The full meaning of EBT is Electronic Benefit Transfer. Electronic Benefit Transfer ( EBT) is the system for delivering government benefits like food stamps (SNAP) and cash assistance. It works through a card like a debit card, known as an EBT card. This system works in the USA. This article will explain What Restaurants Accept EBT in Virginia, so attentively.
EBT is an electronic system that allows recipients or users to access government assistance and benefits. Basically, EBT gives recipients or users access to government benefits from the funds using a magnetically encoded card, which is known as an EBT card.
The government provides recipients with EBT cards instead of giving them food stamps or receiving papers or checks. The recipients can use this EBT card to purchase the eligible items available in the retailer’s shop by using EBT cards instead of receiving documents or food stamps. EBT cards are beneficial in different ways for cardholders. These cards make life for the cardholders easy and can save considerable money. So, the popularity of these cards is increasing daily. People who are from low-income families and people who are over 60 can get the actual benefits of these cards.
Free Government Money For Seniors Over 60
Items That Can Be Purchased With EBT
Debit card technology is used in the Electronic Payments Transfer (EBT) system to distribute SNAP payments. Cardholders spend benefits by swiping their EBT card at the point of sale (POS) and entering their PIN when added to eligible household accounts. Paper vouchers are the only option available to shops without point-of-sale systems.
The authorized retailers who accept EBT will display some posters.Such as: ” We welcome SNAP EBT customers “.
The items that can be purchased with an EBT card :
- Food or food products which people can eat.
- Food producing plants, roots and trees and the vegetable seeds for consumption of the family.
- Various items of snacks for direct consumption.
- Foods for diabetic patients and diets.
- Water and ice are labelled for human consumption.
- Baby formula
- Edible items which are used for making and processing various types of foods. Such as : spices, wheat, herbs, cheese, pectin, shortening.
- Meals are given to SNAP participants who are old or disabled if the provider is permitted to take EBT cards.
Ashley Furniture Free Bed Assistance Program
Items That Can’t Be Purchased With EBT
Some items are not eligible to be purchased with an EBT card, so you must avoid purchasing them with an EBT card.
The items that can’t be purchased with an EBT card :
- Alcoholic beverages like wine, scotch, beer etc.
- Tobacco and tobacco made products.
- Prepared hot foods in grocery stores.
- Any types of prepared hot and cold foods that can be directly eaten.
- Minerals, medicines, vitamins.
- Items which are used in gardening like fertilisers and peat moss.Items which are packaged in cannig jars, the items which are preserved in freezer containers, the food items which are packed by the wrapping papers.
- Food items and accessories for pets.
- Cleaning products, stationery items, paper products, toiletries and cooking utensils.
Rules For Purchasing Products Using EBT Card
- The EBT card holders are not able to withdraw cash from the Automated Teller Machine ( ATM).
- Retailers can’t give cash for exchange after purchasing any products. The EBT card users have to pay the exact amount of money as their shopping bills.
- Food purchased with SNAP benefits are exempt from the state sales tax.
- At the store’s check-out centre, you must tell the counterman that you want to pay the bill using your EBT card.
Restaurant Meals Program
A state option known as the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) enables some SNAP recipients who may not be able to cook for themselves or who lack permanent housing for food preparation and storage to purchase cooked meals at restaurants using their SNAP benefits.
There are various restaurants who run Restaurant Meals Programs for the EBT card holders. It’s a donation program for people in Virginia from the local government. States have the right to make any decision about the restaurant meals programs. They have the freedom to decide where they will run their programs or not. Luckily, Virginia has decided to opt into this program.
Eligibility
Every member of your household has to follow some rules to buy any food or goods from restaurants that accept EBT in Virginia. The card holders have to fulfill at least one of these following rules for participating in EBT card accepted restaurants and stores in Virginia :
Age of the applicant should be 60 or more for the EBT cards.
The applicant of these programs should be homeless.
The applicant has to be physically disabled for applying in these programs.
A spouse of a SNAP client who is eligible for the RMP.
The applicants of these programs should have at least one of the described options for getting the facilities of EBT card. There is a huge competition among the applicants of these programs. As a result, sometimes the applicants need additional quality for being eligible in these programs.
The Restaurants Which Can Participate in the RMP
There are some eligibility criteria for the restaurants to participate in Restaurant Meals Programs ( RMP) . These are described below :
The restaurant must be situated in the state that has an RMP.
The restaurants have to get approval from the state government.
The restaurants must have to be authorized by FNS to accept SNAP benefits.
What Restaurants Accept EBT In Virginia
Various restaurants accept EBT Cards in Virginia under the Restaurant Meals Program.
KFC
KFC is the most renowned and the world’s most popular chicken restaurant chain. It specializes in chicken items. The whole meaning of KFC is Kentucky Fried Chicken. These restaurants are renowned for their original recipes and tasty and spicy food items. KFC has been in business since 1930. It operates in 118 countries and has 18875 branches worldwide.
KFC provides Restaurant meal services in Virginia. They accept EBT cards as a payment option for the bills of restaurants in Virginia. The locations of their restaurants in Virginia where the EBT cardholders can pay through their EBT cards for their billing in KFC restaurants :
- Ashland: 806 England St
- Bedford: 882 E Main St
Chesapeake :
139 Battlefield Blvd. S
3148 Western Branch Blvd
1353 Kempsville Road
929 Battlefield Blvd. N
1720 Parkview Dr
4103 Portsmouth Blvd
Collinsville: 3500 Virginia Ave
Danville: 762 Piney Forest Road, 604 Memorial
Farmville : 2005 S Main St
Hampton: 1101 W Pembroke Ave, 1603 E Pembroke Ave, 207 W Mercury Blvd
•Lynchburg : 882 E Main St
•Martinsville : 18 Tensbury Dr
•Mechanicsville : 7091 Mechanicsville Tpke
•Newport News :
15496 Warwick Blvd
12104 Jefferson Ave
12630 Warwick Blvd
5010 Mercury Blvd
746 J Clyde Morris Blvd
•Norfolk :
3690 Sewells Point Rd
1263 N Military Hwy
1716 Monticello Ave
199 W Ocean View Ave
227 E Little Creek Rd
Portsmouth: 2800 Airline Blvd, 440 Chestnut St, 5004 George Washington Hwy
•Pulaski : 1991 Memorial Dr
•Richmond : 1006 Azalea Ave, 3800 Mechanicsville Tpke, 9000 W Broad St
•South Boston: 1222 Wilborn Ave
•Tappahannock : 1658 Tappahannock Blvd
•Virginia Beach :
- 1300 Fordham Dr
- 4253 Holland Rd
- 2072 S Independence Blvd
- 1660 General Booth Blvd
- 1360 Fordham Dr
Subway
Subway is known for its fresh, customizable sandwiches and healthy meal options. It is one of the most renowned restaurants in Virginia. Subway has various locations where people can make payment for their bills through EBT cards.
•Newport News: 12368 Warwick Blvd, 320-3 29th St, 12797 Jefferson Ave
•Portsmouth: 810 Airline Blvd
•Virginia Beach: 208 N Birdneck Rd.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell is a very famous chain restaurant in Virginia. Taco Bell has served fresh food to its customers for a long time. They accept EBT cards for the billing of their restaurant. The locations of this restaurant are described below :
Alexandria : 417 King St, 231 S. Van Dorn St
Arlington: 4681 King St, 2039 Wilson Blvd
Chesapeake :
- 3236 Western Branch Blvd
- 1353 Kempsville Road
- 929 Battlefield Blvd. N
- 1720 Parkview Dr
- 4103 Portsmouth Blvd
Manassas: 8891 Centreville Road, 11017 Nokesville Road
Norfolk: 1113 N. Military Hwy, 8411 Hampton Blvd, 227 E Little Creek Rd, 649 Newtown Rd
Virginia Beach :
- 2009 Lynnhaven Pkwy
- 4597 Virginia Beach Blvd
- 3209 Holland Rd
- 1360 Fordham Dr
- 1670 General Booth Blvd
Local Restaurants
For their patrons, certain restaurants offer the Restaurant Meals Programs. They accept EBT card for the billing procedure of their eatery. The restaurants are located at these places:
Richmond :
Kokonut Grill : 1201 W Main St
Touché Pies and Fries: 1221 N Laburnum Ave
The Beet Box: 2611 W Cary St
Lynchburg :
Asian Fusion: 2820 Linkhorne Dr Ste A
Bistro Bros. Q Deli: 3900 Wards Rd
Newport News :
Juicing LIFE Bar & Cafe: 706 Town Center Dr Ste 102 & 100.
Benefits of Using EBT Cards
- Food purchased with SNAP benefits is exempt from the state sales tax.
- You can purchase food and beverages using a simple, conventional plastic debit card.
- You don’t have to pay any cash for the selected items mentioned in the lists of restaurants and stores.
- EBT transactions are faster for the retailers to process and receive their funds.
- The audit system is much easier than any other system for identifying fraudulent transactions or misuse of EBT cards.
- The user can report if the EBT card is lost or stolen and the authority will deactivate the card immediately. So the security system of the EBT cards are so good.
- EBT cardholders can save money by using these cards because the payment for restaurant bills is reduced for EBT cards.
- This is very helpful for people over 60. They can purchase their desired foods using these EBT cards without paying any cash. They don’t have to think about the budget for their products because of using EBT cards. This is so helpful for senior citizens because they usually don’t have any income.
FAQs: Restaurants That Accept EBT in Virginia
1. What is EBT and the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP)?
EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) is a way for SNAP (food assistance) users to buy food with a special card. The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) lets some people use EBT to buy hot meals at certain restaurants.
2. Does Virginia allow EBT at restaurants?
No, Virginia does not have the Restaurant Meals Program. This means you cannot use EBT to buy hot, ready-to-eat meals at restaurants in the state.
3. Are there any exceptions?
Yes. While you can’t buy hot meals, some grocery stores and convenience stores allow EBT for cold or pre-packaged food, like:
- Pre-made sandwiches
- Cold salads
- Bakery items
4. What restaurants accept EBT in other states?
Some states allow EBT at restaurants under the RMP. These include:
- McDonald’s
- Burger King
- KFC
- Subway
- Taco Bell
- Wendy’s
Since Virginia does not have this program, these restaurants do not take EBT there.
5. Where can I use EBT for food in Virginia?
Even though you can’t use EBT at restaurants, you can still buy food at grocery stores, supermarkets, and some convenience stores. Options include:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Meat and dairy
- Frozen meals
- Non-hot deli foods
6. Will Virginia add the Restaurant Meals Program?
Maybe in the future! Check the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) website or call your local SNAP office for updates.
7. Are there other food help programs in Virginia?
Yes! Here are some options:
- Food banks & pantries – Free groceries for those in need.
- Soup kitchens – Free hot meals.
- Meals on Wheels – Meals for seniors and people with disabilities.
8. Can I use EBT for online food orders?
Yes! You can order groceries online with EBT from:
- Amazon
- Walmart
- Kroger
- ALDI (via Instacart, in some areas)
But you cannot use EBT on Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Grubhub.
9. Where can I get more info?
For details, visit:
- Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS): https://www.dss.virginia.gov
- USDA SNAP Info: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap
- Your local SNAP office – Call or visit for help.
Conclusion
EBT cards are a service provided by the federal government that can be helpful for the people of the state. Low-income people and senior citizens over 60 can get various types of services using these cards. It’s very easy to use and their user-friendly transaction system makes these cards more popular. Cardholders can save money using these cards because they don’t have to pay cash for the items mentioned in the EBT card list.
The USDA SNAP Guidelines and federal law prohibit charging sales tax, surcharges, or card processing fees from an EBT SNAP account. Thanks to new state and federal legislation, law enforcement and state agencies now have additional tools to look into criminal use of state and federal benefits, including taxes on EBT purchases.
People can buy groceries and food products and pay a bill for food in restaurants. EBT works under some special programs of the federal government, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ( TANF ). These programs can help people financially and mentally.
