Federal Government Shutdown

Programs overseen by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance – including Public Assistance and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – are not immediately affected by the federal government shutdown and are continuing to operate. Benefits will continue to be provided, and use of benefit cards are not impacted by the shutdown. Additionally, applications for these programs overseen by OTDA will continue to be accepted at this time. This message will be updated if additional information becomes available.

Last updated: October 1, 2025, 9:10 AM

Restaurant Meals Program (RMP)

OTDA Home Programs & Services Restaurant Meals Program (RMP)

Overview

The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) allows some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households the option to purchase prepared meals at participating restaurants with their SNAP benefits using their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.

This program is designed to serve SNAP recipients who may not have access to food preparation or storage resources or may be unable to prepare meals for themselves.

Households using SNAP benefits to purchase meals at participating restaurants receive a 10% discount on the cost of their meal. When purchasing prepared meals at participating restaurants, households will be responsible for covering the entire, discounted cost of their meals.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the RMP, all members of the SNAP household must be either:

  • Older adults, aged 60 or older and their spouses;
  • People with disabilities and their spouses; or
  • People experiencing homelessness.

You cannot apply for RMP. If you meet one or more of the requirements above your SNAP case will be automatically updated as RMP eligible. Households can check their own RMP eligibility status by visiting www.ebtEDGE.com and creating or logging into their account. If the household is creating a new ebtEDGE account, they will need their EBT card number, PIN, and an email address.

Clients can also check for the eligibility message for RMP on the ebtEDGE Mobile App.

Benefits

Those eligible for RMP receive a 10% discount when using their SNAP benefits to purchase meals at participating restaurants.

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