Does Papa John’s Take EBT/SNAP/ Food Stamp ? Are you a recipient of the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program? Then you must be aware of the fact that SNAP/ EBT benefits are generally not used for purchasing hot and ready-to-eat meals at restaurants or grocery stores, but depending on your state of residence, you can use your EBT card at your nearby Papa John’s store. Papa John’s accepts EBT as a method of payment, but you need to qualify for your state’s Restaurant Meal Program.
RMP is a state option that enables SNAP recipients who are unable to cook food at home to have their meals at RMP participating restaurants with the help of their EBT card. Presently, only six states are participating in this program, and not every location of Papa John’s accepts EBT cards as a method of payment. This guide will provide an overview of the most common question among SNAP recipients: ‘Does Papa John’s take EBT?’ We would help you delve deep into this question and know how you can pay for Papa John’s food using your EBT card.
Highlights of this Post
Key Takeaway
- Papa John’s only accepts EBT in select counties of Arizona and California through the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP).
- To use EBT at Papa John’s, you must be elderly (60+), disabled, homeless, or a spouse of an eligible recipient, and reside in an RMP state.
- Not all Papa John’s locations in RMP states accept EBT. Call the store or check for signage to confirm.
- EBT cannot be used for online Papa John’s orders.
- Use your EBT at participating grocery stores to buy frozen pizzas for home preparation.
- Some pizza chains like Domino’s (CA & AZ) accept EBT in participating locations.
Recommended: Does ALDI -Take EBT
What is SNAP/ EBT?
SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is a federal food assistance program designed by the US Department of Agriculture. Low-income households in America can qualify for SNAP and receive benefits in the form of an electric system known as an EBT.
EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer, and the government transfers the SNAP funds to the eligible SNAP recipient’s account each month through the EBT card. EBT has replaced food stamps and checks and has made it easier and more efficient for low-income households to access government SNAP benefits and pay for their food.
Recommended: Does UberEats Take Ebt
What is Papa John’s?
Papa John’s is one of the biggest pizza chains in the United States. The company produces an amazing pizza menu with loads of choices and caters to everybody’s needs, including veggie and vegan options. This fast-food pizza restaurant provides delivery as well as takeout services. Papa John’s is undoubtedly the third-largest pizza chain in the United States after Domino’s and Pizza Hut.
There are nearly 2600 Papa John’s stores located throughout the United States and more than 4000 stores across the globe. The restaurant serves pizza along with breadsticks, cheese sticks, desserts, various flavored chicken wings, extras like jalapeno peppers and banana peppers. SNAP recipients who are fond of enjoying pizza at Papa John’s must be pleased to note that they accept EBT by participating in the USDA’s Restaurant Meals Program in select locations in Arizona and California.
Recommended: Does Del Taco Take EBT?
Overview of the Restaurant Meal Program (RMP) and the Eligibility Criteria
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has been designed by the federal government and managed by the USDA to assist low-income households in accessing healthy and nutritious food items. SNAP beneficiaries have to adhere to certain rules and regulations to receive SNAP benefits in the form of an Electronic Benefits Transfer card.
As per the Snap EBT rules, hot prepared food items from restaurants are not covered by EBT. However, this is a major issue for disabled, elderly people and homeless individuals who are unable to cook meals at home or have no access to proper housing and kitchen facilities. This is the reason why USDA expanded SNAP Benefits in the form of the Restaurant Meals Program.
The program enables SNAP recipients to use their EBT card to buy hot, prepared food from restaurants and have their meals. However, only a few states are participating in this program.
- Arizona
- California
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Rhode Island
Recommended: Does Instacart Accept EBT Cards For Payment Processing?
Does Papa John’s Accept EBT?
Yes, Papa Johns accepts EBT from SNAP recipients in select counties of Arizona and California that participate in the Restaurant Meals Program. So if you are living in Casa Grande in Arizona, or Los Angeles and Riverside County in California, then you can use your EBT card at participating Papa John’s restaurants.
You cannot use your EBT card to purchase hot-prepared pizza or any other dish in any one of the Papa John’s locations in the states that are not participating in SNAP RMP. Unfortunately, not many states are extending their SNAP benefits by enrolling in RMP, and as a result, there are limited Papa John’s locations in America where you can use your EBT card.
It is also important to note that even in RMP-approved Arizona and California locations, you will find local Papa John’s restaurants that do not accept EBT as a payment method since SNAP leaves it to the customer to decide whether they voluntarily want to enroll in the RMP program. Each Papa John’s restaurant has to apply for RMP and get approval from SNAP authorities prior to accepting EBT as a method of payment from customers.
Recommended: Does El Pollo Loco Take EBT?
Who Is Eligible To Buy Pizza At Papa John’s With EBT Cards?
Papa John’s accepts EBT cards only if your state qualifies for the Restaurant Meals Program. In other words, in select locations in Arizona and California, you can use your EBT card to purchase any food item from Papa John’s menu, but before that, you have to satisfy any one of the three eligibility criteria set by SNAP RMP.
- You must be elderly (60 years or older).
- You must have a disability or show that you are receiving disability benefits either due to blindness or permanent disability.
- You must be a homeless person with no permanent nighttime address.
- You must be the spouse of a SNAP recipient who is eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program.
- Your state must participate in RMP to enable you to use the EBT card for pizza orders.
Not every restaurant in an RMP-approved state participates in the program and accepts EBT, so you need to check beforehand whether the store you’re heading to accepts EBT for pizzas or not. Papa Johns has restaurants throughout the nation, but you can use your EBT card at restaurants only in Arizona and California. You can use the online Papa John’s restaurant locator to find a local location and view the menu, pricing, and special offers.
Recommended: Does Trader Joe’s take EBT
What Can You Buy Using Your EBT Card at Papa John’s?
Unfortunately, Papa John’s accepts EBT as a method of payment from SNAP recipients at limited locations in Arizona and California. Only a couple of Papa John’s store locations have been authorized by the SNAP to accept EBT through the Restaurant Meals Program, so it can be challenging for you to use your EBT card at Papa John’s near you.
A lot of states are working towards implementing their own version of RMP, so you can expect more Papa John’s locations to participate in this program. Nevertheless, you can purchase the following list of items from Papa John’s with your EBT card at select locations in Arizona and California:
- Pizza
- Burger
- Sausages
- Wings
- Desserts
- Breadsticks
- Cheese sticks
- Extras
- Sauces and seasonings
- Cheese sticks
- Rolls
- Poppers
- Different-flavored chicken items
- Drinks
- Veggie and vegan food items.
Papa John’s pizza items start at $13 and go up to up to $20. Papa John’s dessert prizes may range up to $6. Even though you are using your EBT benefits to get your food at Papa John’s, it is necessary to remember that you will not get additional funds through the SNAP RMP, so you must budget accordingly and use the benefits carefully. To stretch your budget further, you can seek out discount deals and coupons.
Recommended: Does Denny’s Take EBT?
How Do I Find Papa John’s Restaurants That Participate in EBT Near Me?
It is important to know that while many states have announced or have future plans to participate in the Restaurant Meal Program, currently only six states are participating in the program. You can find a variety of fast food restaurants or stores that accept EBT from SNAP beneficiaries as a method of payment in these respective states.
So you can purchase hot, prepared food from your participating restaurant with your food stamp benefits. To determine whether a local Papa John’s restaurant accepts EBT benefits or not, you can follow the below-mentioned steps.
Look For Signage
You can look for participating RMP-approved restaurants that have signage and state ‘participating restaurants: SNAP Restaurant Meals Program’ with a fork and knife logo displayed on the window or door. Some stores also have a sign on their doors or windows that states ‘We welcome EBT card holders’ or ‘EBT cards are accepted here’.
Call the Restaurant/ Consult EBT Customer Service
If you’re not sure whether a local Papa John’s restaurant accepts EBT as a method of payment or not, contact the staff of your local store to know more details.
Another method is to contact the customer service number on the back of the EBT card. Here, you can find information about the participating restaurants in your local area.
Note: Not all states participate in the RMP, and even in the participating states, not all Papa John’s stores accept EBT payment. This program is designed generally for the elderly, disabled and homeless EBT card holders.
Recommended: Does Pizza Hut Take EBT?
How Do I Use My EBT Card At Papa John’s?
Navigating the process of using the EBT card used at participating Papa John’s restaurants is easier and simpler than you might assume. Here is a step-by-step guide that will make sure you have a smooth experience while using your EBT card to purchase food from Papa John’s.
1. Confirm Your Eligibility
Before heading to a local Papa John’s restaurant, you need to ensure your state is participating in the Restaurant Meals Program and that you can meet the criteria for elderly, disabled, or homeless SNAP recipients. You also need to make sure your EBT card holds an adequate amount to pay for Papa John’s food items.
2. Locate Papa John’s Participating Restaurant Near You
Not every Papa John’s restaurant In the United States accepts the EBT card as a method of payment from SNAP beneficiaries. So you need to look for signs that state EBT is accepted here or contact your Papa Murphy’s local restaurant to know if they accept EBT as a method of payment.
3. Order Your Meal and Pay With EBT
Once you have found an RMP-approved Papa John’s restaurant you can grab your pizza with the help of your EBT card at the cash register and let the cashier know that you are paying for the food through your EBT benefits. When it comes to paying, simply insert or swipe your EBT card, just like you used to buy food items using your debit card. You need to enter the four-digit PIN.
Recommended: Does DoorDash take EBT
Why Does Papa John’s Accept EBT Cards Only In Limited Places?
There are only a couple of Papa John’s store locations that participate in RMP and accept EBT in select Arizona and California counties. Following are the reasons why all Papa John’s store locations do not accept the EBT card as a method of payment.
-
RMP Availability
The Restaurant Meals Program helps the disabled, homeless, and elderly to purchase food in participating restaurants in only six states. If you’re a resident of any of the participating states, then you can use your EBT card to purchase meals.
Even in RMP-approved states, not all Papa John’s store locations take EBT. The state-by-state variation is a reason why not all locations of Papa John’s are participating in this program.
-
Voluntary Program
The Restaurant Meal Program is a voluntary program, and not all fast food chains and restaurants are obliged to participate; therefore, a lot of Papa John’s franchises hesitate to participate in this program as it is not a financially viable route for them. SNAP has enabled restaurants and franchises to join the program at their own discretion.
-
SNAP Rules Compliance
Papa John’s and other fast food pizza chains like Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Subway etc. that participate in the Restaurant Meals Program have to comply with EBT processing, and even report transactions to SNAP authorities, which makes it difficult to process for every store. Not all Papa John’s store locations match the criteria for deciding to participate in the program.
What Are the Other Payment Options That Are Accepted By Papa John’s Store Location?
There are various payment options that are accepted at Papa John’s store location besides EBT payments. The different sources of payment come in handy when EBT card holders purchase any food items that are not covered by their EBT cards.
You can use an alternative payment method to pay for your order if your EBT card runs out of funds. Following is the generally accepted payment option by Papa John’s.
- Cash
- Gift card
- Visa checkout
- Debit card
- Credit card
- E-wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
Recommended: Does Popeyes Take EBT?
Can I Use My EBT Card For Online Food Delivery With Papa John’s?
With the increasing advancement of technology, everything from groceries, food, clothing, and household items can be ordered and delivered to your doorstep. Unfortunately, online food delivery with an EBT card is not possible at Papa John’s.
Papa John’s does not accept the EBT card as a payment option payment from SNAP beneficiaries online, and this includes their online services and app. In order to use your EBT card, you have to visit the store in-person and swipe the card at the register.
Recommended: Does KFC Take EBT?
What Are the General Food Items That You Can Purchase With An EBT Card?
The general food items that you can use along with your EBT card are as follows:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat and poultry
- Milk and dairy products
- Grains and breads, including pasta, cereals, and tortillas
- Snacks and desserts
- Seeds and plants to produce food
- Canned and packaged goods like soups, meals, and veggies
- Non-alcoholic beverages like soft drinks, bottled water, and fruit juices.
Recommended: Does Circle K Take EBT?
What Can’t You Purchase With Your EBT Card?
Following is the list of food items that you cannot purchase with EBT.
- Cigarettes or tobacco products
- Alcoholic beverages
- Hot food
- Vitamins, supplements, and medicines
- Cleaning supplies
- Pet foods
- Hygiene items
- Diapers
- Paper products
- Live animals (except fish and shellfish)
Recommended: Does Jack in the Box Take EBT?
What To Do If You Do Not Live In One Of The RMP-Approved States?
As you know, not many states in America are participating in the Restaurant Meals Program, through which you can enjoy fast food like pizza or any other items from restaurants like Papa John’s.
However, do not lose hope. If you are a pizza lover and wish to use your EBT card to cover the cost of the pizza, then you can visit a participating grocery store and shop for frozen pizza with the help of your EBT card.
For instance, Papa Murphy’s enables SNAP users to use their EBT card to purchase Take-N-Bake pizza in 37 states. Even though this is not an ideal solution, you can take the frozen pizza and cook it at home to enjoy the partial benefits.
Recommended: Does Taco Bell Take EBT?
Alternate Pizza Places That Accept EBT Payments
The following is the list of pizza places, apart from Papa John’s, that accept EBT either by participating in the Restaurant Meals Program or falling below the restaurant threshold.
It is important to note that the RMP-approved stores and restaurants may change frequently and may comprise additional local pizza places, so before heading to a local pizza restaurant, you must contact them to avoid the guesswork and embarrassment.
- Papa Murphy’s
- Pizza Hut
- Domino’s
- Hungry Howie’s
- Little Caesars
- Giant Pizza King etc.
Recommended: Does Wendy’s Take EBT?
Conclusion
Papa John’s is a popular US-based pizza restaurant that has thousands of store locations across the globe. EBT card holders who enjoy pizza at Papa John’s will be pleased to note that they accept payments in Arizona and California counties. To learn more about the different restaurants that are participating in the RMP, you can visit the USDA Food and Nutrition website and seek relevant information. While restrictions are in place, you can satisfy your pizza cravings at Papa John’s with the help of your EBT card if you are living in an RMP-approved state and can meet the eligibility criteria, such as being elderly, homeless, or disabled.
We hope this article has been informative enough to give you all the details you need regarding EBT and Papa John’s. You can learn more about the government grants and financial assistance program at the Get Government Grants’ blog section today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Papa John’s Accept EBT?
The USDA maintains an official list of RMP-approved retailers that accept EBT cards from SNAP beneficiaries as a method of payment. This includes fast food chains like Papa John’s and Domino’s, as well as other small pizzerias.
Does Papa John’s Accept EBT in Washington State?
Papa John’s has restaurant store locations throughout the country; however, SNAP beneficiaries can use their EBT card at select restaurants in California and Arizona. For example, you can use your SNAP benefits in Casa Grande, situated in Arizona, and in Los Angeles or Riverside counties in California.
Can I Use My RMP-approved EBT Card At A Restaurant in Another State?
No, you cannot shop at any grocery stores or restaurants in other states since the Restaurant Meals Program is state-specific. SNAP recipients cannot use their card at any other RMP-approved states. You can only purchase meals from restaurants that have been approved by your state government. Out-of-state SNAP users cannot participate.
