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!

Top Ten SNAP Benefits FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions about Food Stamps)

I receive a large amount of emails from people who ask specific questions about the food stamp program. I do not mind answering the emails, but I figured that other people might have the same questions, but they do not ask. So...I decided to compile a list of the most frequent questions I receive about SNAP benefits.

1.      Can I get food stamps even though I do not have children?

Yes.  All types of households receive SNAP benefits if they are eligible. 

2.       Can I get food stamps even though I have a job?

Yes.  If your working salary is low enough, and you are otherwise eligible, working people may still receive SNAP benefits.

3.       How do I become eligible to receive food stamps?

SNAP benefits eligibility is primarily based on the income of your household.  Please see the longer post titled “What is Considered to be a Household for Food Stamps” for further clarification.  Even though eligibility is income based, most applicants are not asked to provide bank statements, or any other financial documents up front.

4.       How do I get food stamps as quickly as possible?

If you are in a situation where you need food badly, and you have little or no money, you may be eligible for an emergency process called expedited food stamps.  The following is a list of three criteria you must meet to be eligible for expedited food stamps:

·         Your monthly housing expenses are more than the amount of income and money you currently have in the bank.

·         Your monthly income is less than $150¸and your bank account is less than $100

·         You are a migrant worker, and you have less than $100

If you believe you are eligible for expedited food stamps, and you do not receive them, you have a right to notify a supervisor.

5.       I am a homeowner; does this mean I cannot get food stamps?

You can still get food stamps if you own a home.  The home that you live in is not considered an asset when your eligibility is calculated.

6.       I am not a US Citizen; does this mean I cannot get food stamps?

Many non-citizens are eligible to receive food stamps.  If you do not have documentation for yourself, you still may be able to apply for food stamps for other eligible family members.  In addition, children who are born in the United States can still receive benefits even when their parents are not citizens.

7.       Is a permanent address required to receive food stamps?

No, you do not have to have a permanent address to receive SNAP benefits.   Homeless individuals are more than likely eligible to receive expedited food stamps.

8.       I live in a house with other people; do I need to apply for them as well?

This depends on whether or not you buy and prepare food with the people you live with.  The answer to this question comes down to deciding what your household consists of for food stamp eligibility purposes.  Please read the larger post titled “What is Considered to be a Household for Food Stamp Eligibility” for further clarification.

9.       How long does it take to get SNAP benefits?

The process can take up to 30 days.  If you are eligible for expedited food stamps, you should receive them within 7 days from the date you turned in your application.

10.   Can I use my EBT Card to purchase fast food with my food stamps?

A very limited amount of states will allow this, and usually only under certain circumstances.  For example, if you live in the state of Arizona, and you are homeless, disabled, or elderly, you may be eligible to use your food stamps at certain restaurants.  Their program is called the “Restaurant Meals Program” and you must specifically apply to the program.  Contact your local human services agency, to find out if there is a program like the Restaurant Meals program in your area.

11.   Why do I see people using their EBT card in restaurants if my state does not allow it?  (Bonus Question - Goes Along with Question #10)

An EBT card is not used for food stamps solely.  Some people receive TANF benefits (cash assistance) on their EBT cards as well.  So, when they are swiping at restaurants or using their card to buy non-eligible food stamp items, they are probably using their TANF benefits.

How to Apply for Food Stamps in Alabama - Video Guide Companion

My Alabama Portal (to apply for Alabama Food Stamps)

Alabama DHR County Office Locator (to find your local Alabama DHR Office)

Alabama SNAP Benefits Application Download

My Alabama Portal Training Videos (helpful DHR videos for how to use their site - EXCELLENT RESOURCE)


*As of January 09, 2012, you can apply online for Alabama Food Stamps, just go to the My Alabama Portal.  Check back here on the Food Stamp Guide and I will update you as soon as you can apply online.

*Remember, you can also use this blog to find other low income resources in your local area.

Newt Gingrich Implies President Obama The Food Stamp President - VIDEO included

According to Republican Presidential Candidate, Newt Gingrich, President Barack Obama is the reason that more people in America are on Food Stamps instead of having jobs.  Then he indicated that President Obama is The Food Stamp President.

If that weren't enough, he goes on to make incredibly racist implications about black people and food stamps...

He implied that African Americans are the main group of people who are receiving food stamps - how racist is that?  Plus, the implication is nowhere even close to being the truth. 

And what about the fact that the declining economic conditions we face today are a direct result of the Presidency of George W. Bush?  All of the financial gaps in the federal budget today were created by former President Bush and his administration.

Therefore, Gingrich's statement, "More people are on food stamps today because of Obama’s policies than ever in history" is totally incorrect - what is he smoking?


Furthermore, the amount of money we spend on the Food Stamp Program amounts to nothing when compared to the trillions of dollars the previous administration squandered on pointless defense, corporate welfare, and big bank bailouts. 


President Obama did not start this huge economic mess we are having to deal with now, he simply came in at a time where he could do little more than mop up behind previous administration.

More than likely, if you are using the services of The Food Stamp Guide to find help for food assistance or other low income assistance in your local area, we have the same type of political views.

We cannot let idiots like Newt Gingrich have reign over this country again.  I urge you all to be sure to get out there and vote in the upcoming elections.

Today, it is not about the color of our skin, it is more about the amount of money we have... If we do not have a lot of money, future government policies can affect us in incredibly negative ways.

The "Haves" are counting on the "Have Nots" to not vote, if we turn out in force, there is no way they can win, because we outnumber them.  Think about that and let it guide you to this upcoming election.

I will stop with my rant for now, but you can check out Newt's statement for yourself:

What is Considered to be a Household for Food Stamps?

There is a lot of confusion about what is considered to be a household in order to meet food stamp eligibility.

A household, as far as SNAP Benefits are concerned, can be many of types of living arrangements.

Obviously, a household can be a traditional family, with a married couple only, or a married couple with children, but other living situations also qualify as a household for SNAP eligibility as well.

A household can be a single person who lives alone, or a group of people who live in the same home, purchase their food together, and share their meals.  The group of people does not need to be related in order to qualify as a household for food stamp eligibility purposes.

If you live in a situation where you buy your own food for yourself and/or your children, but you live with other people who buy their food separately from you, you should be able to apply for food stamps as a completely separate household.

 If you apply as a separate household, you may be able to get more food stamp benefits because the income of the other members of the household will not be calculated.

As far as SNAP eligibility goes, the less income you have, the more food stamps you will be eligible for in each monthly allotment.

Ten Items You Cannot Buy With Food Stamps

The Food Stamp Program, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as it has been renamed, is a federal food assistance program. 

Each state administers the program to its recipients within its jurisdiction, but there is a universal list of items recipients cannot buy with food stamps.

If you are new to the program, and you would like to know which items you cannot buy with food stamps, you can refer to the following list:

1. Alcohol
2. Tobacco
3. Dog Food
4. Cat Food
5. Toiletries
6. Household Supplies
7. Vitamins
8. Medicine
9. Pumpkins (edible, not holiday items)
10. *Hot Foods (that are meant to be consumed in-store)

Most of the above list contains items that you definitely cannot buy with food stamps under any circumstances.  However, some states have passed laws that allow people to use food stamps at fast food restaurants.

Generally, the fast food restaurant allowance rule comes with some sort of specification.  For example, you can use Arizona food stamps at certain fast food restaurants only if you make an application to do so, and you must be homeless in order to be eligible for the restaurant meals program.

Although many people are becoming vocal about the need for the government to restrict food stamp recipients from purchasing junk food (chips, cookies, sodas, energy drinks, etc.) and so-called, luxury foods (shrimp, steak, lobster, etc.), there are currently no restrictions in place.

Louisiana Food Stamps Program Seeing Shattered Stereotypes

The number of families depending on food stamps benefits has increased exponentially, and officials say the spike is attributed to the recession that gripped the country in 2007.

Nearly 380,835 people receive Louisiana Food Stamps, these families depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to help provide food for their families on a monthly basis.

There is a stereotype of the average food stamp receipient, and that stereotype has been shattered because people from all walks of life are applying for Louisiana food stamps, so the stereotype simply does not hold water any longer.

More and more, the faces and situations of SNAP recipients are changing throughout the country. Today, the common list of food stamp recipients include:

• College Students Who Can't Meet Their Expenses and Eat at the Same Time
• Young Adults who are Under-employed
• Families Who Cannot Afford to Pay their Bills & Health Insurance at the Same Time
• Senior Citizens Who Cannot Afford toPay for their Medications and Food at the Same Time

Workers at Louisiana food stamp offices state that every day they are hearing heartbreaking stories of people who cannot buy basic toilitries, such as shampoo and hand soap, because the expense might be taking food out of the mouths of their children.