Nutrition Assistance

The Restaurant Meals Program allows certain Nutrition Assistance (NA) participants to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to purchase prepared meals from participating restaurants. This may also include the deli section of a participating grocery store. This program is available to an NA household if every person in the household meets one or more of the following conditions:

• Has a disability 
• Is 60 years of age or older
• Is homeless and does not have a fixed or regular nighttime residence

List of Restaurants Participating in the Meals Program

• Double Up Food Bucks is a program that allows current Nutrition Assistance participants an opportunity to receive additional fruits and vegetables.
• The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federally funded program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance at no cost. Under TEFAP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) makes commodity foods available to state distributing agencies.
• The Commodity Senior Food Program (CSFP) works to improve the health of low-income persons who are at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with a monthly package of nutritious food at no cost. CSFP foods are purchased by the state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
• Congregate Meal Programs provide older adults with positive social contacts with other seniors at the meal sites. A congregate meal is a nutritious hot meal provided at least once a day to an eligible participant at a nutrition site, senior center or other group setting. Congregate sites may also offer a variety of health-related services such as transportation, health screening, social service referrals, legal assistance, physical and social activities and volunteer opportunities.
• The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is a federal program that works to improve the health of low-income seniors who are at least 60 years of age, income is at or below 185% of the annual poverty income guidelines, or is participating in the Commodity Senior Food Program.
• The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program is a federal program that works to improve the health of low-income families who are current WIC participants and currently receiving benefits.
• Cash Assistance helps families meet their basic needs for well-being and safety and serves as their path to self-sufficiency. The Cash Assistance program provides temporary cash benefits and supportive services to the neediest of Arizona's children and their families.
• Medical Assistance: Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is Arizona's Medicaid agency that offers health care programs to serve Arizona residents. AHCCCS provides medical insurance coverage to thousands of Arizonans each year. It helps citizens obtain doctor’s office visits, physical exams, immunizations, prenatal care, hospital care and prescriptions they need.
• Unemployment Insurance may be provided to individuals who lost their job through no fault of their own.
• Additional Community Resources are also available for individuals in need.