Restaurants that take EBT in Santa Cruz County

If you currently live in Santa Cruz County, California, and receive CalFresh benefits we have great news! Your CalFresh EBT Card or Golden State Advantage card can be used at select restaurants and fast food places if you meet the eligibility criteria. In this post, we will explain in detail how the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) works in Santa Cruz County and how you can qualify to use your EBT at these restaurants. In addition, we will provide you a complete list of food places and restaurants that Accept EBT in Santa Cruz County, California.

First, we are going to explain what the California Restaurant Meals program is about and which counties are participating.

Second, we will explain the requirements for the RMP and how you can use your CalFresh EBT at these restaurants.

Finally, we will provide you a complete list of restaurants that Accept EBT in Santa Cruz County, broken down by city for easy search.

You will see the names of participating restaurants with their addresses and phone numbers.

The list includes restaurants in the following Santa Cruz County cities:

• Capitola
• Santa Cruz
• Scotts Valley
• Soquel
• Watsonville

All you need to do is scroll down and find the city where you live or a nearby city and you will see the list of restaurants that accept EBT there.

California Restaurant Meals Program

The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) allows CalFresh recipients who are 60 years of age or older, disabled, or homeless to use their CalFresh benefits to purchase lower-cost prepared meals at approved participating restaurants in certain counties.

If you fit one of the groups described above, you can use your CalFresh California EBT card at select restaurants and fast-food chains throughout the state.

Currently, the restaurant meals program is active in the following counties:

• Alameda
• Fresno
• Los Angeles
• Madera
• Mariposa
• Monterey
• Orange
• Riverside
• Sacramento
• San Diego
• San Mateo
• Santa Clara
• San Francisco
• Santa Cruz
• San Luis Obispo
• Siskiyou
• Tehama
• Ventura

California Restaurant Meals Program Requirements

To use your CalFresh Golden State Advantage EBT Card at restaurants and fast-food chains in Santa Cruz County, you must first meet certain requirements.

To be eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program, you must:

• Currently, be enrolled and receiving CalFresh benefits
• Have an active California EBT Card
• Be homeless, elderly (age 60 or older), or disabled

If you do not meet the requirements listed above, you are not eligible to use your California EBT Card at restaurants and fast-food chains.

How to use your EBT Card at Restaurants in Santa Cruz County

Using your EBT Card to purchase hot meals at restaurants and fast food locations is easy.

Here’s what you do:

1. Find a participating restaurant or fast-food chain near you. Eligible locations will display the Restaurant Meals sign (pictured below).
2. Purchase hot meals – breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the restaurant by using your California EBT Card at checkout.
3. Follow the instructions and enter your 4-digit EBT Card PIN to complete your purchase.
4. Get your receipt to see the remaining balance on your EBT Card CalFresh benefits account.

List of Restaurants that Accept EBT in Santa Cruz County

CalFresh FAQs

Here are some of the top questions we get about CalFresh.

Can you buy energy drinks with CalFresh?

Energy drinks that have a nutrition label are eligible foods you can buy with your CalFresh benefits.

However, energy drinks that have a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements and are therefore not eligible under food stamps rules.

Can you buy Pet Food with CalFresh EBT?

No, you cannot use your CalFresh EBT benefits to buy pet food.

This is directly from the USDA Website.

If you attempt to use your CalFresh card to buy pet or dog food, you will be violating the law – which could land you in jail.

If I get CalFresh am I taking benefits away from other people?

No. CalFresh is an entitlement program.

Therefore, everyone who qualifies for CalFresh will get benefits.

In the state of California, there are about 4 million people who are eligible but not receiving CalFresh.

For every $5 of CalFresh spent in a community, another $9 of local economic activity is generated.

Therefore, CalFresh dollars help support jobs and businesses in your community.

How long will Extra Food Stamps Benefits Last?

It is expected that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will extend the COVID-19 emergency declaration by another 90 days when the current extension expires in October 2022.

According to Politico:

“State and local public health officials — having not heard differently this week — are expecting the Biden administration to extend the Covid-19 public health emergency for another 90 days in mid-October.”

This is also confirmed by Axios:

“The Biden administration appears headed toward extending the COVID-19 public health emergency for another three months, allowing special powers and programs to continue past the midterm election.”

60 Day Notice

Additionally, the HHS has promised states a 60 days advance notice before the COVID-19 emergency declaration is ended.

This means that it is reasonable to expect that extra SNAP benefits will be issued through January 2023 at least.

Yes. California has requested and been approved by the USDA to issue CalFresh emergency allotments for the month of October 2022.

This is because the Biden administration recently extended the national Covid public health emergency for another 90 days.

With this extension, the federal declaration will end in October, unless it is extended again.

However, we will not know the definite end date of the extra SNAP program until we get the 60-day notice from the HHS.

Restaurants that Accept EBT in Santa Cruz County Summary

Here’s the bottom line:

The Santa Cruz County Restaurant Meals program applies to those who are homeless, elderly (age 60 or older), or disabled.

If you are one of the groups above and have an active California EBT Card, you can use your CalFresh benefits to buy food at select restaurants.

This includes hot food that can be eaten at the premises.

Currently, 15 counties in California participate in the program, including Santa Cruz County.

Questions?

We hope this post on restaurants that accept EBT in Santa Cruz County was helpful.

If you have further questions about CalFresh or California EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below.

Also, be sure to check out our other articles about California SNAP and EBT, including:

• $3,000 Child Tax Credit
• California Inflation Relief Checks – Who is Eligible?
• California P-EBT Extension
• How much will I get in CalFresh
• Extra Food Stamps for California
• CalFresh for SSI/SSP Beneficiaries
• How long will Extra SNAP for California Last?