EBT is a helpful means of acquiring food on a low income. SNAP benefits are used by many to buy groceries for their household. But, you may want to use your EBT card at Dairy Queen.
This article will explain how you can use EBT at Dairy Queen. It will also dive into some additional information about SNAP benefits and where they can be used.
Does Dairy Queen Accept EBT In 2024?
You can use EBT cards at Dairy Queen in some instances as of 2024. Under the Restaurant Meals Program, older adults, those who are homeless, and people with disabilities can qualify to buy fast food with their benefits. Dairy Queen locations in states like Maryland, Arizona, Rhode Island, Illinois, California, and Michigan may accept EBT for eligible users.
Keep reading to learn about how you can use your SNAP benefits and information on some other businesses that accept EBT as a form of payment!
What Forms Of Payment Does Dairy Queen Take?
Dairy Queen accepts major credit cards, such as American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.
Also, the fast-food restaurant accepts Apple Pay and other digital wallets, along with cash.
Moreover, some locations accept checks. However, your EBT card will only work at Dairy Queen under the Restaurant Meals Program in certain states.
What Can You Buy With An EBT Card?
You can use your SNAP benefits and EBT card to buy household food items, such as:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Bread and cereals
- Other foods like snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants (which are used to plant and grow food)
Moreover, the SNAP benefits aim to provide households with grocery food items that they can prepare at home.
What Can’t You Buy With An EBT Card?
You cannot buy the following items with an EBT card:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements (items with a Supplement Facts label are considered a vitamin and are not accepted with SNAP benefits)
- Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered before pick-up from the store)
- Foods that are hot at the point of sale
- Non-food items (pet foods, cleaning supplies, paper products, hygiene items, cosmetics, and other household supplies)
However, the exception to these rules is if you are eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program, under which you can also buy food that has been fully prepared for you.
How Does Dairy Queen Check My EBT Eligibility?
Your EBT card is coded with information regarding which items it will pay for.
So, if you are under the Restaurant Meals Program, participating DQ locations will accept your SNAP card automatically due to the coding.
Therefore, Dairy Queen employees will not have to check any information to decide whether your EBT card will work since the card and payment system will tell them once it is scanned.
How Else Can You Save Money At Dairy Queen?
There are other ways to save money as a Dairy Queen customer. For example, one way is by ordering through the Dairy Queen app with an account.
With that, ordering through the app will allow you to earn rewards points from your purchases. When you save up these points, you can get free food and drink items.
Also, the Dairy Queen app gives you access to deals and coupons you can use when you order.
Moreover, another way to save at Dairy Queen is by signing up for the Blizzard Fan Club, which will get you $3 off an eight-inch or ten-inch DQ cake and a free BOGO blizzard.
Finally, participating locations also have a happy hour from 2-5 PM, Monday through Friday. During happy hour, you can get $2 Premium Fruit Smoothies and $1 Misty Slushes.
To know more, you can also read our posts on what is a Dairy Queen blizzard, does Dairy Queen deliver, and Dairy Queen dress code.
Conclusion
Dairy Queen may accept EBT if you qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program, which allows SNAP benefits to be used for fast-food restaurants.
To qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program, you must be elderly, homeless, or have a disability that keeps you from preparing food in your kitchen.
However, for most SNAP users, it is only possible to buy groceries using the EBT card rather than food prepared for you.
Fortunately, many retailers and some delivery services accept EBT, so you won’t ever have to look too far to find a place where you can use these benefits.
