If you are trying to check the balance on your Florida Pandemic EBT Card (P-EBT), we can help you. In today’s post, we will outline the options you have to find out your Florida P-EBT card balance. P-EBT benefits are meant to replace breakfast and lunch that children who received free or reduced-price meals would normally receive during distance learning due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Before we get into how to check your balance or activate your card, we will first explain how the Florida P-EBT program works.
Next, we will walk you through how to activate a new P-EBT card.
Also, we will explain the two ways you can check the balance on your P-EBT card.
Finally, we will answer the most frequently asked P-EBT questions, including when you can expect Florida P-EBT benefits for the 2020-2021 school year.
See the update on the 2023 Summer P-EBT Florida ($120 per child).
- What is Florida P-EBT?
- How do I Activate Florida P-EBT Card?
- How Do I check my Florida P-EBT Card Balance?
- Florida P-EBT FAQs
What is Florida P-EBT?
Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) provides nutrition assistance to families whose children have lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to COVID-19 related school closures.
Eligible families receive money on a new or existing EBT card to help make up for these lost meals.
The program was originally authorized by Congress in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020.
However, unlike SNAP benefits, P-EBT is a temporary food benefits program operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the state of Florida, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is collaborating with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the Florida Department of Education (DOE) to issue P-EBT benefits to families with eligible children.
How Does Florida P-EBT Work?
P-EBT benefits are issued on EBT cards to the parent or guardian of eligible children.
The P-EBT card works like a debit card and can be used to buy eligible food at most grocery stores and many farmers’ markets.
Additionally, the P-EBT card can even be used to buy seeds or plants to grow food.
However, you cannot use the P-EBT card to purchase alcohol, hot foods, and foods prepared for immediate consumption, like toasted sandwiches at the deli.
How do I Activate Florida P-EBT Card?
There are three options available to you to activate your Florida P-EBT Card:
Option 1 – Online
Go to www.ebtedge.com. Once there, click “More Information” under EBT Cardholder.
Next, click Login and/or register your card account.
Option 2 – Download Mobile App
The next option to activate your Florida P-EBT card is to download the ebtEDGE mobile app.
The mobile app is available for both iPhone and Android users.
To download the Andriod mobile app, click here. For the iPhone version, click here.
Option 3 – By Phone
To activate your card, call the P-EBT Customer Service Center at 1-888-356-3281.
However, you’ll need the following information to activate your card:
- The 16-digit card number found on the front of your card
- Your zip code for your mailing address
- The 6-digit date of birth for the child named on the card.
You will also be provided an opportunity to create a PIN, which you will need to check your balance or use your card.
How Do I check my Florida P-EBT Card Balance?
To check the balance on your Florida P-EBT Card, you should call the customer service number at the back of your card.
The number to call is 1-888.356.3281.
In addition, you can check your last purchase receipt. The balance on your card should appear at the bottom of your last transaction receipt.
Florida P-EBT FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Florida P-EBT program:
When can Floridians with eligible school children expect P-EBT benefits?
In Florida, P-EBT will be issued in three batches for the 2020/2021 school year.
The first batch will be distributed in April 2021 for the months of August 2020 through December 2020.
Next, benefits will be issued in June 2021 for the months of January 2021 through March 2021.
Lastly, benefits for April 2021 through June 2021 will be issued in August 2021.
How much in P-EBT Funds will my child receive?
Students will be issued $6.82 per day for each day they qualify. This will be multiplied by the number of school days that each student was enrolled in an innovative program in a qualifying school or in an eligible hybrid program.
However, P-EBT funds will not be issued for weekends, school breaks, or holidays.
Additionally, as stated above, P-EBT funds will be issued in three separate payments to cover the full 2020-2021 school year.
How do I request a replacement Florida P-EBT card?
If you have received a P-EBT card and need to replace it, here’s how.
First, call 1-888-356- 3281.
Next, press “Option 2” to report your P-EBT card as lost, stolen, damaged, or if you
did not receive your P-EBT card.
Furthermore, you can request a replacement is through the mobile app.
However, this will only work if you have already scanned the QR code on the card carrier and downloaded the EBT APP.
What if my family does not want P-EBT benefits?
You are not required to accept P-EBT benefits.
However, P-EBT benefits cannot be given away or donated.
If you do not want your P-EBT benefits, simply destroy the P-EBT card that is issued to your child.
Also, if you already receive Florida SNAP benefits and do not want the extra P-EBT benefits, contact the Florida DCF.
Can you use P-EBT at Fast Food Places?
No, you cannot use your P-EBT card at restaurants or fast food places.
Additionally, since Florida does not participate in the Restaurant Meals Program, homeless people, the elderly, and the disabled cannot use their EBT to purchase hot food.
Florida P-EBT Balance Summary
Here’s the bottom line:
There are two ways to check your P-EBT Balance – Over the phone and via your last transaction receipt.
To activate your Florida P-EBT card, follow the instructions that come with your card.
You will be required to create your private PIN number, which you will need to use your card to make purchases.
Also, you can call the EBT Customer Service Center at 1-888-356- 3281 for help.
Questions?
We hope this post on the Florida P-EBT Balance was helpful.
If you have further questions about Florida P-EBT Card, Florida EBT, SNAP benefits, please let us know in the comments section below.
Also, be sure to check out our other articles about Florida SNAP & EBT, including:
What Can You Purchase with Florida EBT?
Free Admission to Museums with Florida EBT Card
Florida P-EBT For 2021
Amazon Prime EBT Discount
How to shop on Amazon with Florida SNAP EBT
Florida Food Stamps Income Limit
How to shop online on Walmart with EBT for Pickup
