Summer 2023 P-EBT Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Summer P-EBT?
The Summer P-EBT program supplements meals for the summer months by providing benefits that families can use to purchase groceries for their children.
2. What students are eligible for Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits?
Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits will be issued to school aged students who attended a school that participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and who were eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals through the NSLP or School Breakfast Program (SBP) at the end of school year 2022-2023, this includes:
- Students who were directly certified for free school meals for receiving SNAP (Food Assistance), TANF (Temporary Cash Assistance) or Medicaid.
- Students who attended a school that participated in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), or
- Students who were determined eligible for the NSLP by the school district through an application.
Homeschooled and Florida Virtual Schools (FLVS) school aged students are not eligible for Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits.
3. What students are “Directly Certified” for P-EBT benefits?
Directly certified means a student was determined eligible by FDACS for free or reduced priced lunch through the NSLP. Students who received SNAP (Food Assistance), TANF (Temporary Cash Assistance) or Medicaid AND attended a school that participated in the NSLP during school year 2022-2023 are considered directly certified.
4. How would I know if my child attended a school that participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) during school year 2022-2023?
You can view the list of Florida schools that participated in the National School Lunch program during school year 2022-2023 here:
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and Provision 2 (P2) schools are identified with a ‘yes’ in the CEP and P2 column.
5. Will my SNAP enrolled child under age 6 receive a Summer 2023 P-EBT benefit?
Due to the end of the federal public health emergency, childcare P-EBT for SNAP enrolled children under age 6 will not be issued during Summer 2023.
6. What benefit amount will I receive?
Each eligible school aged student in Florida will receive a one-time Summer 2023 P-EBT benefit of $120 which covers summer 2023. As noted in this memo from USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Congress is requiring that the P-EBT benefit for the entire 2023 covered summer period shall not exceed $120 per eligible recipient.
7. How will I receive my P-EBT benefit?
Summer P-EBT benefits will be deposited to a household’s current EBT card, existing P-EBT card, or a new P-EBT card.
For eligible students receiving SNAP benefits, the P-EBT benefits will be added to their household’s existing EBT cards. For eligible students receiving Medicaid and/or TANF, the P-EBT benefits will be added to a P-EBT card.
If you previously received a P-EBT card, keep your P-EBT card that was previously mailed to you. If your student is eligible for Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits, additional benefits will be re-loaded when they are issued. If you no longer have your P-EBT card, you can request a replacement by calling 1-833-311-0321.
If you are not currently receiving SNAP benefits or if you were not previously issued a P-EBT card, a new P-EBT card will be mailed to you.
8. What if I have a school age student who was receiving free and reduced-price school meals and did not receive the P-EBT benefit?
If you believe your student is eligible but you have not received a P-EBT card or benefits by August 31, 2023, you may contact the P-EBT Call Center at 1-833-311-0321 or complete the Online Inquiry Form by September 22, 2023.
9. What are acceptable forms of verification?
School enrollment verification may include:
- Report card
- School transcripts
- Student ID card
- School awards or certifications
- Letter from the school’s registrar
Examples of acceptable free or reduced-price lunch verification may include:
- Free or reduced-price meals eligibility letter from the school/school district
Submitted verification must clearly show the student’s name, the school’s name and the date or school year.
10. When will I receive my P-EBT benefits?
Eligible students will be issued a one-time Summer 2023 P-EBT benefit between July 2023 and September 2023. If you believe your child is eligible and you have not received a benefit by August 31, 2023, you may contact the P-EBT Call Center at 1-833-311-0321.
11. How do I know when my P-EBT benefit has been added to my EBT card?
You can obtain your balance by logging on to the EBT Cardholder Portal or through the ebtEDGE app. You can also call the EBT Customer Service number (1-888-356-3281) on the back of your card. After you enter you sixteen (16) digit EBT/P-EBT card number you will hear your current food assistance balance.
For current SNAP recipients, the P-EBT benefit amount issued will be listed in your account separate from your regular SNAP benefits in the self-service portal at: https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/public-assistance.
12. What can I purchase with P-EBT benefits?
Households can use P-EBT benefits to buy breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy, and plants and seeds to grow food for your household to eat. Households cannot use P-EBT benefits to buy nonfood items such as pet foods, soaps, paper products, household supplies, grooming items, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vitamins, medicines, food to eat in the store, or hot foods.
13. What retailers accept P-EBT?
P-EBT benefits can be used to purchase food items at retailers displaying a Quest or SNAP logo/signage. To find the closest retailer where you can use your benefits, download the free ebtEDGE mobile app at at https://www.fisglobal.com/ebtedgemobile
SNAP recipients may purchase groceries online with the use of an EBT card. As of September 2022, participating retailers include Walmart, Amazon, ALDI, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Publix, Target, Hitchcocks Market, Freshfields Farm, Mt. Plymouth IGA, and Wholefoods.
14. When will my P-EBT benefits expire?
Benefits will expire after 274 days (9 months) of inactivity. If benefits are added to your current EBT card, the P-EBT benefits will be used first.
15. What if a student resides in multiple residences?
If you currently receive SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid and have a student receiving free and reduced-price school meals, the P-EBT benefit will be issued to the household on file with the Department of Children and Families.
If you are not receiving SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid, the P-EBT benefit will be issued to the parent or guardian based on information provided by the Department of Education.
16. What if I received a P-EBT card and do not need this benefit?
P-EBT cards should be destroyed if not needed. P-EBT benefits cannot be donated or transferred to anyone else. The benefit is for the eligible student only and can only be used for the student and their household.
17. How does the P-EBT card look?
Front of the card
The card will be sent in a plain white envelope with the following return address:
Florida P-EBT
P.O. Box 7250
Sioux Falls, SD 57117-7250
18. How can I activate the P-EBT card?
a. Online at ebtedge.com
b. You can download the ebtEDGE mobile app. The ebtEDGE mobile app is available in the App Store and Google Play.
c. Call EBT Customer Service at 1-888-356-3281
To activate the P-EBT card, you will need the following information:
a. The 16-digit card number
b. The zip code for your mailing address
c. Your child’s 6-digit date of birth (2 digits for the month, 2 digits for the day, and 4 digits for the year) and either the child’s SSN or the zip code of the mailing address. Also, you may need to PIN the card with Payee’s DOB, SSN, or DOB and zip. This should be tried before calling for assistance in pinning a card.
d. If Spanish is selected when using the ARU, the DOB is entered as dd/mm/yyyy.
19. How do I request a replacement card?
If you have received a P-EBT card and need to replace it, you can call 1-888-356-3281 to report your P-EBT card as lost, stolen, damaged, or if you did not receive your P-EBT card. Please note, if you have already scanned the QR code on the card carrier and downloaded the EBT app, your P-EBT card can be reported as lost, stolen, or damaged through the app.