Thanks to federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, state officials say nearly 59,000 Florida families in need can expect one-time payments of $450 per child in the coming week.

What You Need To Know

  • One-time payments of $450 per child are going out to nearly 59,000 Florida families

  • According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, the funds are coming from the American Rescue Plan Act

  • The payments will go to families participating in the Florida Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

According to information from the Florida Department of Children and Families, the funds will go to families participating in the Florida Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

That includes adoptive and foster families, officials said.

The payments were first announced by first lady Casey DeSantis in a July 15 statement on the DCF website.

“We are doubling down on bringing together public and private groups to collaborate and communicate with and on behalf of Floridians,” DeSantis said in the release. “We are going beyond government by bringing community partners to the table to meet the needs of foster and adoptive families under the umbrella of my Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity initiative.”

On Wednesday, DCF spokeswoman Laura Walthall released additional details on the payments and what families receiving them can expect.

"On July 15, First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that nearly 59,000 Florida families will receive a one-time payment of $450 per child," Walthall wrote. "This one-time payment assists families who are being affected by rising inflation and preparing to send their children back-to-school. P-TANF will ultimately help eligible Florida families focus on their children’s needs and offer support this summer. 

"The payments will arrive ahead of time for Florida’s “Back-to-school” sales-tax holiday taking place July 25 through August 7."

Families do not need to apply to receive the one-time payment, which will be mailed directly to recipients in the next seven days, Walthall added.

"The American Rescue Plan Act created a $1 billion fund to assist needy families affected by the pandemic within the TANF program," her statement continued. "The one-time payments ensured that $35.5 million would be received by Florida families.

"Had these awards not been made, the funding would have otherwise reverted back to the federal government. Eligibility is based on federal TANF requirements and the state’s TANF Plan."

According to information from DCF, families must fall into one of the eligible categories at the time enrolled populations were captured for the payments on July 1, 2022.

Eligible recipients include:

  • Foster Parents
  • Relative Caregivers
  • Non-relative Caregivers
  • Families receiving TANF cash assistance
  • Guardianship Assistance Program participants

On Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Ron DeSantis' spokeswoman Christina Pushaw tweeted out a photo of the letter that families can expect in the mail.