As summer 2023 approaches, it’s essential to understand how the 2023 Florida Summer P-EBT Benefits (Pandemic EBT) will operate. P-EBT is a crucial provision put in place to ensure that children who usually receive free or reduced-price meals at school can continue to have access to nutritious food during the summer break.
The state of Florida has been approved to issue P-EBT benefits to eligible children for Summer 2023. Read below for details.
The program will be administered by the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Florida Department of Education.
About the 2023 Florida Summer P-EBT Benefits
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) established a temporary assistance program to provide meals to households with children who were unable to access meals in school during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This program was also extended to include certain children enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in child care.
The American Rescue Plan Act passed on March 11, 2021, further extended the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program.
P-EBT provides EBT to eligible families to purchase food.
This extension expanded the program’s coverage until the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and included the summer following the end of the PHE for school children.
As a result, the United States Department of Agriculture has approved the implementation of the P-EBT program in the state of Florida.
This approval allows Florida to distribute P-EBT benefits to eligible households, ensuring that children have access to nutritious meals during the ongoing public health emergency.
Key Changes to 2023 Florida Summer P-EBT Benefits
Here are the big changes to note for P-EBT eligibility in summer 2023:
Children in childcare will not be eligible for P-EBT benefits
Unlike the summer of 2022, Children in childcare will not be eligible for P-EBT benefits in the summer of 2023 if the public health emergency ends before the start of P-EBT’s covered summer period.
Based on current COVID-19 trends, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning for the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, to expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023.
Other key changes to P-EBT for summer 2023
All states, including the state of Florida, can apply for P-EBT during the summer, independent of the school year.
Also, summer P-EBT eligibility is limited to children attending National School Lunch Program (NSLP)-participating schools.
Additionally, the P-EBT summer benefit amount for 2023 cannot exceed $120 per eligible child.
When will 2023 Florida P-EBT Benefits be Distributed?
All P-EBT benefits for the school year and the summer must be distributed by September 30, 2023.
Just like in 2022, The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) will announce details about summer P-EBT distribution soon.
We will update this post when the dates are announced but here is the tentative distribution schedule below:
How Much will my Child Receive in Summer 2023 P-EBT Benefits?
Each eligible child will receive a maximum of $120 for the summer according to the tentative distribution schedule below.
| Issuance Type | P-EBT Issuance Dates | Benefits Issued for | Issuance Method | Amount per Child |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Children | June 2023 | K12 Students | Staggered | $120 |
| Review Discrepancies | July 2023 | K12 Students | Staggered | $120 |
| Final Discrepancy Review | August 2023 | K12 Students | Staggered | $120 |
Who is Eligible for 2023 Florida P-EBT Benefits?
Children who attended an NSLP-participating school at the end of the school year 22-23 and qualified to receive free or reduced-price meals are eligible for P-EBT benefits during the summer.
Children who establish their eligibility for free or reduced-price meals during the summer are also entitled to receive P-EBT benefits for the entire covered period.
However, children in childcare will not be eligible for P-EBT benefits in summer 2023 if the public health emergency declaration ends as anticipated on May 11, 2023.
2023 Florida Summer P-EBT Benefits FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Florida Summer P-EBT program for 2023:
What is the Florida Summer P-EBT program for 2023?
The Florida Summer P-EBT program is a benefits program that provides additional money for families to buy food for their children over the summer break from school.
It is known as Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfers (P-EBT).
Will P-EBT continue in the summer of 2023?
Yes, the P-EBT program will continue to provide benefits during the summer of 2023.
The benefits will be provided to eligible school children during the covered summer period, regardless of the schools’ operating status or individual children’s COVID-related absences and virtual learning days.
Will children in childcare receive P-EBT benefits in the summer of 2023?
If the public health emergency ends on May 11, 2023, as anticipated, children in child care will not be eligible for P-EBT benefits in the summer of 2023.
Can children receive meals through the Summer Food Service Program and P-EBT benefits for the same day during the covered summer period?
Yes, children can receive meals through the Summer Food Service Program and P-EBT benefits for the same day during the covered summer period.
How long Florida distribute Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits?
All funds, for both the school year and the summer P-EBT must be distributed by September 30, 2023.
How much money will families receive through the Florida Summer P-EBT program in 2023?
The federal government is allotting $120 per child for the entire summer, which is approximately three times less money than in previous years.
When can families expect to receive the benefits from the Florida Summer P-EBT program in 2023?
Due to Florida applying later than most other states, it is unlikely that families will receive the money for summer meals until after the summer break.
2023 Florida Summer P-EBT Benefits Summary
Here’s the bottom line about the 2023 Florida Summer P-EBT Benefits:
Each eligible child will receive a maximum of $120 for the summer.
We will provide an update on when the payments will be made to P-EBT cards.
Questions?
We hope this post on the 2023 Florida Summer P-EBT Benefits was helpful.
If you have further questions about Florida P-EBT benefits, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about Florida EBT and food stamp benefits, including:
