CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program

The CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) enables eligible households the option to use their CalFresh benefits to purchase prepared meals at participating restaurants.

Refer to Homeless Households and Elderly or Disabled [63-102(e)(i)] in the CalFresh Handbook for detailed policy information on homeless, disabled and elderly CalFresh households.

For a list of approved vendors refer to CDSS Restaurant Meals Program website. The flyer CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program (SCD 208) is also included in the RRR packets for Change Reporting Households.

RMP Eligiblity 

The following CalFresh participants are eligible for RMP:

  • Adults aged 60 and older (and their spouses);
  • People with disabilities (and their spouses); and
  • People experiencing homelessness.

RMP eligibility must only be allowed for CalFresh households where all members are eligible for the program. Households that include at least one member who does not meet RMP eligibility criteria are ineligible for the RMP. Authorized Representatives have no impact on a household’s RMP eligibility and are not considered in the determination.

Exception: Spouses do not have to meet the age or disability criteria.

 

The following table provides examples of various household compositions:

 

Houeshold Composition Eligible for RMP

Household of Two

  • Person 1 – age 62
  • Person 2 – age 58 (spouse of person 1) 
   Yes

Household of Two

  • Person 1 –age 50 (spouse of person 2)
  • Person 2 – age 55 with a disability 
   Yes

Household of Two

  • Person 1 – age 67
  • Person 2 – age 70

Authorized Representative – age 35

   Yes

Household of Three

  • Person 1 – age 65 
  • Person 2 – age 55 (spouse of person 1)
  • Person 3 – age 10
   No

Household of Three

  • Person 1 – age 50 with a disability
  • Person 2 – age 50 (spouse of person 1)
  • Person 3 – age 25
   No

Household of Two

  • Person 1 – age 35
  • Person 2 – age 15 with a disability
     
   No

 

CF 889

The county is required to provide the Approval/Termination of the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program (CF 889) to all households that are approved for or terminated from the CalFresh RMP. This notice must be provided to the household whenever they become eligible for the RMP or become ineligible for the RMP. Follow the instructions below when completing the form.

 

Approval

Approval for the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program:

This box must be checked when a household is eligible to participate in the RMP. The NA BACK 9 is required.

 

Note: The termination section must not be generated when this notice is used as an approval for RMP.

Termination

Termination from the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program:

This box must be checked when a household is being terminated from the RMP due to a change in household circumstances. The NA BACK 9 is required.

Here's why:
This section must be completed to inform households why their access to the RMP is being terminated.

  • Your household is no longer homeless.
    • This box must be checked if the household is no longer experiencing homelessness.
  • One or more members of your household is not age 60 or older or disabled (not including spouse). 
    • This box must be checked if one or more members of the household is not age 60 or older, or a person with a disability. 
  • Other:
    • This box must be checked if there is another reason for termination 
      from the RMP, such as a county error. A written explanation for the 
      client must be provided.

 

Note: The approval section must not be generated when this notice is used for termination from the RMP.

 

Documentation

The case record should specifically address whether the household is eligible or ineligible for the RMP.
 

Restrictions

Per FNS and the CDSS, gift card purchases (even for the cards that are only redeemable for food) are not eligible for RMP. The RMP is only for meals purchased by eligible elderly, homeless or disabled CalFresh households at approved restaurants.