Does Burger King Take EBT?

Yes, Burger King accepts EBT cards at some of its participating locations.

The stores that can accept EBT payments are in certain states such as Arizona and California, with relaxed SNAP and RMP laws.

Before you visit the nearest Burger King store, call them and ask if they accept EBT or check whether they have a sign in their store.

However, you can still use your EBT cards even at Burger King locations that don’t accept them. Read on to find out more.

What Is Burger King’s Official EBT Policy?

Generally speaking, Federal law does not allow purchasing prepared food with food stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) benefits.

However, the laws relaxed a bit, allowing fast foods like Burger King to accept this type of payment.

Burger King doesn’t have an official policy publicly available regarding EBT, but various stores and some individual franchises decided to accept EBT cards.

However, each store must sign up so that they can start taking payments from this card. That’s why not every branch of Burger King accepts this kind of payment.

If you’d like to know the exact policy of your local Burger King store, please give them a call or visit the store.

Burger King stores accepting EBT cards have a display sign in the windows, so customers know that this payment is accepted.

With your EBT card, you can typically purchase anything from the menu, but it can vary depending on the store.

Furthermore, Burger King doesn’t take EBT cards for online or in-app payments.

So if you want to order food for delivery or pickup, you need to use an alternative payment method such as an unexpired debit card, credit card with a chip, Reliacard with funds on it, or order from other fast-food places that accept EBT for delivery.

Which States Does Burger King Accept EBT In?

EBT cards are accepted in six different states, including Arizona, California, Illinois, Rhode Island, Michigan, and Maryland. However, only Burger King in Arizona and California accepts EBT.

The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) of Arizona allows fast-food restaurants like Burger King to accept EBT. There are around 44 Burger King stores that allow EBT as payment. Here are some of the locations:

Apache Junction
Cave Creek
Gilbert
Glendale
Mesa
Nogales
Phoenix
Queen Creek
Scottsdale
Surprise
Tempe

Keep in mind that the stores may change their policy anytime. So be sure to contact them before paying a visit to ensure that your food voucher is accepted.

As mentioned, Burger Kings in California also accept EBT cards. To date, there are around 100 locations that are approved by the Restaurant Meals Program. Below are some of the counties in California that are accredited by the CalFresh RMP:

Los Angeles County
Sacramento
San Diego County
San Francisco County
Santa Clara County

Why Does Burger King Only Accept EBT In Some States?

For a restaurant or fast food to accept EBT, the local SNPA should approve them before joining the Restaurant Meals Program. While SNAP is a nationwide program, the states still determine which restaurants are qualified for the RMP and what fast food places are approved.

Apart from the states, SNAP also restricts you from what you can and can’t spend your food stamps benefits on. This prevents recipients from splurging or buying non-essential luxuries with your EBT.

In general, EBT cards are not allowed to purchase hot and prepared food in many restaurants and fast foods, including Burger King. Some states follow this rule strictly; that’s why only Arizona and California allow fast food purchases.

For example, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and Rhode Island have RMP, but these states didn’t approve Burger King as a part of their program.

You should note that even if EBT is accepted in Arizona and California Burger Kings, some locations still won’t take food stamps in that state. Always check the door and see if they have a sign saying EBTs are accepted, or ask the staff before ordering.

However, states that don’t allow EBT transactions on fast foods still let beneficiaries use their cards to purchase staple food items that you can carry and prepare at home.

In addition, you can also spend your food stamps on soda beverages, cake-and-bake pizza from places like Papa Murphy’s, bread, salads, snacks, candy, sandwiches, chips, and other cold snack food that you can consume without cooking them.

Alternative Fast Food Restaurants That Accept EBT

If you’re from Arizona, here are some fast-food chains the accept EBT:

24th St Pizza & Gyros
47 Ave Food Store Inc
Blimpie
Burger Shoppe
Carl’s Jr
Chix N Mex
Cici’s Pizza
Classic Cooking Academy
Dairy Queen
Dominos Pizza
Dorsey Bs Fish And Fixins
Eat Fresh Mexican Food
Eegee’s
El Pollo Loco
Fat Sub LLC
Figami Asian Fresh
Firehouse Subs
Firestone Subs
Golden Corral
Harris and Smith Coffee Co
Helpings Cafe And Market
Hungry Howie’s
Jack in the Box
Jimmy And Joe’s Pizzeria
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Kings Food Mart Inc
Love Hawaiian Bbq
MoonLight Family Restaurant
Papa John’s Pizza
Paradise Mexican Food
Rally’s Hamburgers
Senor Sushi
Smoke Dem Bones BarbBQ
Speedy Street Tacos Corp
Subway
Sylvia’s La Canasta
Sylvia’s Off The Grill
Taco Bell
Tasty Box
Uncle Sams

For Californian citizens, here’s a list of other fast-food restaurants that accept EBT:

Carl’s Jr.
Church’s Chicken
Del Taco
Denny’s
Domino’s Pizza
Great Steaks
Jamba Juice
KFC
Pizza Hut
Subway
Wienerschnitzel

Are There Any Restrictions On Who Can Use EBT In Eligible Restaurants?

Generally, people with a gross income level below the federal poverty line and either elderly, disabled, or homeless qualify for the Restaurant Meals program.

However, if you aren’t any of those and are using an EBT card, you are automatically restricted from claiming food stamps in eligible restaurants. This qualification works in all states that accept EBT.

The restaurant manager also serves the right to accept and decline your EBT payment.

How To Use Your EBT Card At Burger King

If the Burger King you’re visiting accepts an EBT card, using it will be hassle-free.

The EBT card works like a regular debit card, and the only difference between the two is you can use your debit card without a PIN.

But for EBT cards, you need to authorize your purchase to make sure that there’s no theft and fraud of your funds.

Here’s how you can use your EBT card in Burger King:

Visit an eligible store and proceed to the counter.
To ensure that the process is seamless, tell the cashier that you are paying with EBT. Some stores may only allow you to order specific products, so letting them know beforehand reduces any inconveniences.
Place your order and wait for the cashier to process it.
Then, swipe your card through the Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal or hand your EBT Card to the cashier.
Enter your four-number PIN on the keypad. The terminal will not reflect your password but will show **** instead. Then, press the Enter or OK key.
The cashier will enter the amount of your food stamp benefit purchase. If the amount is correct, press the OK or Yes key. You will receive a copy of a printed receipt for your transaction.
Once your order has been authorized and processed, you can now enjoy your meal!

Tip: Keep your receipt so you will know your new balance the next time you shop and avoid spending more than what your benefits are.

How To Use EBT To Buy From Burger King In Any State

Since SNAP agencies in every state use electronic accounts to distribute different forms of government aid like WIC, TANF, and food stamps, you can use your EBT card to purchase meals even if the restaurant isn’t eligible to participate in RMP.

If you’re eligible for government aid, an account will be opened under your name, and you’ll be issued with an electronic card.

You will receive all your benefits and can be used to pay for meals in restaurants and fast foods like Burger King or withdraw your benefits to pay in cash.

Follow the steps below to use your EBT card to buy meals from Burger King in any state:

Find an ATM and insert or swipe your card.
Enter your PIN on the keypad and press the OK or Enter key.
Then, select Withdraw Cash and choose Checking. (Please note that some ATMs may use different words.)
Next, enter the amount you wish to withdraw from your card. Make sure only to put whole dollar amounts (for example, $20, $50, $100, or other amounts).
The ATM will display the amount of the fee on the screen. If you accept the fee, press Continue. Otherwise, press Cancel if the fee is too much.
If you continue your withdrawal, the ATM will give you your cash and receipt. Keep in mind that not all ATMs will show you the balance of your receipt.
Go to the nearest Burger King store and use your cash to purchase a meal.

Important notes:

Some ATM owners will charge a surcharge for using their ATMs which is usually around $1.00 and $4.00.
As an EBT cardholder, you’re only allowed to make four cash-only withdrawals from your EBT account without paying a transaction fee. After the permitted four cash-only withdrawals in one month, you will be charged an additional 80 cents transaction fee for every withdrawal you make, on top of the surcharge you’ll pay for the ATM.

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Conclusion

While Burger King does accept EBT cards as a form of payment, the locations are very few, and only two states currently allow them to take food stamps.

Remember, the use of EBT cards through the USDA’s RMP program is highly regulated, so your favorite Burger King store may not accept them even in approved states.

However, if you wish to use your EBT card in non-participating stores, you can withdraw your benefits and pay with cash instead.