The United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service recently granted Florida the authority to issue P-EBT (sometimes referred to as P-SNAP) benefits to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and non-SNAP households with one or more students who have temporarily lost access to free and reduced-price meals at school due to COVID-19 school closures and distance learning.

In 2020, the Florida Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) Office of Economic Self-Sufficiency worked in collaboration with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida Department of Education to issue 2.2 million Florida students more than $687 million in P-EBT benefits.

For the 2020-2021 school year, DCF estimates the P-EBT program will provide assistance to an estimated 1.2 million Florida distance learning students. P-EBT benefits can be used to purchase the same items that are eligible for purchase with SNAP/EBT. Find a list of P-EBT eligible items here. 

 

P-EBT and SNAP/EBT Doubled at Participating Florida Farmers Markets, Farm Stands, CSA's, Mobile Markets, and Community Grocery Stores

P-EBT benefits can work in conjunction with Florida’s statewide nutrition incentive program, Fresh Access Bucks, to ensure healthy food choices on a budget is easy. Fresh Access Bucks , a program of Feeding Florida, offers SNAP/EBT and P-EBT customers FREE fresh fruit and vegetables at any of the over 60 participating farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets or CSAs and four community grocery stores across the state. SNAP and P-EBT customers simply use their card at the outlets and Fresh Access Bucks will match what they spend, with FREE produce. This means, if a customer spends $30 on food with SNAP or P-EBT, they receive $30 free for healthy, nutritious, produce. Right now, through 2021, there is no limit on the amount they can receive with the match. 

The Fresh Access Bucks program strives to help fill the meal deficit with healthy fresh foods and in turn also benefit local communities and farms across the state, keeping food access sustainable for the future

How do I get P-EBT?

For households with eligible students receiving SNAP benefits, P-EBT benefits will be added to their existing EBT cards. Households not currently receiving SNAP benefits will receive a new P-EBT card in the mail with benefits automatically loaded and a personal identification number (PIN) with set up instructions.

If you have not received your P-EBT benefit by June 1, or your student has been determined not eligible for the P-EBT benefit or you think you received an incorrect amount of P-EBT, you can complete the online form to request a review of your student’s eligibility. P-EBT online form

To find out more about P-EBT benefits or see if you qualify, visit the Department of Children and Families P-EBT FAQ or call Florida Department of Children and Families at 1-833-311-0321. 

Find more information about how Fresh Access Bucks works on our FAQ page.

To find a Fresh Access Bucks outlet near you visit our map of farmers markets, CSA's, mobile markets,farm stands and retail outlets accepting SNAP/EBT and P-EBT.