Restaurants That Take EBT In Arkansas Food stamps or EBT benefits in Arkansas play a critical role in the lives of low-income households who are struggling to afford healthy and nutritious food. The Department of Human Services administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the state that is commonly referred to as Food Stamps and aims to supplement the food budget of low-income households so that they can buy healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency. Beneficiaries get food stamp benefits in the form of Electronic Benefits Transfer cards that can be used at authorized grocery stores and farmers’ markets.
A lot of Arkansas SNAP recipients wonder whether they can use their EBT card at restaurants or fast food chains. Unfortunately, Arkansas is not participating in the Restaurant Meals Program so you cannot access hot-prepared meals using your EBT benefits in Arkansas. In addition to purchasing groceries, EBT cardholders in Arkansas can access discounts as well as incentives at particular community events and educational programs that can extend the value of their benefits. This guide will answer all your questions related to Arkansas’ policy on RMP.
Highlights of this Post
Key Takeaways
- Arkansas EBT cards cannot be used at restaurants because the state doesn’t participate in the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP).
- You can use your EBT card at authorized grocery stores, farmers markets, and convenience stores to purchase approved food items.
- The RMP allows elderly, disabled, and homeless individuals in participating states to buy prepared meals with EBT benefits.
- Arkansas SNAP recipients can access discounts and incentives at specific events and programs to stretch their benefits further.
- You can apply for SNAP benefits online, in person, or by mail.
Understanding EBT And Restaurant Meals Program In Arkansas
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Arkansas is a public benefit initiative that offers financial resources to families across the state. The program provides funds to help families purchase healthy and nutritious food for themselves and their dependents. The Arkansas Department of Human Services oversees this program and enables EBT cardholders to use the card at authorized stores and markets for eligible purchases that do not cover hot-prepared meals since Arkansas is not enrolled in the Restaurant Meals Program.
The Restaurant Meals program is an extension of SNAP benefits that enable the elderly, homeless and disabled individuals in certain states to access hot prepared meals at participating restaurants and reduce their hunger. Till now only a few states are enrolled in this program such as Arizona, California, Rhode Island, Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts and so on.
Who Is Eligible To Use EBT Cards In Restaurants?
The Restaurant Meals Program primarily serves 3 groups who are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
- Elderly: Senior citizens who are 60 years or above in age and are unable to cook due to their condition can use their EBT cards in RMP-enrolled restaurants.
- Disabled: Individuals with mental or physical disabilities that affect their ability to cook meals can participate in the Restaurant Meals Program. If you’re receiving disability benefits from the government like Veterans assistance or Social Security then also you can use your food stamp at RMP-enrolled restaurants.
- Homeless: Individuals without a secure and stable living environment can participate in the Restaurant Meals Program to purchase or prepare meals using their EBT benefits.
The Restaurant Meals Program covers disabled, elderly and homeless individuals as well as the spouses of SNAP recipients who are approved for the RMP program. It is important to note that you must live in an RMP-approved state to purchase restaurant meals using SNAP benefits. EBT shoppers cannot purchase non-food items or alcohol from any restaurant using their EBT card.
Read our next guide about the fast food chains that accept EBT near you.
Can I Use My EBT Card At Restaurants In Arkansas?
You cannot use your EBT card or food stamp benefits to purchase hot-prepared meals at any Arkansas restaurant. This is because Arkansas is not enrolled in the Restaurant Meals Program that enables few SNAP recipients to purchase hot prepared meals with the help of EBT benefits.
However, if you are qualified for TANF cash assistance you can withdraw money at ATMs and use the cash towards the purchase of hot prepared meals from your preferred restaurants. Every state and restaurant has to receive SNAP authorization before processing EBT payments. Arkansas residents have to use their EBT card for the purchase of staple food like fruits or vegetables, dairy products, bread, meat and other eligible goods from grocery stores, farmers’ markets and convenience stores.
Where Can I Use My EBT Card In Arkansas?
Now that you know you cannot use your EBT card or food stamp benefits at any restaurants in Arkansas as the state is not enrolled in the Restaurant Meals Program, let’s take a look at the following stores that accept EBT cards throughout the state.
Grocery Stores, Farmers Market And Supermarket In Hawai
Grocery stores, farmers markets and supermarkets are a few common types of stores that generally accept food stamps or EBT as a method of payment. The stores provide a wide array of food items for instance fresh produce, meat, pantry staples and dairy products. This list also includes farmers’ markets as they provide locally and fresh-grown produce to recipients. This includes the following:
- Trader Joe’s
- Target
- Walmart
- Big Y Foods
- Costco
- Hometown Foods
- Jubilee Foods
- Costco
- City Market
- Piggly Wiggly
- CVS
- Rite Aid
- Publix
- ShopRite
- Stop & Shop
- Food Lion
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Friendly Foods
- Harris Teeter
- Dollar Tree
- Albertsons
- All Stores
- Kroger
- Sam’s Club
- Safeway
- Family Food Stores
- Foodland
- Market Basket
- Speedway
Convenience Stores, Pharmacies And Gas Stations Accept EBT In Hawai
Although pharmacies, gas stations and convenience stores are not associated with grocery shopping, a lot of these stores are authorized by the USDA to accept food stamp benefits for the purchase of eligible products.
This is of great use for SNAP recipients who have no access to large grocery stores so that they can purchase necessary food items and groceries. This includes the following:
- CVS
- Walgreens
- 7-Eleven
- 76
- Chevron
- Circle K
- ConocoPhillips
- ExxonMobil
- Holiday Stationstores
- Kroger
- Kum & Go
- Kwik Trip
- Loves
- Marathon
- Maverick
- Mobile
- Phillips 66
- Pilot Flying J
- QuickTrip
- Shell
- Sheetz
- Sinclair
- Speedway
- Sunoco
- Texaco
- TravelCenters of America
- Valero
- Wawa
Online Retailers For Grocery Delivery In Hawai
A lot of retailers are accepting EBT payments or food stamps for online grocery delivery. This is a convenient option for many individuals who find it difficult to visit a store physically due to limited mobility, transportation barriers, disability or other reasons. Amazon, Target, Walmart, Safeway, DoorDash and Instacart are the few major online retailers that provide a wide array of food items that can be purchased with EBT and can be delivered to the recipient’s doorstep directly.
What Are The Authorized Food Stamps That You Can Purchase In Arkansas?
Following is the list of things that you can purchase that authorized grocery stores in Arkansas:
- Milk and Dairy Products: All types of milk, yogurt, cheese and butter are eligible
- Fruits and vegetables: All types of fresh, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables. This also includes dried fruits and vegetables.
- Meat, poultry and fish: This comprises all forms of meat such as pork, beef, turkey, chicken, fish and lamb
- Bread and cereals: All types of bread, crackers, cereals, pasta, oatmeal and rice are allowed
- Snacks and desserts: Chips, cakes, cookies and other snack items are eligible as long as they do not have any vitamins or minerals in them.
- Energy drinks: Specific energy drinks are allowed for purchase using an EBT card if they are labeled as Nutrition Facts.
- Seeds and Plants: SNAP participants can purchase plants and seeds to grow their produce.
Do you know which restaurants in Kentucky take EBT? Find the answers in our next guide.
What Can’t You Purchase With Your EBT Card In Arkansas?
Here is a list of things that you cannot cover with your EBT card in Arkansas at any grocery store or convenience market.
- Vitamins, medicines and supplements
- Alcoholic products like wine, beer, liquor
- Cigarettes or tobacco products
- Live animals (except fish and shellfish)
- Foods that are served hot at the time of sale such as restaurant food
- Non-food items like cleaning supplies, paper products, cosmetics, hygiene items, pet food etc.
Which States Participate In The Restaurant Meals Program?
An important aspect of the Restaurant Meals Program is its adoption by individual states throughout the United States of America. SNAP leaves it to individual states to decide if they want to participate in the RMP program and allow SNAP recipients to access prepared meals. In this section, we have covered a list of states that have chosen to implement the RMP program.
Arizona
Arizona has been participating in the Restaurant Meals Program since September 2007 and is one of the earliest US states to participate in the initiative. restaurants are accepting EBT in Arizona.
California
California has the most elaborate and robust Restaurant Meals Program that was first initiated in 1978 to help older adults and disabled SNAP recipients so that they can access prepared food at participating restaurants. The list also included homeless individuals in 1996.
The RMP began as a pilot program in early 2000 and has expanded to many other locations. The program includes 3000 participating restaurants in California that accept EBT as a method of payment.
Participating counties: Alameda County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Diego County, San Francisco County, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Clara County, and Santa Cruz County.
Hawaii (Inactive)
The USDA has not listed Hawaii among the states that participate in the Restaurant Meals Program. The lack of detailed public information about the implementation of the Restaurant Meals program in Hawaii states that the program is still not active like in other states even though the legal framework is in place. We will update you with a list of restaurants in Hawaii that accept EBT as soon as more information becomes available.
Illinois
Illinois is one of the new U.S states to participate in the Restaurant Meals Program in the spring of 2020. The program focuses on select areas in Illinois such as Dewitt, Franklin County and a few zip codes like 60619, 60620, 60628 and 60617.
Maryland
Maryland has implemented the Restaurant Meals Program to enable SNAP recipients to use their EBT cards to purchase prepared meals at participating locations. The program is now in the pilot phase in a few counties in Maryland with an active search for more fast-food chains to participate. Some of the restaurants that participate are Burger King, PR Wings and so on.
Massachusetts
One more recent state that has joined the Restaurant Meals Program is Massachusetts. Only a few restaurants are accepting EBT in Massachusetts.
Currently, 27 fast food locations and restaurants, including food trucks, are approved to accept EBT in Massachusetts within 7 communities. Let’s take a look at the following restaurants that accept EBT in Massachusetts:
- Las Delicias Colombianas
- La Parada Dominican Kitchen
- El Taller
- Bella Isla Café
- Vejigantes Restaurant
- Merengue Restaurant
- Café Reyes
- Thmor Da Restaurant
- Cedar’s Food Mart
- Fresh Food Generation
- Soleil Restaurant
- Crave
- Sabrosa Venezuela
- Sabrine Bakery and Café
- Cocina Lupita
- Brother’s Deli of Lynn
- Faneeks Coney Island
- Bridge Pizzeria
- Pizza Maria
- Caribbean Classic on Wheels
- Las Palmas Restaurant
- New Wine Pizza
- Sazon Peru Restaurant
- Fritay Restaurant
- January’s Kitchen
- Dona Habana
Participating Cities: Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Dorchester, Fall River, Greenfield, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lynn, Mattapan, Revere, Roslindale, Springfield, and Worcester.
Michigan
In December 2020 Michigan announced it would be joining the Restaurant Meals Program however the state has had an on-again off-again relationship with RMP over the course of years and it is still not clear how long the implementation will take. Following is the list of participating restaurants.
- Just Munchies
- Wing Heaven Sports Haven
- Dee’s Pizza Pad
- Siraj Cuisine
- Sally’s Whatta Pizza
- Holy Cow! Creamery
- McDonald’s (4 locations)
- Ray’s Pizza and Chicken
- Sheeba Express
- Emma’s Coffee House
- Breadless
- Burton Village BBQ Company
- Foundry Bakehouse and Deli
New York
New York is making progress towards the list of states that participate in the Restaurant Meals Program. To kickstart the initiative New York initiated a pilot test in Rochester to emphasize a restaurant that engages with government agencies and starts in areas with substantial populations of RMP-enrolled customers. Once the pilot test is complete the state will develop a plan to make it available statewide.
Rhode Island
Only Subway and Federal Hill Pizza in Rhode Island are participating in the Restaurant Meals Program in select Illinois cities and accept EBT.
Virginia
One of the states that are participating in the Restaurant Meals Program is Virginia however the program is growing slowly in the state. The state features a limited selection of authorized restaurants that take EBT. For instance, only three Subway locations in Virginia are accepting EBT throughout the state.
You can know the list of 34 EBT-friendly restaurants that take EBT by reading our next guide.
How Do I Know If I Am Eligible For SNAP In Arkansas?
To qualify for SNAP benefits to use at authorized places you need to fulfill the following conditions:
- You must be a citizen of the United States or a legally admitted non-citizen
- You must meet certain income limits set by the state
- You must live in a lawfully SNAP household defined as people who live together and purchase and prepare meals together
- Most people who are in age between 16 to 59 must follow the particular work criteria to receive SNAP benefits.
The amount of money that you can receive through SNAP benefits will depend on the amount of money you earn from your job or other income, your household size, your income and assets. The following chart shows the maximum monthly income limit for families or individuals organized for the fiscal year 2024.
- $1215 for one person household
- $1644 for two-person household
- $2072 for three-person household
- $2500 for four-person household
- $2929 for five-person household
- $429 for each additional person.
The SNAP asset limit in Arkansas must not exceed $4250 for households with an elderly person 60 years or above or those with disability. The asset limit is $2750 for other households.
How To Use The Arkansas EBT Card?
The DHS provides EBT cards to Arkansas residents who will qualify for the program and get enrolled in the food stamp initiative. A lot of residents wonder how to use their Arkansas EBT card at an authorized location. The Electronic Benefits Transfer card works similarly to any debit or credit card at authorized places.
Enrollees have a wide array of food and beverage products that they can purchase using SNAP funds within the state. You can also buy treats and non-essential food like crackers, candy, soft drinks, soda, seafood, steak, cookies, ice cream and non-alcoholic beverages. When it comes to paying for your eligible purchase at authorized grocery stores, simply insert your card at the cash register, enter the four-digit PIN and authorize the payment.
Arkansas EBT cardholders can also get numerous perks and discounts that help them extend their benefits and save a few dollars. This includes discounts on fresh produce at markets through Double-up Food Bucks and museum discounts. Additionally, EBT card holders in Arkansas also receive discounts on public transport, broadband Internet, retail stores, zoos, festivals for recreational parks, Amazon Prime and so on.
Learn about the different fast food restaurants in Alabama that take food stamps in our next guide.
How Do I Apply For SNAP EBT Benefits In Arkansas?
You can apply for SNAP benefits in the state of Arkansas online through the organized access website. Just click on the ‘Apply Now’ button and click ‘Create a New button’ to apply. Fill out the application form as you are required to and submit the requested documents. If you have a disability, or hearing impairment or do not speak English then you can call client assistance by dialing 1-800-482-8988 for support.
You can also apply in person by visiting your local Arkansas DHS office and completing the application form. In order to apply online you must download the application form from the official Arkansas DHS website and mail it directly to your local DHS office.
There are various ways if you want help while filling out your Arkansas SNAP application:
- Contact the SNAP ARK call center by dialing 1-833-762-7275 and the team will reach out from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Contact the Arkansas Department Of Human Services by dialing 1-855-372-1084
- Visit the Benefits Enrollment Center in your local area.
Conclusion
Formerly known as food stamps, the SNAP benefits help Arkansas residents to stretch their food budget. You can use the Arkansas EBT card at authorized stores only. Unfortunately it is not possible to use your EBT card in restaurants since Arkansas is not enrolled in the Restaurant Meals Program. This is because the Restaurant Meals Program covers only a few states like Arizona, California, Maryland, Michigan, Illinois, Rhode Island and Virginia. However Arkansas is not included on the list. Nevertheless you can use your EBT card to shop for groceries at authorized stores and prepare meals at your home. States that wish to participate in RMP must demonstrate that certain segments of the population are not well served by the traditional SNAP benefits and fulfill other conditions.
Our comprehensive guide at Get Government Grants will help you to make the best decision for yourself and your family. Head over to our blog section today to improve the financial situation of your family. We are passionate about helping people find relevant answers to their questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does EBT Work In Arkansas?
With the help of EBT SNAP beneficiaries can access food stamp benefits at participating Automated Teller Machines and point of sale devices that display the Quest Mark. SNAP benefits can be used for the purchase of eligible food items and beverages at authorized stores.
What Can You Buy With Food Stamps In Arkansas?
Arkansas residents who are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can use food stamp benefits for the purchase of groceries, staple food, seeds, plants, snacks and other eligible products mentioned in the above section of the article. You can use the SNAP Regular Locator to find nearby stores and farmers’ markets that accept EBT.
