Does Honey Baked Ham Take EBT? Everything You Need to Know

Honey Baked Ham is known for its signature spiral-sliced hams, smoked turkey, heat-and-serve sides, and sandwiches perfect for any occasion. With the convenient pre-cooked entrées and sides, it can seem like an ideal place to use your EBT card for holiday meals or even a quick lunch.

But does Honey Baked Ham accept EBT or food stamps as payment? Keep reading this guide to find out the answer, learn about the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program, and discover tips for affordably shopping at Honey Baked on a budget.

Overview: EBT and SNAP Benefits at Honey Baked Ham

Here are the key facts on using SNAP EBT benefits at Honey Baked Ham locations:

• Honey Baked Ham does not currently accept EBT cards for in-store or online orders.

• Some states have a SNAP Restaurant Meals Program that allows EBT to be used at select retailers. However, Honey Baked Ham does not participate in these state programs.

• There are limited ways those on SNAP can still shop at Honey Baked Ham, like using cash benefits or promotional discounts and coupons.

Below we’ll explore the details in more depth on how EBT works with Honey Baked Ham.

What is EBT and SNAP?

First, let’s quickly define what EBT and SNAP are:

• EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer. This is the electronic system used to issue SNAP food stamp benefits to recipients.

• SNAP means the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This government program provides monthly benefits to supplement the food budget for low-income individuals and families.

So EBT cards are used to access SNAP benefits. The terms EBT, food stamps, and SNAP are often used interchangeably.

SNAP benefits can be used to purchase most grocery store foods. But restaurants and prepared food retailers need to meet certain criteria to accept EBT, which brings us to the Restaurant Meals Program.

The SNAP Restaurant Meals Program

The SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) allows EBT cards to be used at approved restaurants and retailers selling prepared meals.

For a retailer to accept EBT through RMP, they must:

• Be located in a state that participates in the Restaurant Meals Program

• Apply and be approved to accept EBT by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service

• Have an EBT-capable point-of-sale system

• Meet other eligibility criteria

As of March 2022, only 6 states have an active RMP – Arizona, California, Maryland, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

Some large chains like Subway and McDonald’s accept EBT through RMP in these states. But many restaurants still do not participate.

Does Honey Baked Ham Take EBT Via the Restaurant Meals Program?

According to corporate customer service, Honey Baked Ham locations do not currently accept EBT payments, even in states with the Restaurant Meals Program.

While Honey Baked Ham stores are located in RMP states, the company has not enrolled to accept EBT benefits at this time.

So even if your state now offers the RMP option, you still cannot use SNAP EBT benefits to purchase items at Honey Baked Ham.

Can You Use SNAP Benefits at Honey Baked Ham?

Since Honey Baked Ham doesn’t take EBT cards directly, you may be wondering if there are any ways to use your SNAP benefits:

• Withdraw cash benefits using your EBT card – You can take out a portion of your SNAP as cash to use for purchases.

• Use cash back rewards apps – Get cash back on your EBT card from apps like Ibotta after purchasing eligible groceries.

• Take advantage of coupons and discounts – Honey Baked Ham periodically offers promos and sales that can make items more affordable.

• Buy gift cards – If you receive cash gifts, you could purchase Honey Baked gift cards.

So while you can’t directly swipe your EBT card at Honey Baked Ham, there are some options to help offset costs. Being creative with coupons, cash benefits, and rewards programs can make the store more accessible.

Tips for Affordably Shopping at Honey Baked Ham

Here are some other suggestions for how to shop at Honey Baked Ham on a limited food budget:

• Look for holiday meal deals – Honey Baked Ham usually offers special pricing on complete meals around holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

• Split costs with others – Go in on a holiday ham with family or friends and divide up portions.

• Prioritize high-value items – Focus your budget on higher priced hams and turkeys vs. cheaper sides.

• Check leftovers policies – Ask about policies for using leftovers from meals to reduce food waste.

• Order lunch vs. dinner – Sandwiches and salad prices are typically lower than full entrees and sides.

• Sign up for emails – Join email lists for alerts on the latest discounts and coupons.

• Don’t forget gift cards – Ask for Honey Baked Ham gift cards for birthdays or holidays.

With some smart planning, you can still enjoy Honey Baked Ham’s delicious meals even on a tight food budget.

Is Honey Baked Ham Planning to Accept EBT in the Future?

Currently, there is no public information stating whether Honey Baked Ham intends to participate in the Restaurant Meals Program and accept EBT payments in the future.

The qualifications and application process to become an authorized EBT retailer through RMP can be extensive. So it may require significant effort on the company’s part to implement if they decide to move in that direction.

For now, your best bet is to use the affordability tips and resources mentioned above when shopping at Honey Baked Ham. But hopefully more restaurants will open up to accepting EBT cards in the coming years.

Contacting Honey Baked Ham About EBT

If you want to reach out to Honey Baked Ham about whether they plan to accept EBT cards for purchases, here are some options:

• Speak with a store manager at your local Honey Baked Ham. Provide feedback and ask if they know of any plans to enroll in RMP.

• Reach out to Honey Baked Ham corporate customer service online or by phone. Explain why being able to use EBT would make the brand more accessible.

• Write a constructive letter to Honey Baked Ham corporate offices explaining your situation and interest in using SNAP benefits.

The more interest customers express, the more incentive companies have to participate in the Restaurant Meals Program. But any applications would need to go through corporate channels.

Using Your EBT Card at Other Retailers

While you currently can’t use your EBT card directly at Honey Baked Ham, there are other retailers that accept SNAP through the Restaurant Meals Program.

For example, in participating states, EBT cards are accepted at:

• Fast food chains – Subway, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, etc.

• Convenience stores – Select 7-Eleven, Wawa, Cumberland Farms, and others

• Grocers with hot food – Safeway, Albertsons, Giant, Stop & Shop, etc.

Consult your state’s RMP documentation to see the full list of approved EBT restaurants and retailers. This can help you locate additional prepared food options redeemable with SNAP benefits.

The Bottom Line on Honey Baked Ham and EBT

Honey Baked Ham’sSignature spiraled ham, smoked turkey, savory sides, and delicious sandwiches canmake for amazing holiday meals. Unfortunately, as of now, Honey Baked Ham does not accept EBT or SNAP benefits directly for in-store or online orders.

A few states do offer an EBT Restaurant Meals Program. However, Honey Baked Ham has not enrolled to participate in RMP at this time. So EBT cards cannot be used for purchases.

But there are still ways those on SNAP can affordably shop at Honey Baked Ham through coupons, discounts, and using cash benefits. And hopefully more restaurants will accept EBT in the coming years.

In the meantime, search for EBT-authorized restaurants in your state and provide feedback to Honey Baked Ham corporate on why accepting SNAP would positively impact your shopping experience.