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The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) rules haven't changed in 2025. It's always been limited to elderly, disabled, and homeless CalFresh recipients, and only in certain counties. The confusion comes because some people use their EBT *cash* benefits (from CalWORKs, not CalFresh) at restaurants, which is different. CalFresh food benefits can only be used at restaurants if you qualify for RMP and the restaurant participates. If you don't qualify for RMP, your CalFresh benefits can only be used for unprepared food items at grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers like Amazon and Walmart. One helpful resource is the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Locator in the CalFresh app or BenefitsCal website, which was added in late 2024. It shows all participating restaurants with their addresses and hours.
OHHHHH that explains it!!! my cousin must be using CalWORKs cash not CalFresh!! I always get them mixed up
Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I checked and I don't qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program since I'm not elderly, disabled, or homeless. I'm going to try the suggestion about buying sandwich ingredients at the grocery store with my EBT and making my own lunches. Seems like it'll save me money anyway! I never knew about the difference between CalFresh and CalWORKs cash benefits before, so I learned something new.
That's exactly what I do too! Another money-saving tip - check out the manager's special/clearance section at grocery stores for discounted lunch meats and cheese that are still good but close to expiration. I've gotten some really good deals that way. Also if your grocery store has a deli counter, sometimes they'll slice meat thinner if you ask, so it goes further. Good luck with the meal prep!
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Hey Aisha! Just wanted to add that if you do get approved for RMP, definitely download the FreshEBT app on your phone. It shows your balance in real-time so you can check before ordering at restaurants. Super helpful when you're trying to budget for meals during those crazy double shift weeks! The app also has a store locator feature that sometimes shows participating restaurants, though it's not 100% complete. Good luck with getting your account set up properly!
The FreshEBT app is a great suggestion! I just downloaded it after reading this thread and it's really user-friendly. One thing I noticed is that it also sends you notifications when your benefits are loaded each month, which is super helpful for planning. @Aisha Abdullah - since you mentioned working double shifts, you might also want to look into meal prep on your days off if the RMP doesn t'work out right away. Some stores like Costco and WinCo have really good deals on bulk items that can stretch your CalFresh dollars further for quick meals you can grab between shifts.
Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been using RMP in LA County for about a year now. One thing I learned the hard way - even if you're eligible and your card is properly coded, some restaurants have daily limits on how much you can spend with EBT. For example, some Subways cap it at $20 per transaction. Also, during busy times (like lunch rush), their card readers sometimes glitch and show "declined" even when you have funds. Don't get discouraged if this happens - just try again or ask them to manually enter the card. The program really is a lifesaver when you're working crazy hours and can't make it to the grocery store!
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Wow, what a stressful situation! I'm so glad you were able to get it resolved quickly. This exact same thing happened to my sister a few months ago - she accidentally locked her card thinking she lost it, then panicked when she couldn't unlock it at the store. It's such a relief to know that the phone system actually works when the app fails. I'm definitely saving that customer service number in my phone now just in case. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's really helpful to know what to do if this happens to any of us!
That's so smart to save the number ahead of time! I wish I had thought of that before this happened. It really is one of those things you don't think about until you're in the middle of it. Your sister probably felt the same panic I did - there's nothing quite like standing there with a cart full of groceries and no way to pay! Really grateful for this community and how everyone jumped in to help with solutions.
I'm so sorry you had to go through that stress! As someone who's been on CalFresh for a while, I've learned to always keep that customer service number handy - 1-877-328-9677. The app can be really unreliable, especially during peak times. One thing that's helped me is to always test my card before doing big shopping trips, just a quick balance check to make sure everything's working. Also, don't feel embarrassed about this - it happens to more people than you'd think! Store employees see EBT issues all the time and most are very understanding. Glad you got it sorted out and your kids got their groceries!
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Thank you so much for checking and letting us know! I'll keep an eye on the website. At least knowing they're planning to announce something soon helps with the uncertainty.
I'm in the same boat as everyone here - been checking my P-EBT card weekly and nothing yet. My kids qualify for free lunch and we got our last payment back in October. It's really frustrating not knowing when to expect the next one, especially when you're trying to stretch your grocery budget. I've been following this thread and it sounds like we just have to wait for the state to make an official announcement. At least it's reassuring to know that the benefits are retroactive, so we're not actually losing money - just getting it in bigger chunks instead of monthly like CalFresh. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and keeping each other updated. This community has been more helpful than any of the official hotlines!
I totally agree! This community has been way more helpful than trying to navigate the official channels. I'm new here but dealing with the same P-EBT confusion - my daughter qualifies for free lunch and I've been checking our card constantly since hearing rumors about April payments. It's such a relief to hear that the benefits are retroactive because I was worried we were missing out on months of support. The uncertainty is the worst part when you're trying to budget groceries for the family. Thanks for keeping everyone updated @Louisa Ramirez - having someone actively checking the CDSS website saves us all time!
Elijah O'Reilly
the limits r actually diffrent depending on if ur household is regular or if it has elderly/disabled ppl!! my mom is on SSI and we only had 2 meet the net income test not gross when we applied
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Emily Sanjay
•You're absolutely right! Households with elderly (60+) or disabled members only need to meet the net income test, not the gross income test. This is an important distinction that can make a big difference in eligibility. Additionally, households with elderly/disabled members may qualify for medical expense deductions if they spend more than $35 monthly on out-of-pocket medical costs.
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Sebastian Scott
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I'm going to apply through BenefitsCal this weekend and include all our income details and expenses. Based on what you've all shared, I think we might qualify with our deductions even though our gross is sometimes right at the limit. I'll make sure to include our full rent ($1,350/month) and utilities to get the shelter deduction. Wish me luck!
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Amara Torres
•apply in person if u can!!! online system kept freezing for me but the lady at the office helped me finish in 1 visit
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Omar Hassan
•@Sebastian Scott Hope the application goes smoothly! With your rent being $1,350 that should definitely help with the shelter deduction calculation. Just remember they calculate it as anything over 50% of your income after the standard deduction and 20% earned income deduction. So if your monthly income varies, try to apply during a lower income month if possible - you can always report changes later if your income goes up significantly.
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