Commissioner Fried Requests Updates from DeSantis Administration on P-EBT Nutrition Assistance for Florida Children

Tallahassee, Fla. —  Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is pressing the DeSantis Administration for answers about the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, a federal supplemental nutrition program designed to help prevent child hunger during the pandemic.

In a letter sent to the Governor yesterday, Commissioner Fried is demanding answers about why families are experiencing additional delays in receiving the summer P-EBT funding, and whether or not Florida will apply for the P-EBT funding that is available for the current school year. Commissioner Fried is also requesting information about why some eligible families have yet to receive their full P-EBT benefits from the 2020-2021 school year.

“I am deeply concerned about the continued negative impact that your Administration’s delays in applying for and disbursing P-EBT benefits for SY20-21 and summer 2021 are having on the Florida children and families who are counting on this federal assistance,” Commissioner Fried wrote. “It is of the upmost importance that your Administration communicate all P-EBT information clearly with the public, and not create any additional delays that will cause further harm to millions of Florida families by waiting any longer to submit the state’s application to the USDA for SY21-22.”

Last month, Commissioner Fried called on the DeSantis Administration to apply for the P-EBT funding that is available for the current school year. The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) finally submitted an application in October for the summer P-EBT funding after weeks of calls from Commissioner Fried and anti-hunger advocates across the state.

The full letter is available here and below.

November 22, 2021

The Honorable Ron DeSantis

Governor

The Capitol

400 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Governor DeSantis,

I am writing to request an immediate update on the distribution of the funding that is available for Florida families through the the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. In October, after months of delay and calls to action from my Department, your Administration was one of the last in the country to apply for the P-EBT funding that was available for summer 2021. That funding will provide over $1 billion for our state and $375 per child for eligible families to retroactively receive supplemental aid designed to lessen the impact of new nutritional challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic – and an estimated 2.7 million Florida children will benefit. Given the delays in application, your Administration had indicated families would begin receiving benefits starting November 15. We understand that Summer P-EBT disbursements are finally slated to begin on November 24.  Please provide the reason for the delays as well as an updated timeline for the families who have been waiting months for the federal supplemental nutrition assistance they are eligible for. 

Additionally, I am requesting that you immediately provide an update on if and when your Department of Children and Families (DCF) will apply for the P-EBT funding that is available for the current 2021-2022 school year (SY21-22). On October 5, I formally requested that you direct DCF to begin the application process for the P-EBT funding for SY21-22 and have yet to receive any response as to whether your Administration has or will start that application process. Our state is already months behind in disbursing funding from the summer and it is imperative that there are no additional delays in applying for the funding for the current school year. 

Furthermore, my Department has heard concerns from several Florida families who are continuing to struggle as they have not yet received their full P-EBT benefits for the previous school year (SY20-21). I hope your Administration is working to quickly remedy this situation, and to ensure that it will not impact or delay their receipt of summer P-EBT benefits along with SY21-22 benefits in the hopes that your Administration will be applying for those funds. In the interim, please immediately provide information as it pertains to this issue, including how many children are impacted, what the cause of the delay is, and when these families can expect the issue to be rectified and receive their benefits along with any future impact it may have on their receipt of summer assistance.

I am deeply concerned about the continued negative impact that your Administration’s delays in applying for and disbursing P-EBT benefits for SY20-21 and summer 2021 are having on the Florida children and families who are counting on this federal assistance.  It is of the upmost importance that your Administration communicate all P-EBT information clearly with the public, and not create any additional delays that will cause further harm to millions of Florida families by waiting any longer to submit the state’s application to the USDA for SY21-22.

While P-EBT program administration and authority lies with DCF under your authority, know that my Department’s Division of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness is willing to provide any assistance your Administration may need to complete and submit the application for the 2021-2022 P-EBT funding as well as any help we can offer to help resolve any issues causing your delays in distributing funding from the summer and previous school year.

Sincerely,

Nicole Fried

Commissioner of Agriculture

cc: Shevaun Harris, Secretary, Florida Department of Children and Families

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