Restaurant Meals Program for Certain SNAP Beneficiaries

In October 2021, Governor Hochul signed legislation establishing the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), enabling eligible households to use their SNAP benefits via their EBT card to purchase prepared meals at participating restaurants.   

In December 2023, with approval from the USDA, NYS began a pilot program with Monroe County, followed by NYC in 2024 in Brooklyn. To date, there are six participating restaurants - four in Monroe County and two in Brooklyn - and there are plans to include more.

The following households are automatically coded as being eligible to participate in RMP; there is no separate application:

• Adults aged 60 or older and their spouses.

• Individuals who are disabled (SNAP’s definition) and their spouses.

• People experiencing homelessness.

 For more information go to https://otda.ny.gov/policy/gis/2024/24DC037.pdf.