Low Income Help

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

How to use Arizona SNAP Benefits at Restaurants

The Arizona food stamp program will allow you to use your SNAP benefits at participating fast food restaurants, and full service restaurants.


The program is called the Restaurant Meals Program, and if you are eligible, you can use your Arizona EBT Quest card to buy hot, prepared meals from a list of participating restaurants.

The program also allows you to purchase hot meals from the deli section of certain grocery stores as well.

There are eligibility requirements you must meet before you can participate. There requirements are in addition to the normal eligibility requirements for the Arizona Food Stamp program, and they are as follows:

  • Disabled - Your household must contain at least one person who is receiving Social Security Disability benefits, Railroad Retirement Benefits Annuities, or any other form of disability payments.
  • Elderly - Your household must contain at least one person who is at least 60 years of age or older.
  • Homeless - Each member of your household most be classified as being homeless.  This means that your entire household does not have a fixed or regular night time residence - this rule also applies to people who live in homeless shelters.

Some of the participating restaurants include 
  • Pizza Hut
  • Dominos
  • El Pollo Loco
  • Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)
  • Rally's Hamburgers
  • Golden Corral
You may download a complete list of restaurants that take food stamps by clicking here.

If you meet all of the requirements, you must apply directly to the Restaurant Meals Program at the Arizona Department of Economic Services (AZ DES).  


If you already have an open case, you may contact your worker to submit an application to the program.  Otherwise, contact the Arizona DES Family Assistance Administration at 602-542-9935 or 1-800-352-8401 to find out how to apply for the Arizona SNAP Benefits Restaurant Meals program

Remember; come back to The Food Stamp Guide any time you need low income help

Good Luck to You!

32 comments:

  1. I am disabled and looking to see if there are any restaurants that accept EBT in Payson Arizona, 85541?

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great help thank-you so much!

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  3. My name is Brannon Hollis. I am moving from IL. I am a veteran who receives VA Hospital Services, SSI and Snap. I need advice bout what I will have to change or transfer to Arizona.

    My email address is blhlls75@gmail.com

    thanks

    ReplyDelete
  4. HELLO BRANNON. I WORK AT THE FOOD STAMP OFFICE IN AZ. I JUST HAPPEN TO BE PRINTING SOMETHING AND SAW YOUR QUESTION AND HOPING I CAN HELP - NOTHING OFFICIAL THO SINCE I AM NOT AT WORK TODAY. IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON MOVING AND NEED YOUR BENEFITS WHEN YOU ARRIVE, THE BEST SUGGESTION I CAN GIVE IS THAT BENEITS DONT TRANSFER. YOU NEED TO CLOSE YOUR CASE WHERE YOU CURRENTLY LIVE. GET VERIFICATION OF WHAT PROGRAMS YOU RECEIVED AND MAKE SURE IT HAS AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF CLOSURE. BRING THAT WHEN YOU MOVE. USUALLY YOU CAN DO THIS RIGHT BEFORE YOU MOVE SO YOU WONT MISS ANY BENEFITS. HOPE THIS HELPS MAKE IT A SMOOTH PROCESS FOR YOU AND GOOD LUCK ON YOUR MOVE.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi, Just an FYI warning for others,be persistant!
    I am disabled (SSD) and receive benefits in AZ. Every time I ask about this program at the office (Country Club and Guadalupe) I get a different answer. This month the first guy said every one can use this. Then my worker said disabled can use this, then his supervisor said no, only homeless can use it. The lady who does the fingerprints said only homeless. So three different answers in one day. And none of them helpful because they did not know how to apply or where or even who was eligible. I wish some info. would be distributed to the workers and supervisors in the offices! Several of the workers were even rude and indignant about me asking. I will try the other numbers you listed above. This would be sooo much help to me to be able to eat healthier. Thanks for all your time and work on this blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. its for homeless people who do not have access to appliances to cook with. i just got mine yesterday so i had multiple people tell me that same thing

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  6. The fact that these places accept food stamps at all is disgusting. These are not healthy nutritious sustaining meals. The SNAP program is supposed to be for people in need. No one NEEDS Pizza Hut. I will NEVER eat at these places again and I encourage others to boycott them as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't mean to be rude like you but there are plenty of people who don't have a kitchen or any place to store or cook or prepare any food and quite frankly its for them not for you so before you go getting all hateful think about how much any kind of warm meal means to them

      Delete
    2. Well put. Food is food. If you dont have a stove, or microwave or a fridge, or if you have them but are physically unable to ise them, then what the hell good would the prohram be. With the "fresh food, not hot meal" rules, a lot of people that snap should be helping are still left unfed, unless its chips candy etc.... So I for one welcome this change to get food to the people who can not prepare it for themselves.

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    3. I am on ssi diability, snap, and medical. I do have a kitchen and food, but I am in so much pain some days I just want to float on air since it hurts to even lie down. I also tire easy and confuse easy especially with written directions due to my disability. With that said I am not old nor very young and a mom with a very fixed income who would love once in a very great while, 1-2x a month go somewhere to sit and eat fresh healthy food! The only place on the list I would consider, Yuma does not have, is El Pollo Loco. My question is why all the pizza, and fast food? There are other places with good wholesome choices that are reasonable and highly nutricious such as Burrito Grill instead. I truly did not try or wish to be this way, but things out of our powers happen! We are human please understand.

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    4. SERIOUSLY. Coming from someone who was homeless at a time, from a shelter that made you go out monday-friday until 8 to 3 during the summer, this Restaurant Meals Program saved me and my family from starving and living off circle k food. Do you have any idea how it is to be homeless? Obviously NOT. Ypu pay taxes thats where it's coming from correct.? Well I pay taxes too, and as long as our people in arizona get fed, I have no problem if they get hot meals. It feels so amazing to have a good meal after traveling in the heat on the bus throughout the day.

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    5. Coming from someone who is currently homeless, this program is a big help. I stay in the only teen shelter in Phoenix and my friends and I have to leave by 7 every morning including weekends. Ob the weekends there is no where for us ro go to get food. Having the hot meal program gives us all a chance to find somewhere to eat and get out of the sun. This program is very beneficial to a lot of people. Just because you don't like it does not mean they should take it away

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    6. Jump off a building or something. Who are you to decide who eats what? Crazy cow.

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    7. How can you be so rude? I'm 74 years old and live by myself and am a Disabled Vet. I'm in a wheel chair and have Oxygen on 24/7. Why would I go to Pizza Hut? Be cause I would like a Pizza once in awhile and I sure as hell can't fix one at home, and NO, the frozen ones from the store are terrible!

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    8. Im a homeless veteran (11B machinegunner, US ARMY) Taxpayer, living out of my car. Spending 6 weeks in the hospital cost me my job after being SHOT 15 TIMES (once in the head) in Tempe May 13th. If I want some fucking pizza imma eat pizza and I WISH SOMEONE WOULD come at me with some rude ass comments or dirty looks toward me and my delicious pizza. And I hope the 2 drug dealers I shot back were people you were close to, and may every bullet i put in both of them resemble every juicy red sliver of delicious pepperoni you want to take from the homeless. You #SCUMBAG. You make me sick. And Im eating #PizzaHut today @ 1400 hrs just in your honor and i hope every penny of it that i pay for with my SNAP came from YOUR paycheck.

      Delete
    9. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    10. If I can come to your house every day for these nutritious meals you demand us all to be eating, I will never use my EBT card at a fast food restaurant.

      So either pony-up your address or shut your nutritious meal hole. You have no right to tell people what they can eat or where. Pull the stick out and get off your high horse already.

      Delete
    11. You all aRe stupid. And i think everyone on here needs to grow
      up

      Delete
  7. List all ebt restaurants in Tucson Arizona

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ying yang express on stone and ft Lowell is all I know

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  8. looking in tucson az 520 PIMA COUNTY

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  9. Does Tucson not do this program or is there a list somewhere for Tucson?

    ReplyDelete
  10. A must try! Indians are truly impressive with spices and so is their Chinese, loaded with spices of your choice and the finest quality at the best rates. Phoenix Chinese Restaurant

    ReplyDelete
  11. SMOKE DEM BONES BBQ, EBT accepted!!
    602-277-5766
    1650 E Indian School Rd
    Ribs, pulled pork, brisket, greens, okra, fried catfish etc.....
    Come one down!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Does kfc take it on 19th ave and union hills

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  13. It is meant for homeless people....not people who wear jewelery and drive a nice car. People are taking advantage of the system. I work @ a place that accepts food stamps for hot food. These people shouldn't have foodstamps @ all. If you have enough money for a new IPhone and your nails done you don't need my tax dollars.

    ReplyDelete
  14. bagels and noodles are to Asia what pasta is to Italy; the basis of many regional dishes for centuries. The people of China, Italy and the Middle East have all claimed to have originated this phenomenally popular, string-like food, but it appears that science may have answered the question once and for all.

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  15. Speciality coffee is a higher quality and more complex version of the commodity coffee, and its flavourful beans are produced under specific circumstances in special micro climates. So which countries are the world's specialty coffee producers, you may ask? And does being a coffee producing country mean that it produces higher quality coffee as well? coffee beans

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  16. For the hot meals program, how many meals a day can you get? Also, do these meals come off your food stamp balance? In the last 2 months I've been hospitalized a total of 47 days, 3 major surgeries & almost died twice. I am severely malnourished & can barely walk, nevermind cook. I appreciate any & all information. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  17. Reported my card stolen how do I get new one sent to me

    ReplyDelete

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