Whether you can buy fried chicken with your EBT card depends on the type of benefits you are using.

Your EBT SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps, generally cannot be used to purchase hot, prepared foods. This means hot fried chicken from a deli or restaurant is typically not an eligible item for purchase with your SNAP funds.

However, you can usually buy cold fried chicken from the refrigerated section of a grocery store. Since these items are intended to be taken home and heated, they are considered staple foods and are eligible for SNAP purchases.

If you have EBT Cash benefits, such as TANF, the rules are different. These funds can be used to buy non-food items and hot, prepared meals. Therefore, you can purchase hot fried chicken with your EBT Cash benefits.

What Happens If You Try to Purchase Fried Chicken with EBT SNAP/Food Stamps

If you attempt to buy hot fried chicken with your EBT SNAP card, the transaction will be declined. The cashier will inform you that the item is not eligible. There is no penalty for this, but you will need to use another form of payment, like EBT Cash or a debit card, to complete the purchase.

How to Check If an Item Is EBT-Eligible

Knowing how to check if an item is eligible can save you time at the checkout counter.

How to Check SNAP Eligibility for Fried Chicken

SNAP rules are based on the item itself, not where you buy it. The USDA maintains a list of eligible foods, which generally excludes hot, prepared meals at the point of sale. This is why hot fried chicken from a deli is typically not covered.

Pay attention to food labels and how the item is sold. Cold, packaged fried chicken intended for you to heat at home is usually eligible. The key distinction is that it is not hot when purchased, classifying it as a staple grocery item for off-premises consumption.

Some states have a Restaurant Meals Program (RMP). This program allows qualified elderly, disabled, or homeless individuals to buy hot meals, including fried chicken, at participating establishments. Check the USDA's list to see if your state participates.

During major emergencies, like natural disasters, states may receive temporary waivers to allow the purchase of hot foods. You can check for these disaster assistance updates on the USDA's website or through your state's local SNAP agency for information.

How to Check EBT Cash Eligibility for Fried Chicken

EBT Cash benefits, such as TANF, have different rules. Eligibility is based on the merchant, not the specific item you are buying. Federal rules do not prohibit buying fried chicken, but they do restrict spending at certain prohibited venues like casinos or liquor stores.

Since these benefits function like cash, you can use them to purchase both hot and cold fried chicken. As long as the store you are in is not a location blocked by state policy, your EBT Cash transaction for fried chicken should process without any issues.