What Fast Food Restaurants Take EBT in Florida?

If you have a Florida EBT Card and have questions about your card, 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 for 2021 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 2021?

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 2021.

Household size – Max SNAP/with 15%
1 – $204/$234
2 – $374/$430
3 – $535/$616
4 – $680/$782
5 – $807/$929
6 – $969/$1114
7 – $1071$1232
8 – $1224$1408
Each additional member – +$153/$176

What Grocery Stores Accept Florida EBT for Delivery?

0n April 21, 2020, both Walmart and Amazon will begin accepting online purchasing with Florida EBT statewide.

Additionally, the following grocery stores accept Florida EBT through the Instacart mobile app:

• Aldi
• Publix

For more details on this, see our post on Buying Groceries Online with Florida EBT Card.

What is the Florida EBT Phone Number?

Here’s the number to call if you are trying to reach Florida EBT Customer Service:

1-888-356-3281
You can call 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week

You can 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?
Free Admission to Museums with Florida EBT Card
Florida P-EBT For 2021
Amazon Prime EBT Discount
How to shop on Amazon with Florida SNAP EBT
Florida Food Stamps Income Limit
How to shop online on Walmart with EBT for Pickup