Florida EBT Card FAQs

Do you have questions about your Florida EBT Card for food stamps (SNAP) and cash assistance (TANF) benefits? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. 

In this article, we will answer your most popular questions related to the Florida EBT Card including balance check, login, customer service phone number, lost card replacement and more.

To get the answers to all your questions about the Florida EBT Card for SNAP and TANF benefit payments, then continue reading below.

Florida EBT Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For help with your Florida EBT Card for food stamp and cash assistance benefits, check out our list of answers to the most frequently asked questions below.  

How do I apply for EBT/Food Stamps in Florida?

There are three ways to apply for EBT/Food stamps in Florida – online, by mail, or in person at your local Florida DCF office.

Option 1 – Apply Online

You can apply for Florida food stamps online through the  ACCESS Florida online application.

Option 2 – Apply In-Person

You can apply for Florida food assistance in-person at your local Department of Children and Families (DCF) office. To find a DCF office near you, click here.

Option 3 – Apply By Mail

Additionally, you can apply for food stamps in Florida by mail. You can print out the Florida SNAP Application, complete it and mail it into your local DCF office.

Click here to download the Florida Food Stamps SNAP Application.

Click here to find the DCF office mailing address in your county.

What information do I need to provide to apply for Food Stamps?

If you are trying to apply for SNAP EBT benefits, you will be asked to provide the following information in order to submit your application for food stamps.

You may be asked to provide:

• Proof of Identity – Driver’s License or Government-issued ID
• Citizenship or Immigration Status
• Social Security Number (SSN) of those requesting assistance
• Proof of Household Income
• Proof of Household Expenses

How do I check my Florida EBT Card Balance?

There are three ways to check the balance on your Florida EBT Card – online, by phone, and in-person. 

Option 1 – Online

The first option to check your Florida EBT Card balance is online through the EBT Edge website at www.ebtedge.com. Once on the website, you can login your EBT Card online account to check your balance.

Option 2 – By Phone

Check the balance on your FL EBT Card via phone by calling toll-free customer service phone number at 1-888-421-3281. 

After you call, you will have to enter your 16-digit EBT Card number, so be sure to have that ready when you call. 

Option 3 – In-Person

The last option is to check your Florida EBT Card balance in-person at any Quest ATM location. You can also check your available balance by locating your last purchase receipt. Your current EBT Card balance will be displayed at the bottom of your most recent receipt.

For step-by-step instructions on how to check your Florida EBT Card balance, read out our balance check article here.

Can Florida EBT be used out of state?

Yes, you can use your Florida EBT Card out-of-state at EBT retailers to purchase eligible food items. In fact, your food stamp benefits can be used anywhere in the United States including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. 

What fast food places take EBT in FL?

The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) allows qualified individuals to use their EBT Card to purchase food at approved restaurants, including some fast food places. The state of Florida does participate in the program; however, on a very limited basis. 

This means that you can only use your Florida EBT Card at select fast food restaurants. To find out what fast food places you can use your Florida food stamps at, check out our complete article.

How long does Florida EBT Food Stamps last?

EBT Food stamps benefits can last between one month to three years, depending on your household situation. Adults without children or dependents can receive benefits for a maximum of 3 months every 36 months.

Households with children can receive benefits as long as they meet the eligibility requirements. However, you will be required to renew your benefits periodically to make sure you still meet the eligibility requirements.

Most households under the SNAP program receive benefits for a 6-month period before requiring renewal.

There are separate eligibility rules for elderly and disabled adults.

To learn more about Florida SNAP EBT eligibility, read our complete article here.

How do I check the status of my Florida Food Stamps Application?

There are two ways to check the status of your Florida Food Stamps Application. You can check your benefits status by logging into your ACCESS Florida online account. 

You can also call the DCF Customer Call Center at 850-300-4323. Customer Service agents are available to answer your questions Monday through Friday from 7am to 6pm.

For step-by-step instructions on how to login your Access Florida account, read our My Access Florida Login article here. 

Can I get Emergency Food Stamps the same day?

If you have little or no income, you may be eligible to receive emergency Food Stamp benefits within 7 days of applying. Your application will be processed under the expedited benefits rules.

To determine if you are eligible, contact the Florida DCF Customer Call Center at 850-300-4323. Additionally, you can apply for Emergency Food Stamps in Florida online.

How long does it take to get food stamps on an EBT Card once you are approved?

It can take up to 30 days to receive food stamps once you are approved for benefits. If this is your first time applying and you don’t already have an EBT Card, it takes 5-7 business days to receive a Florida EBT Card in the mail.

However, if your case is under review, you will receive benefits on your normal issuance cycle.

During a review of your benefits, if your case has been closed and you are being recertified after your normal issuance cycle, it takes 2 days for benefits to post to your EBT card.

Does Florida EBT rollover to the following month?

Yes, any balance remaining on your EBT Card will roll over to the following month. Each monthly EBT deposit will remain in your account for 365 days or one-calendar year.

Any benefit not used during the 365 day period will be removed from your EBT Card account. Once EBT benefits have been removed from your account, they cannot be replaced or reactivated so be sure to use them within the stated time period.

What time will my EBT Benefits be Deposited?

Florida food stamps benefits are available on your EBT Card by 6am EST on your scheduled deposit day. SNAP benefits deposited into your EBT Card account from the 1st to the 28th each month on a set payment schedule. 

Your benefits are deposited onto your EBT card according to your case number. To find out what day your benefits will be deposited, use the the schedule below:

Once your benefits are deposited into your account, you can begin using them with your Florida EBT card to purchase eligible food items.

If you need additional help, including how to find your Florida Case Number, check out our Florida EBT Payment Schedule article.

I didn’t get my Florida Food Stamps this month – What do I do?

There are three reasons why you may not have received your Florida food stamps this month. The first reason may be due to failure to renew your benefits or submit renewal documentation on time.

The second reason may be because you are classified as an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD). According to the Food Stamp rules, you can only receive SNAP EBT benefits for three months every 36 months unless you meet certain work requirements. 

If your Florida food stamp benefits have suddenly stopped, your three month period may have expired.

The third reason for not receiving your SNAP EBT may be that your benefits have been cut off due to suspicion of fraud.

If your food stamp benefits have suddenly stopped, please call your local Florida DCF office to get more information on why you haven’t received your benefits. To find the Florida DCF office near you, click here.

Where are EBT Cards mailed from?

Florida EBT Cards are mailed directly from the Department of Children and Families (DCF). However, for security reasons, the envelopes are not marked with this information. This makes it easy to mistake your Florida EBT Card as junk mail. 

Your Florida EBT Card will be sent in a plain white envelope via USPS First Class Mail with a return address of Sioux Falls, SD.

If you are expecting to receive an EBT Card in the mail, be sure to double check any mail before you throw it out – it may not be junk.

What can you buy with a Florida EBT card?

Your Florida EBT Card can be used to purchase any eligible food items that can be consumed or prepared at home. Here is the list of eligible items you can buy with your Florida 

• Alcohol Mixers
• Baby Food (for example, infant formula, cereals, juices)
• Baker’s yeast
• Bottled water
• Baked Goods
• Breads and Cereals
• Cakes that are more than 50% edible
• Candy
• Coffee
• Cooking Ingredients
• Corn Husks
• Dairy Products
• Deli food (for example, cold sandwiches, subs, sushi, salads)
• Energy Drinks with a Nutrition Label
• Frozen foods (for example, Entrees, Frozen Dinners, frozen vegetables, and fruits)
• Fruits and Vegetables
•  Gift baskets (if the value of food item is at least 50% of the total price)
•  Honey
•  Ice (such as, cubed, bagged, or blocked)
•  Ice Cream
•  Lunch Meat
•  Meats, Fish, Seafood, and Poultry
•  Non-Alcoholic Beverages
•  Nutrition and Dietary Supplements
•  Organic foods
•  Rotisserie Chicken (If it is in a cold display case)
•  Seeds
•  Slimfast, Muscle Milk, Ensure
•  Soft Drinks (Soda)
•  Spices
•  Sushi (deli packaged sushi to go)
•  Uncooked Pizza
•  Vegan foods
• Vegetable Plants

Please note, this is not an exhaustive list. However, we made sure to include our most frequently searched items by our readers.

What does EBT not cover?

Your Florida EBT Card can not be used to purchase any hot or prepared food item, as well as any non-food items.

Here is a list of items that your EBT does not cover:

• Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
• Soaps, paper products, cosmetics, grooming items
• Pet food (for example, dog food, cat food, etc.)
• Vitamins or medicines
• Food that will be eaten in the store
• Hot foods

Other Items you cannot buy with your EBT Card include:

• Charcoal
• Cod liver oil
• Cough drops
• Crabs (cooked and hot)
• Diapers
• Dietary Supplements (for example, GNC, and most protein powders)
• Dry ice
• Energy drinks with Supplement Information labels (for example, 5-Hour Energy)
• Fertilizer and insecticides
• Flax oil
• Fountain Drinks
• Gift baskets (if the food part of the gift basket is less than 50% of the total price)
• Ice cream cone/sundae
• Livestock (for example, live animals or birds)
• Cakes (that are more than 50% non-edible)
• Toilet paper

How do I replace a lost or stolen Florida EBT Card?

If your Florida EBT Card is lost or stolen, the first thing you want to do is contact Florida EBT Customer Service to report the issue.

Upon contacting customer service, they will deactivate your EBT card. This means that you will no longer have access to your EBT Card benefits until your replacement card arrives in the mail.

Your replacement Florida EBT Card will arrive via USPS First Class mail within 5 to 7 business days at your mailing address on file.

To speak with a live person about your lost or stolen EBT Card, call the Florida EBT Customer Service number provided below:

Florida EBT Customer Service Number: 1-888-356-3281

You can call Florida EBT Card Customer Service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

For more help with your Florida EBT Card replacement, follow our step-by-step instructions here.

Florida EBT Card Questions

We hope our list of Florida EBT frequently asked questions provides you with some of the answers you are looking for. If you found this article helpful, please share it using the “Share this” button below.

If you have additional questions about your Florida EBT Card or the Florida Food Stamps Program, please let us know in the comments section below. We’re here to help! 

In the meantime, be sure to check out our other articles on Florida EBT:

Florida Food Stamps FAQs
Florida EBT Card Discounts & Freebies
What Fast Food Restaurants take EBT in Florida?
Florida EBT Edge Login and Balance Check
Free Admission with Florida EBT Card
Florida EBT Customer Service Phone Number
How to Buy Groceries Online with Florida EBT
How to use Florida EBT Online at Walmart
April SNAP Deposit Schedule for Florida