to purchase food for preparation at home.
However, federal law permits states to allow certain SNAP beneficiaries to use their EBT cards to purchase food at approved restaurants.
The program is called the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP)
RMP allows individuals who are homeless, elderly (age 60 or over), or disabled, and their spouse, to use their SNAP benefits to purchase prepared meals at authorized restaurants.
Who is Eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program
As mentioned above, the following groups of SNAP recipients are eligible for the RMP.
Disabled
SNAP participant’s household must have only members who are designated as disabled
by a government entity, or a disabled individual and his or her spouse.
Elderly
SNAP recipients who are 60 years of age or older, and his or her spouse.
Homeless
To be considered homeless, the household must lack a fixed and regular nighttime residence or be living in a shelter, halfway house, or a place not designed for sleeping.
This includes those who are temporarily staying in the home of another person for 90 days or less.
Does Florida Participate in the Restaurant Meals Program?
Yes, but on a limited basis. However, there is an indication that the program has been discontinued.
Unlike California, Maryland, Michigan, Arizona, Illinois, and Rhode Island that have robust RMP programs, Florida is different.
In 2009, Florida began operating an RMP pilot program in one county and has a total of only 14 restaurants participating.
However, the RMP pilot is ONLY available to the homeless.
To date, Florida has not expanded that pilot and it appears the pilot on that one county has been discontinued.
SNAP Restaurant Exceptions during Natural Disasters
While SNAP recipients can only use their EBT card to buy staples, such as bread, cereal, fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy, there are some exceptions.
For example, in the case of a natural disaster or other emergencies, like a Hurricane or Tornado, the USDA can make exceptions.
In the past, the USDA has allowed victims of hurricanes and severe flooding to temporarily use their EBT cards to purchase food at restaurants.
When will Floridians be able to use EBT at Restaurants?
Congress is looking at encouraging more states to adopt the RMP program.
U.S Senator Chis Murphy (D-Connecticut) and Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-California) will propose legislation to allow SNAP recipients to use their food benefits to purchase food from restaurants.
This is an effort to help both food-insecure Americans and the struggling restaurant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic,
We will continue to follow this story and provide an update as and when there is a new development.
Florida EBT FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about EBT benefits in Florida:
Will I get extra Florida SNAP benefits in 2022?
Yes! If your monthly Florida SNAP benefit is less than the maximum SNAP for your household size, you will get a supplemental benefit up to the maximum SNAP grant for January through March, plus you will get 15% more.
Thereafter, you will get at least 15% more than your usual allotment through September 2021.
The Florida DCF may decide to supplement your SNAP benefits up to maximum allotments in future months, but will make that decision on a month-to-month basis.
If you already get the maximum SNAP benefit, you will get 15% more than the maximum allotment for your household size through September 2022.
| Maximum SNAP Benefit Amount by Household Size for Florida | |
| Effective October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022 | |
| Household Size | Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment |
| 1 | $250 |
| 2 | $459 |
| 3 | $658 |
| 4 | $835 |
| 5 | $992 |
| 6 | $1,190 |
| 7 | $1,316 |
| 8 | $1,504 |
| Each Additional Household Member: | +$188 |
What Grocery Stores Accept Florida EBT for Delivery?
On April 21st 2020, both Walmart and Amazon began accepting online purchasing with Florida EBT statewide. This change came as a result of the USDA Online Purchasing Pilot for the food stamps program.
Since that time, the several grocery stores have started accepting Florida EBT online for home delivery.
Grocery stores that accept Florida EBT online for delivery include:
-
ALDI
-
Amazon
-
BJs Wholesale Club
-
Earth Fare
-
Freshfields Farm
-
Greer’s Cash Saver
-
Hitchcock’s Markets
-
JC’s Market and Food Kitchen
-
Mt. Plymouth Grocery
-
Publix
-
Sam’s Club Scan and Go
-
Sprouts Farmers Market
-
Target
-
Walmart
-
Whole Foods
For more details on this, see our post on Buying Groceries Online with Florida EBT Card.
What is the Florida EBT Phone Number?
If you are trying to contact the Florida EBT Phone Number about your food stamp benefits, please call Florida EBT Customer Service at:
You can call 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week
Call the Florida EBT Phone Number to:
- Report your card lost, stolen, damaged, or not received in the mail.
- Find out when your benefits will be available in your account each month.
- Know if your benefits have been deposited into your account and get your account balance.
- Hear your last 10 transactions.
- File a claim if you question a transaction in your account.
- Select or change your PIN.
- If your card does not work.
- Find the nearest location where you can use your card.
- Get other questions or problems with your card answered.
Is there a Florida EBT App?
Unfortunately, there is no mobile app created by the state of Florida for EBT cardholders.
We will make an announcement on this website as soon as one becomes available.
Restaurants that take EBT in Florida Summary?
We hope this post on the topic “Restaurants that take EBT in Florida” was helpful.
If you have further questions about Florida SNAP or EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about Florida SNAP & EBT, including:
What Can You Purchase with Florida EBT?
Gas Stations that accept EBT in Florida
1,400+ Seafood Markets that accept EBT in FL
Free Admission to Museums with Florida EBT Card
900+ Bakeries that accept Florida EBT
Amazon Prime EBT Discount
How to shop on Amazon with Florida SNAP EBT
Florida does have an EBT app. It’s called EBTedge. I have the app.