You’re standing at the counter. The smell of those world-famous fries is hitting hard. You reach into your wallet, pull out your EBT card, and then—the hesitation. Will it actually swipe? Can you buy a Big Mac with food stamps?
The answer is a frustrating "it depends." Honestly, for most people in the U.S., the answer is a flat no. But if you live in specific states and meet very narrow criteria, you might actually be in luck.
The Truth About McDonald's and EBT
Basically, the federal government has a rule: SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are for "food at home." That means groceries. Ingredients. Things you have to cook. Because McDonald's serves hot, prepared food meant to be eaten right now, it usually doesn't qualify.
📖 Related: James Ford Bell and General Mills: Why the Man Behind the Flour Still Matters
However, there is a massive loophole called the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP).
If your state participates in RMP, and if you are personally eligible, you can use your EBT card at participating fast-food joints. McDonald’s is one of the biggest players in this space, but they aren't everywhere. Even in "RMP states," not every Golden Arches location has signed up.
Who actually qualifies?
You can't just be any SNAP recipient. To use EBT at McDonald's, you generally have to fall into one of these buckets:
- You’re 60 years of age or older.
- You have a documented disability (and receive disability benefits).
- You are experiencing homelessness.
- You are the spouse of someone who fits the above.
Why? The logic is that these groups might struggle to cook for themselves or lack a kitchen entirely. If you’re a 25-year-old able-bodied person on SNAP, your card will almost certainly be declined at the register, even in a participating state.
States Where You Can Find McDonald's Accepting EBT
As of early 2026, the list of states participating in the Restaurant Meals Program has grown, but it’s still a minority.
💡 You might also like: Pinnacle West Stock Price: Why 2026 Is The Make-Or-Break Year For Arizona’s Utility Giant
California is the heavyweight here. They’ve been doing this for years under the CalFresh banner. In counties like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento, dozens of McDonald's locations are fully on board. For instance, the McDonald's at 1201 Ocean Avenue in San Francisco or the one on K Street in Sacramento are known participants.
Arizona is another big one. If you’re in Maricopa County or Pima County, you’ll see signs in the windows. The state has been aggressive about getting chains like McDonald's, Subway, and Jack in the Box to sign up to help their homeless and elderly populations.
Michigan has been expanding its program lately. You’ll find participating McDonald's in Jackson, Lansing, and parts of Wayne County. Specifically, locations on West Michigan Ave in Jackson have been documented as active RMP vendors.
Virginia recently joined the fray with a pilot program. It’s hit-or-miss here, but locations in Richmond (like the one on Chamberlayne Ave) and Norfolk have been known to accept the card.
Other states like Maryland, Illinois (mostly Cook County), and Rhode Island have active RMP programs, but McDonald's participation is much lower there compared to chains like Subway or Burger King.
The "Cash Benefit" vs. "Food Benefit" Confusion
There is a huge misconception that if your card says "EBT," it’s all the same. It isn’t.
Most cards have two "accounts" on them. One is SNAP (food). The other is TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), often called "Cash Aid."
If you have cash benefits on your card, you can use that money anywhere that accepts EBT, including McDonald's. It works just like a debit card. You can even go to an ATM, pull the cash out, and walk into any McDonald's in the country. This is why you might see someone "using EBT" at a McDonald's in Florida or Texas, even though those states don't have a Restaurant Meals Program. They aren't using food stamps; they’re using cash assistance.
Buying a Meal: What the Experience is Actually Like
Don't expect to walk in and use the mobile app. As of now, EBT integration with the McDonald's app is notoriously spotty or non-existent for RMP. You usually have to pay at the counter or the drive-thru.
When you swipe, the system checks two things instantly:
- Is this specific restaurant an authorized RMP vendor?
- Is your specific EBT account flagged as "RMP Eligible"?
If both aren't a "yes," the transaction fails.
Also, watch out for the "no combo" myth. Some people claim you can only buy individual items and not "meals." This varies by state. In some places, the software is programmed to block soda or "luxury" upgrades. In others, a Big Mac meal goes through just fine. The safest bet? Ask the cashier. They usually know exactly what the machine will allow.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often think this is a "free for all" or a sign of "government waste."
📖 Related: Price of gold on the stock market: What Most People Get Wrong
The reality is much more boring. For a McDonald's to accept EBT, they have to go through a mountain of USDA paperwork. They have to prove they offer "low-cost" meals. They can't charge sales tax on SNAP purchases. For many franchise owners, the headache of the paperwork isn't worth the extra customers, which is why your local McDonald's might say "no" even if the one three miles away says "yes."
Also, politicians are constantly fighting over this. Just this month in 2026, lawmakers in states like Arizona have proposed bills to limit where SNAP can be used, specifically targeting fast food. The landscape shifts fast.
Actionable Steps for SNAP Recipients
If you're hungry and hoping to use your benefits at the Golden Arches, do this first:
- Check your status. Look at your last approval letter or log into your state's EBT portal (like Providers or the official state app). Ensure you are coded as elderly, disabled, or homeless.
- Use the "Store Locator." Don't just drive around. Use the USDA's SNAP Retailer Locator or your state's specific RMP list. Michigan and California maintain PDFs online that list every single participating address.
- Look for the sign. Most participating McDonald's will have a small "We Accept EBT" sticker or an RMP logo on the door or at the drive-thru window.
- Have a backup. If the system is down or the manager changed the policy, have a secondary way to pay or be prepared to walk away. These systems glitch more often than standard credit card readers.
If you don't qualify for RMP, remember that you can still use EBT at many grocery stores that have "cold" prepared food sections. You can buy a cold rotisserie chicken or a deli sandwich and heat it up yourself. It’s a workaround, but it works.