"Florida EBT Card Guide"

Florida EBT Card

If you have a Florida EBT Card and have questions about your card, you’ve come to the right place.

In this detailed guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about your Florida ACCESS EBT card, including lost card replacement, how to log in online to check your balance, EBT discounts and perk you did not know about, whether restaurants take EBT in Florida, and much more.

"Florida EBT Card Questions and Answers"

This post on Florida EBT Card will cover:

  • What is Florida EBT?
  • How do I apply for EBT in Florida?
  • What can I buy with Florida EBT?
  • How to use Florida EBT to Buy Groceries Online
  • How Do I check my Florida EBT Card Balance?
  • Florida EBT Deposit Schedule
  • Which restaurants take EBT in Florida?
  • Florida EBT Phone Number
  • Florida EBT Card Login
  • Is there a Florida EBT App?
  • Florida EBT Discount and Perks
  • Amazon Prime EBT Discount (50% OFF Prime)
  • How do I replace my lost Florida EBT card?
  • Florida EBT FAQs

What is Florida EBT?

"Florida EBT Card"

An EBT (electronic benefits transfer) card is a plastic card that acts like a debit card that is used to distribute public assistance benefits.

The Florida EBT Card, also called the Florida ACCESS EBT card is used for the delivery of benefits such as Florida Food Assistance (SNAP benefits) and Florida Temporary Cash Assistance program (TCA).

Once you are approved for food stamps or cash assistance, you will receive your benefits each month on a Florida EBT Card.

How do I apply for EBT in Florida?

There are three ways to apply for EBT (Food Assistance) in Florida

Option 1

The easiest way to apply for Florida food stamps is online. Click here to be taken to the application website.

Option 2

You can also apply in person at your local Department of Children and Families (DCF) office. For the closest DCF office near you, click here.

Option 3

You can also call the Florida Food Stamps Information Line (1-850-300-4323) and have an application mailed to you, which you can complete and return it to your local DCF office.

For more information on Florida food stamps, eligibility, and income limits, click here.

What can I buy with Florida EBT?

Your EBT card works like a debit card. It can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, convenience stores, and some farmers’ markets and co-op food programs.

The USDA, which runs the food stamps program has a strict guide on what you can and cannot buy with SNAP benefits.

Here is the list of food items you are allowed to purchase with your SNAP Benefits card:

  • fruits
  • vegetables
  • meats, fish, poultry
  • deli meats and steak
  • dairy products
  • breads
  • cereals
  • seeds and plants that produce food for the household
  • soft drinks
  • candy
  • cookies
  • snack crackers
  • ice cream
  • energy drinks (must have a nutrition label)
  • live seafood, such as lobster, fish, and shellfish
  • pumpkins (as long as they are edible)
  • birthday cakes (the non-edible piece of the cake cannot exceed 50 percent)
  • bakery items

Here’s what you CANNOT buy with your SNAP benefits:

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • tobacco products
  • hot food (prepared for immediate consumption)
  • Nonfood items
  • pet foods
  • soaps
  • paper products
  • medicines and vitamins
  • household supplies
  • grooming items
  • cosmetics

The video below, provided by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) explains in detail what you can and cannot buy with your Florida EBT/SNAP card.

Can I use Florida EBT to Buy Groceries Online?

If you are a Florida SNAP EBT Cardholder, you can now use your EBT card online to buy groceries for delivery! This is great news for Florida food stamps recipients.

In 2017, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a pilot program for online EBT purchases. The program allows EBT Cardholders to purchase groceries online for delivery or pick-up.

Currently, the EBT Online Purchasing Program includes 19 states – with an additional 18 states expected to join the program in the coming weeks. This rapid expansion was the government’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

The program’s expansion provides low-income households with access to fresh, nutritious food during stay-at-home orders and beyond.

Online Purchasing Pilot for Florida EBT Cardholders

On April 11th, 2020, the USDA expanded its Online Purchasing Pilot to include Florida.

As a result, Florida food stamp recipients can now use their EBT Card online to purchase groceries at select grocery retailers.

Below is a list of grocery stores that accept Florida EBT online and participate in the USDA’s Online Purchasing Pilot.

Where to use Florida EBT Card Online

You can use your Florida EBT Card to purchase groceries online at Amazon and Walmart.

For a step by step process on how to purchase groceries online on Amazon, see our post on How to Buy Groceries on Amazon with EBT Card.

How Do I check my Florida EBT Card Balance?

Here’s how to check the balance on your Florida ACCESS EBT Card Balance.

Option 1 – Check your Last Receipt

The first option for checking your Florida EBT Card balance is to check your last receipt. This is the easiest and quickest way to locate the current balance on your Florida EBT Card.

Your balance will be listed at the bottom of your most recent grocery store or an ATM receipt. You should get in the habit of keeping your most current EBT receipt, that way, you always have a quick way to check your balance before you shop.

Option 2 – Login to your Edge EBT Account

The second option for checking your Florida EBT Card balance is online through the ebtEDGE website.

To log in, visit the ebtEDGE website here, then enter your card number. Once logged in, you’ll be able to view your current balance and transaction history. If you do not have an ebtEDGE account, you can create a User Account here.

"How Do I check my Florida EBT Card Balance online"

Option 3 – Check by Phone

The last option for checking your Florida EBT Card balance is by phone. Call the EBT Customer Service number (1-888-356-3281) on the back of your card. The Customer Service Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

After you call, enter your sixteen (16) digit EBT card number and you will hear your current food assistance or cash account balance(s).

Florida EBT Deposit Schedule

The Florida EBT Card holds the food assistance benefits assigned to you each month. Your benefits will be deposited onto your EBT card according to the schedule below:

Benefits are only deposited once a day, by 6 am.

If the 9th and 8th digit of your Case number is Benefits are deposited on the
00-03 1st of the month
04-06 2nd of the month
07-10 3rd of the month
11-13 4th of the month
14-17 5th of the month
18-20 6th of the month
21-24 7th of the month
25-27 8th of the month
28-31 9th of the month
32-34 10th of the month
35-38 11th of the month
39-41 12th of the month
42-45 13th of the month
46-48 14th of the month
49-53 15th of the month
54-57 16th of the month
58-60 17th of the month
61-64 18th of the month
65-67 19th of the month
68-71 20th of the month
72-74 21st of the month
75-78 22nd of the month
79-81 23rd of the month
82-85 24th of the month
86-88 25th of the month
89-92 26th of the month
93-95 27th of the month
96-99 28th of the month

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

For a full list of approved food items, see the Food Stamps Eligible Food List here.

Which restaurants take EBT in Florida?

The Restaurant Meals Program is a federal program that enables qualified elderly, disabled and homeless food stamps recipients to buy food at authorized restaurants. Any state or county can enroll in the Restaurant Meals Program.

The purpose of the program is to help expand food access to those who do not have a place to store and cook food, who may not be able to prepare food or who don’t have access to a grocery store.

Unfortunately, Florida is not one of the states participating in the Restaurant Meals program at this time.

Therefore, if you have a Flordia EBT Card, you will not be able to use it at a restaurant.

"Florida EBT Card"

Florida EBT Phone Number

Here’s the number to call if you are trying to reach Florida EBT Customer Service:

1-888-356-3281
You can call 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week

You can call the Florida EBT Phone Number to:

  • Report your card lost, stolen, damaged, or not received in the mail.
  • Find out when your benefits will be available in your account each month.
  • Know if your benefits have been deposited into your account and get your account balance.
  • Hear your last 10 transactions.
  • File a claim if you question a transaction in your account.
  • Select or change your PIN.
  • If your card does not work.
  • Find the nearest location where you can use your card.
  • Get other questions or problems with your card answered.

 How to use your Florida EBT Card to buy Food

Here are the steps you need to take to use your Florida EBT Card to purchase food that is on the food stamp list, at approved retail locations.

Before you shop, check your balance using one of the following methods, as explained in detail above:

  • By looking at your last receipt
  • You can also call Customer Service, toll-free at
    1-888-356-3281
  • Finally, you can go online to check your balance.

This balance will be the most you can spend with your card.

Here’s how to purchase food with your card.

Step 1

Take your groceries to the checkout lane.
Depending on the store, you may need to separate
your eligible food items from non-eligible items.

Step 2

Swipe your card through the Point-of-Sale (POS)
terminal or hand your EBT Card to the clerk.

Step 3

Enter your four-number Personal Identification
Number (PIN) on the keypad. The terminal will
show **** instead of the numbers you entered.

Step 4

Press the “ENTER” key.

Step 5

The clerk enters the purchase amount. If the
amount is correct, you press the “OK” or “YES” key.

Step 6

You will get a copy of a printed receipt showing:

  • Store name and address
  • Amount of your purchase
  • Your new food stamp benefits account balance

Step 7

Keep your receipt so you will know your new balance the next time you shop.

Please note that you cannot be charged a fee to use your food stamp benefits.

Florida EBT Card Login

If you have a Florida EBT Card and would like to login to your account to check your balance and get other account information, click here to be taken to the login page.

If you are a first-time user and do not yet have an online account, be sure to complete the one-time registration process before attempting to access your account information.

Once you have registered for an online account, you may:

  • Check your Balance
  • Review your transaction history
  • Change your PIN
  • Contact Customer Service

Is there a Florida EBT App?

Unfortunately, there is no mobile app created by the state of Florida for EBT cardholders.

We will make an announcement on this website as soon as one becomes available.

Florida EBT Discount and Perks

Your Florida ACCESS EBT Card gives you access to the following discounts, freebies, and perks.

Amazon Prime EBT Discount

If you have a Florida EBT Card, you can now sign up for Amazon Prime EBT Discount and get all the great benefits that come with Prime membership, at a fraction of the cost.

Amazon wants to make Amazon Prime membership more affordable to low-income households.

The regular Amazon Prime membership is $12.99 a month. However, if you have an EBT Card, you can get Prime Membership for $5.99. That’s over 50% off the regular price.

The table below shows how the EBT and Medicaid discount on Amazon Prime compares to the other Amazon Prime memberships.

Amazon Prime Membership Price Full Prime benefits
Amazon Prime month-to-month $12.99/mo.
Amazon Prime annual $119/yr.
Prime Student (monthly) $6.49/mo.
Prime Student (annual) $59/yr.
Amazon Prime EBT/Medicaid cardholders $5.99/mo. (max. 4 yrs.)

Lifeline Program

If you are currently on Food Stamps/EBT Cardholder, and your income is below a certain level, you may qualify for FREE or low-cost home or cell phone service for you or a member of your family through the Federal Lifeline Program, which serves nearly 13 million Americans.

The Lifeline program helps to lower the monthly cost of phone and internet service. Eligible customers will get at least $9.25 toward their monthly bill. You can only use Lifeline for either phone or internet service, but not both.

Discounted Cell Phone Services

Below is a list of cell phone providers that participate in the Lifeline program in the state of Florida.

Company Name Phone
Safelink Wireless 800-723-3546
Assurance Wireless 888-898-4888
Access Wireless 866-594-3644
T-Mobile 800-937-8997

Discounted Home Phone Services

Below is a list of home phone providers that participate in the Lifeline program in the state of Florida.

Company Name Phone
Global Connection of America 877-511-3009
NEFCOM 904-259-2261
AT&T 855-301-0355
Knology 855-496-9929
Windstream Communications 800-347-1991
Frontier Communications 800-921-8101
ITS Telecom 888-888-6242
Smart City Telecommunications 407-828-6700
Phone Club Corporation 800-505-1545
CenturyLink 800-407-5411
Consolidated Communications 844-968-7224
TDS Telecom/Quincy Telephone Company 888-225-5837

Free Admission with EBT Program

One of the great benefits of the Florida EBT Card is access to great tourist, cultural, educational and adventure museums – including zoos, aquariums and many more.

This is under free admission with EBT program, otherwise known as Museum for all.

The Florida Museums listed below all offer FREE to $3.00 to individuals and families who have an EBT card, and a valid form of photo ID.

The offer covers up to four individuals per EBT card, which means that if you have a family of 4, you can use your Florida EBT card to get the special discounted rate or the free admission for all four members.

We advise that you call the museum first before you go – so that you can find out what their special rate is for EBT Cardholders (whether it’s free admission or $3).

See the list of Florida Free Admission with EBT Program sites.

How do I replace my lost Florida EBT card?

If you just realized your Florida EBT Card is lost or you simply do not know where it is, you should we can help you get a replacement card.

The first thing you need to do when you realize your Food stamps card is lost, stolen, or not working is to call the Florida EBT card customer service.

Report a lost, stolen or damaged Florida ACCESS Card

If your card is lost, stolen or damaged call EBT Customer Service at 1-888-356-3281 right away.

Call As Soon As Possible

We encourage you to call the customer service number as soon as you can so that your account can be secured, especially if you think the card is stolen.

That way, you don’t risk losing the money currently in the account.

When you call customer service, they will confirm your mailing address before they mail the card to make sure they have the current address on file.

You will be able to use the same pin you used on the previous card unless you decide to select a new pin with the new card.

How long does it take to get a Replacement Florida EBT Card?

Your replacement card will be mailed to you and it will take 7-10 business days to arrive.

However, unlike getting a credit card or debit card replacement, you cannot get your EBT card expedited or a tracking number for the card.

In addition, there is no option to get a replacement EBT card the same day.

Furthermore, while you wait for your card to arrive, you cannot use your EBT funds. There is no way to manually enter the card number at retail locations and online And even with online shopping on Amazon, you need to enter your card CVV number to complete the transaction.

Therefore, Unfortunately, you have to wait for your card to arrive before you can use the funds in your EBT account.

Replacement Card did not arrive?

If you have requested a replacement Florida EBT Card and it has not yet arrived in the mail after 5-7 business days, here’s one possible reason.

If you previously changed your address and did not update your EBT account, that is probably the reason your card has not arrived.

That is because your new card is going to be mailed to your old address, and if it is mail that cannot be forwarded, then the card will likely be returned to the card issuer, which means you will have to wait longer to receive the re-issued card, further delaying your ability to be able to buy the food you need.

You can resolve this by calling the Florida EBT Customer service number and updating your mailing address, so that your new card can be mailed to the correct address.

Florida EBT FAQs

Here are the most frequently asked questions about Florida EBT.

I didn’t get my EBT benefits this month

If you did not receive your benefits this month, you should contact your DCF office for help. For the closest DCF office near you, click here.

The ATM didn’t give me the money I requested, but it took it from my cash benefits. What do I do?

You should call the Florida EBT Card customer service telephone number at 1-888-356-3281.

You will be provided directions for filing a claim.

Note that the bank or ATM owner will not be able to give you the missing cash. You will have to go through the claims process with EBT customer service.

I have a balance on my EBT card but I cannot access the benefits. What can I do?

You should call the Florida EBT Customer Service call center at 1-888-356-3281 for help.

When will my Florida EBT card expire?

Your Florida EBT card will expire on the last day of the month/year that is shown on the front of your card. Look for the “Good Thru” date on the front of your card for this date.

What should I do if my address has changed?

If your address has changed, please log into your MyACCESS Florida Account and Report a Change so that if you need a new card, it will be mailed to the correct address.

To log into your Florida MyACCESS Account, click here.

Can I have someone else help me shop using my EBT account?

Yes, you can set up an Authorized Representative (AR) to help you shop with your EBT Card.

However, the AR will have a separate card with his or her own account number and PIN.

The EBT system is able to track which card is used at any time. The AR will have access to your entire benefit account.

Note that it is not possible to limit the AR’s access to a lesser amount.

However, you may choose the account(s) to which the AR has access.

If you don’t want him or her to have access to all of your benefits, it is possible to limit the AR’s access to either your food benefits or cash benefits if you like.

Ask your county caseworker about setting up an Authorized Representative (AR).

Can I use my Florida EBT card in other counties and other states?

Your Florida EBT card will work in Florida and the other 49 states in the United States, as well as the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.

If I don’t use all my Florida EBT benefits this month, will I lose them?

No. If I don’t use all of the benefits you received this month, they will stay in the EBT account, and you may use these benefits in the following months.

In addition, each of your benefits will remain in your account(s) for 365 days (12 months/one year).

However, any benefit not used during the 365 day period will be removed from your account. Once a benefit has been removed from your account due to age, it cannot be replaced.

Florida EBT Card Summary

We hope this article on Florida EBT Card was helpful.

If so, we encourage you to share this article with anyone who may also find it helpful by using the “Share this” button below.

If you have additional questions about the Florida EBT for food stamps, please leave those in the comments section below. We are here to help you!

Be sure to check out our other articles about EBT, including How to get 50% OFF Amazon Prime for EBT Cardholders and Medicaid Cardholders and EBT Discounts and Free Stuff

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