Can I Buy a Rotisserie Chicken With Food Stamps?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), often called food stamps, is a federal initiative designed to help low-income individuals and families acquire nutritious food for home preparation. This article clarifies the types of food items eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits, specifically addressing the question about prepared foods such as rotisserie chickens.

General SNAP Purchase Guidelines

SNAP benefits are primarily intended for purchasing food items meant to be prepared and consumed at home. Eligible foods include groceries such as fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, and fish. Dairy products, breads, and cereals are eligible. Snack foods, non-alcoholic beverages, and even seeds and plants that produce food for the household are eligible.

Conversely, several categories of items are generally not eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. These exclusions include alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, and liquor, as well as tobacco products. Non-food items such as vitamins, medicines, household supplies, cleaning products, paper goods, and pet food cannot be bought with SNAP.

Hot Food and Prepared Meal Eligibility

A key rule within SNAP dictates that hot foods and ready-to-eat prepared meals are generally not eligible for purchase. This is because the program focuses on providing food for home preparation rather than immediate consumption. Consequently, a hot rotisserie chicken, which is sold warm and ready to eat, typically falls under this general exclusion.

There is a specific exception to this general rule through the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP). The RMP is not available in all states and is specifically designed for certain vulnerable populations. Eligibility for the RMP is usually limited to individuals who are elderly (60 years or older), disabled, or experiencing homelessness. These individuals, along with their spouses, may be able to use their SNAP benefits to purchase prepared meals at authorized restaurants or delis.

Participation in the RMP is state-specific and requires both the state and the individual restaurant or retailer to be authorized. If a state participates in the RMP and a retailer is authorized, eligible individuals might then be able to purchase hot, prepared foods, including items like rotisserie chickens, that would otherwise be ineligible.

Identifying Eligible Items at Retailers

When shopping, SNAP recipients can determine an item’s eligibility by observing how it is sold. If an item, such as a rotisserie chicken, is offered hot and ready for immediate consumption, it is usually not eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. However, a cold, pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, intended for reheating at home, is typically eligible. Many retailers that accept SNAP will display signage or clearly mark items as eligible.

Shoppers can inquire with store staff or customer service for clarification. Retailers authorized to accept SNAP benefits have systems in place to identify eligible items at checkout. The general principle is that foods intended for home preparation are eligible, while hot, ready-to-eat foods are not, unless the RMP exception applies to the individual and the store. If a store is part of a state’s RMP and the individual qualifies, the EBT card can be used for prepared meals.