For fiscal year (FY) 2025-26, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a total of $370 million from the main budget sections and $980 million from back-of-the-bill appropriations for a combined total of $1.35 billion.[1] After vetoes, the FY 2025-26 General Appropriations Act (GAA) equals $114.77 billion, a 1.5 percent reduction compared to FY 2024-25.[2]
While the GAA includes lump-sum budget appropriations, policymakers often include additional appropriations in the “back-of-the-bill” sections, which are not included in the GAA total. Policymakers can also make “supplemental appropriations” through bills other than the GAA. For example, the FY 2024-2025 budget totaled $116.51 billion after accounting for vetoes; however, this amount did not include back-of-the-bill sections (worth $51 million) nor bills with supplemental appropriations ($2.07 billion).[3] Although the use of back-of-the-bill and supplemental appropriations has been common over the last 10 fiscal years, on average, these expenditures represent less than 1 percent of the total appropriations (GAA, back-of-the-bill, supplemental appropriations, and other adjustments combined).[4]
The state’s operating budget does not discriminate between different funding and spending categories — it combines funding and adjustments across all categories to offer a more holistic overview of government investment when compared to the GAA for a standalone fiscal year. The operating budget in Florida, like in many states, has mostly seen incremental changes over several years, with notable exceptions. Following the Great Recession (beginning with the last quarter of 2007 and ending the third quarter of 2009),[5] the state budget stagnated until it dropped between FY 2010-11 and FY 2011-12, followed by a smaller decrease the next fiscal year. (See Figure 1.) As the July 2012 Economic Estimating Conference explained, the Great Recession triggered extreme financial and economic stress statewide, leading to sharp declines in state gross domestic product, personal income growth, and employment.[6]
Thus, the drop in Florida’s operating budget between FY 2010-11 and FY 2011-12 points to a period of sluggish recovery, ongoing financial difficulties, and budget cuts. Since then, from FY 2012-13 to FY 2019-20, the state’s operating budget gradually increased: Figure 1 shows this trend and offers insight across Florida’s six primary service areas.
On the one hand, the operating budget’s incremental changes during the FY 2008-09 to FY 2019-20 period signal stability following the Great Recession. On the other hand, however, the incremental changes highlight stagnant investment in public services. For example, in its analysis of public expenditures, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center finds that Florida invested $7,421 in public services, per capita, in 2009. (See Figure 2a.) In 2020, the state’s per capita investment in public services increased to $8,351, yet trailed behind 44 other states and D.C., which all invested more. (See Figure 2b.)[7]
As Figure 1 shows, beyond the FY 2008-09 to FY 2019-20 period of incremental growth, between FY 2020-21 and FY 2024-25, the state’s operating budget skyrocketed, eclipsing previous growth. This period aligns with the onset and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and federal response, which dramatically boosted state revenue.
The federal actions taken in response to the COVID-19 recession made it the shortest on record and invigorated an economic rebound that significantly reduced the unemployment rate. As testament to the impact of federal intervention, the Florida Legislature’s 2021 Long-Range Financial Outlook affirms that “in the first quarter of 2021 … Florida’s personal income growth [a gauge of the state’s economic health] shot up … largely due to … federal stimulus and relief programs.”[8] The legislative report also clarifies that as sales tax collections exceeded forecasts, “much of [the] gain was attributable to the … rounds of federal stimulus checks to households, redirected spending from the hard-hit service sector, and some consumers’ ability to draw down atypically large savings built up during the pandemic.”[9]
The operating budget spikes that occurred between FY 2020-21 and FY 2024-25 were affected by federal interventions in response to COVID-19. As the impact of federal assistance dissipates, policymakers should acknowledge that the unique conditions that have boosted Florida’s trust funds, sales tax collections, and, by extension, historic reserves, are unlikely to repeat.
In spite of potential state-level impacts, federal lawmakers passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which extends expiring provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and will raise households’ food and health care costs,[10] increase poverty and hunger, take health coverage away from millions,[11] and drive up the federal deficit — all to finance tax cuts that will disproportionately benefit wealthy households.[12] The OBBBA’s cuts to programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which are jointly administered by the federal government and states, will force Florida policymakers to budget for these cuts.[13]
Throughout the 2025 regular legislative session, policymakers in the Florida House and the Florida Senate clashed over one another’s proposed budget and tax policies and those of the governor, with each chamber advancing divergent visions for the state’s future.[14] At its core, the disagreement between state leaders boiled down to finding a way to limit public spending, which they finally decided to do by making budget cuts and further eroding the state’s revenue base.[15] In recent memory, and still applicable to the FY 2025-26 budget, policymakers have turned down federal funds for programs like Summer EBT and Medicaid expansion[16] while refusing to raise revenue, despite a projected $2.8 billion deficit in FY 2026-27 and a $6.9 billion deficit in FY 2027-28.[17] With the enactment of the OBBBA, state policymakers will have to decide whether to continue refusing revenue options and underfunding vital public services.
At the same time, Americans and Floridians are struggling. In the United States, aggregate household debt increased by $167 billion in the first quarter of 2025, about a 1 percent increase from the previous quarter. Since the end of 2019, just before the pandemic recession, debt balances have increased by $4.06 trillion. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, household debt is mostly mortgage balances ($12.8 trillion), followed by auto loans ($1.64 trillion), student loans ($1.63 trillion), credit cards ($1.18 trillion), and other types of debt ($0.94 trillion). Aggregate delinquency rates increased in the first quarter of 2025 -– as of the end of March, 4.3 percent of outstanding debt was in some stage of delinquency, up from 3.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024.[18]
In Florida, the total per capita debt balance has increased to an all-time high of $61,250, still below the national per capita amount of $62,500; in contrast, at the start of 2020, the per capita debt balance was $48,410 in Florida and $52,200 nationally. While most of the debt is current, about 5.4 percent (or $3,310 per capita) is late or delinquent.[19] This is all an indicator of ongoing consumer borrowing and difficulty paying off debt. Alongside increasing personal debt, Florida’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR) also notes that “the most recent personal income data [indicates] that the May personal savings rate continues to be subpar at 4.5 percent — a drop from April’s adjusted rate of 4.9 percent … The savings and credit changes are likely related to the cumulative effects of inflation, which remains stubbornly elevated.”[20] These conditions are important because Florida’s general revenue tax base (i.e., main source of flexible state dollars) is dependent on consumption. Since Florida households pay nearly 66 percent of sales tax revenue in the state, if Floridians slowed down their consumption, whether it is due to debt or not enough savings, the state budget would be directly affected.[21]
Furthermore, as the state’s population continues to increase, change, and age, so will public service demands. By 2030, the Florida Demographic Estimating Conference anticipates that nearly 25 percent of Floridians will be aged 65 or older.[22] This has implications for the relative size of the labor pool, the need for health care services, the modes of service delivery, and overall tax revenue.
Although the state faces significant budget challenges, Florida has already set a trend for collecting and spending less revenue, via taxes, than most other states, including neighboring states in the Southeast, on a per capita basis. (See Figures 2a and 2b). Concerning per capita revenue collections, the Tax Foundation finds that Florida collects about $4,900, which is less than 46 other states — only Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama raise less revenue.[23] There are several reasons why Florida trails the country in per capita tax collections:
Instead, the state relies heavily on its general sales tax to balance its budget. According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, for FY 2021-22, Florida is the most dependent on general sales taxes, with the tax accounting for roughly 64 percent of all tax collections. Once you factor in excise taxes (i.e., taxes on motor fuel, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco), taxes on consumption, overall, account for nearly 80 percent of Florida’s tax revenue.[26]
Conclusively, Florida does not tap into the same revenue streams available to other states, and its inability to do so limits the quality of education, health and human services, corrections, natural resource management, growth management, transportation projects, and general government operations.
The state’s dependence on sales taxes also perpetuates a tax system in which wealthy households pay a far lesser share of their income to taxes than families with low and middle incomes. In fact, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) ranks Florida’s tax code as the most regressive or, inequitably upside-down, in the country. According to ITEP, the bottom 20 percent of Florida taxpayers, as measured by income, bear an effective state sales tax rate that is approximately 7.7 times that of the top 1 percent.[27] (See Figure 3.)
For Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a total of $370 million from the main budget sections and $980 million from back-of-the-bill appropriations (a combined total of $1.35 billion). Compared to the FY 2024-25 main-section vetoes, the governor vetoed $580 million less; compared to back-of-the-bill vetoes, the governor vetoed $573 million more than in FY 2024-25. The governor's vetoes are available for consideration, by the Legislature, until the end of the 2026 regular session. The Legislature can override or set aside the governor’s vetoes if two-thirds of the members of each chamber vote to do so.
The FY 2025-26 budget, after vetoes, amounts to $114.77 billion and represents a 1.5 percent decrease over the previous year’s budget. Concerning funding sources, the budget incorporates $50.3 billion in General Revenue Fund dollars, $28 billion in state trust funds, and $36 billion in federal funds. (See Table 1.)
As Table 1 shows, legislators have access to the General Revenue Fund and various state and federal trust funds to pay for the budget. General revenue comprises undesignated revenue from tax collections and accounts for 44 percent of the budget. Additionally, 32 percent of the budget relies on federal dollars, and the other 25 percent is earmarked for specific state trust funds (e.g., lottery revenue goes to education).
After passage of the FY 2025-26 budget, state reserves are between $14.5 billion and $15.7 billion.[28] Policymakers can use these dollars when recessions or other unexpected events cause revenue to fall or spending to rise. With the enactment of the federal OBBBA, alongside plans to reduce spending from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it is possible that policymakers will have to tap into reserves to meet unmet budgetary needs. While reserves can cover immediate needs, they are not sustainable in the long run. In Florida, policymakers keep the following reserves:
Finally, state leaders’ conversations about the operating budget, trust fund balances, and per capita general revenue spending do not consider the forgone revenue from tax expenditures. “Silent spending,” FPI’s term for the numerous types of tax expenditures in Florida’s tax code, continues to drain billions of dollars in potential state revenue each year. Total tax expenditures will cost Floridians an estimated $31 billion in FY 2025-26.[33] While spending through the state budget takes the form of collecting revenue and appropriating these dollars to be expended, spending through the tax code takes the form of revenue the state forfeits. In either case, the result is the same: public resources are designated, and spent, for a specific purpose.
“Silent spending,” FPI’s term for the numerous types of tax expenditures in Florida’s tax code, continues to drain billions of dollars in potential state revenue each year.
Ahead of the 2026 regular legislative session, the Legislature will have to summarize the fiscal and budgetary information pertinent to FY 2025-26. The Legislature’s “Fiscal Analysis in Brief” will include graphical depictions and detailed listings of appropriations, fund sources, non-recurring issues, vetoed items, financial outlooks, and legislation affecting revenue. Similarly, by September 15, 2026, the Legislative Budget Commission is required to issue a “Long-Range Financial Outlook (Three-Year Plan)” detailing fiscal strategies for the state and its departments to assist the Legislature in making budget decisions for the upcoming session.
Notes
[1] Executive Office of the Governor, “2025 Veto List,” June 30, 2025, https://flgov.com/eog/news/press/2025/governor-ron-desantis-signs-florida-fiscal-year-2025-2026-budget.
[2] Florida Policy Institute includes appropriations plus vetoes in the funding amounts cited for fiscal year budgets (for FY 2025-26 and previous fiscal year budgets). Except for Figure 1, FPI does not include adjustments and supplemental funding in calculations of funding levels.
[3] The Florida Legislature, “Fiscal Analysis in Brief: 2024 Legislative Session: General Appropriations Act, Chapter 2024-231, Laws of Florida, Adjusted for Vetoes and Supplementals,” Office of Economic & Demographic Research (EDR), August 2024, page 7, http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/revenues/reports/fiscal-analysis-in-brief/index.cfm.
[4] FPI analysis of the Florida Legislature’s Fiscal Analyses in Brief for Fiscal Years 2013-2014 through 2024-2025. See http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/revenues/reports/fiscal-analysis-in-brief/index.cfm for individual reports.
[5] “Dates of U.S. Recessions as Inferred by GDP-based Recession Indicator,” Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, April 30, 2025, https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/JHDUSRGDPBR.
[6] Florida Economic Estimating Conference, Florida Economic Archives, “Florida Economic Outlook,” Office of Economic & Demographic Research, July 2012, http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/conferences/fleconomic/archives/120723fleconomic.pdf
[7] Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, “State and Local Direct General Expenditures, Per Capita,” Tax Policy Center, July 10, 2023, https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/statistics/state-and-local-direct-general-expenditures-capita.
[8] Senate Committee on Appropriations, House Appropriations Committee, and Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR), “State of Florida: Long-Range Financial Outlook (Fiscal Years 2022-23 through 2024-25),” September 3, 2021, page 38, http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/long-range-financial-outlook/3-Year-Plan_Fall-2021_2023-2225.pdf.
[9] Senate Committee on Appropriations, House Appropriations Committee, and Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR), “State of Florida: Long-Range Financial Outlook (Fiscal Years 2022-23 through 2024-25),” September 3, 2021, page 6.
[10] Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “By the Numbers: Senate Republican Leadership’s Reconciliation Bill Takes Food Assistance Away From Millions of People,” CBPP, June 6, 2025, https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/by-the-numbers-senate-republican-leaderships-reconciliation-bill-takes.
[11] Rhiannon Euhus, Elizabeth Williams, Alice Burns, and Robin Rudowitz, “Allocating CBO’s Estimates of Federal Medicaid Spending Reductions Across the States: Senate Reconciliation Bill,” KFF, July 1, 2025, https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/allocating-cbos-estimates-of-federal-medicaid-spending-reductions-across-the-states-senate-reconciliation-bill/.
[12] Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, “Analysis of Tax Provisions in the Senate Reconciliation Bill: National and State Level Estimates,” ITEP, July 2, 2025, https://itep.org/analysis-of-tax-provisions-in-senate-reconciliation-bill/.
[13] Tax Policy Center, “How Would Potential Federal Budget Cuts Impact State Budgets?” May 20, 2025, TPC, https://taxpolicycenter.org/features/how-would-potential-federal-budget-cuts-impact-state-budgets.
[14] Esteban Leonardo Santis, “Florida Needs to Balance the Scales If It Wants to Cut Taxes,” Bloomberg Tax Insights, May 2, 2025, https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-insights-and-commentary/florida-needs-to-balance-the-scales-if-it-wants-to-cut-taxes.
[15] Esteban Leonardo Santis, “Behind the Numbers: What Floridians Should Know About the FY 2025-26 Tax Package,” Florida Policy Institute, July 11, 2025, https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/behind-the-numbers-what-floridians-should-know-about-the-fy-2025-26-tax-package.
[16] Florida Policy Institute, “State of the Budget (Part 3): Florida Leaves Federal Dollars on the Table,” February 2, 2024, https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/state-of-the-budget-part-3-florida-leaves-federal-dollars-on-the-table.
[17] The Senate Committee on Appropriations, The House Appropriations Committee, and The Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research, State of Florida: Long-Range Financial Outlook - Fiscal Years 2025-26 Through 2027-28, EDR, September 6, 2024, https://edr.state.fl.us/Content/long-range-financial-outlook/3-Year-Plan_Fall-2024_2026-2028.pdf.
[18] Research and Statistics Group, “Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, 2025: Q1 (Released May 2025), Federal Reserve Bank of New York, May 2025, https://www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/hhdc.
[19] Research and Statistics Group, “Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, 2025: Q1 (Released May 2025), Federal Reserve Bank of New York, May 2025.
[20] Office of Economic and Demographic Research, “Monthly Revenue Report: General Revenue Collections for May 2025 (Sales Tax Data Reported is Unaudited),” Volume 45, Number 11, May 2025, https://edr.state.fl.us/Content/revenues/reports/monthly-revenue-report/newsletters/nlmay25.pdf.
[21] Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR), “Florida Sales Tax Contributions from Households, Businesses and Tourists,” EDR, March 26, 2025, https://edr.state.fl.us/Content/economy/FloridaSalesTaxContributions_FY21-22.pdf.
[22] Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR), “Population and Demographic Data - Florida Products: Population: 2025, 2030, 2035, 2040, 2045, & 2050,” EDR, October 2023, page 4, http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/population-demographics/data/Pop_Census_Day-2022.pdf.
[23] Joseph Johns, “State and Local Tax Collections Per Capita by State, 2025,” Tax Foundation, May 13, 2025, https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/state-local-tax-collections-per-capita/.
[24] Florida Timeline, “1924 – Prohibition of Personal Income and Inheritance Taxes,” n.d., https://www.floridatimeline.org/timeline/1924-prohibition-of-personal-income-taxes-and-inheritance-taxes/
[25] Florida Timeline, “2006 – Repeal of Intangibles Tax,” n.d., https://www.floridatimeline.org/timeline/2006-repeal-of-intangibles-tax/.
[26] U.S. Census Bureau, "Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2022," October 2024, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/gov-finances.html.
[27] Carl Davis et al., “Who Pays? A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems in All 50 States (7th Ed.),” Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), January 2024, https://sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/itep/ITEP-Who-Pays-7th-edition.pdf
[28] FPI derived this range from cross-referencing statements made by the Executive Office of the Governor and the Florida Senate. Most recently, the Florida Senate in its summary of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (SB 2500), reported $12.7 billion reserves, not including trust fund balances, and only counting: total unallocated general revenue, the BSF, and the additional $500 million to the Emergency Preparedness Response Fund. As a result, the Senate’s figure does not offer a complete picture of all reserves because it does not consider state trust fund balances, nor the total for the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund. As a comparison, the Executive Office of the Governor recently reported $15.7 billion reserves, but only mentioned the BSF. However, before the 2025 session, the Office of the Governor submitted its proposed budget with an overview of reserves available for FY 2025-26. Based on the governor’s plan, reserves totaled $14.6 billion ($4.2 billion in unallocated GR; $4.9 billion in BSF; $2.3 billion in unallocated state trust funds; $1 billion in the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund; and $2.2 billion in the RAP and FORA programs). With this as context, this section discusses changes to BSF, reports total Emergency Preparedness and Response Funds (inclusive of the additional $500 million), and adjusts the RAP program. Conclusively, the lower end of the range ($14.5 billion) incorporates confirmed figures for unallocated GR ($7 billion), BSF ($4.9 billion), RAP ($0.9 billion) and the most recent balance for the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund ($1.67 billion). The high-end of the range uses the Executive Office of the Governor’s most recent figure and assumes the difference between the low-end and high-end (about $1.23 billion) is based on state trust fund surpluses (i.e., other funds). See subsequent references for links.
[29] The Florida Senate, “2025 Summary of Legislation Passed: Committee on Appropriations, SB 2500—Appropriations,” 2025, https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/billsummaries/2025/html/3772. See also Executive Office of the Governor, “Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Florida Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget,” June 30, 2025, https://www.flgov.com/eog/news/press/2025/governor-ron-desantis-signs-florida-fiscal-year-2025-2026-budget. And Executive Office of the Governor, “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility, Fiscal Year 2025-2026: Overview, Debt Reduction, and Reserves,” n.d., http://www.focusonfiscalresponsibility.com/PDFLoader.htm?file=OverView.pdf.
[30] Office of Economic and Demographic Research, “General Revenue Fund. Financial Outlook Statement: Including Results of March 14, 2025 Revenue Estimating Conference, and Other Adjustments as of March 12, 2025 FY 2024-25 through FY 2029-30,” EDR, March 14, 2025, https://edr.state.fl.us/Content/revenues/outlook-statements/general-revenue/index.cfm. See also The Florida Senate, “2025 Summary of Legislation Passed: Committee on Appropriations, SB 2500—Appropriations,” 2025.
[31] Florida House of Representatives, “HB 5013 PCB BUC 25-07 Final Bill Analysis,” Florida Senate, June 18, 2025, https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/5013/Analyses/h5013z.BUC.PDF.
[32] Transparency Florida, “2025-26 Trust Fund Detail - Cash and Investment Balance: Emergency Preparedness Response Fund,” July 11, 2025, http://www.transparencyflorida.gov/Reports/TrustFundsReport.aspx?FY=&RT=TF.
[33] The Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR) compiles a list of all tax expenditures as part of the Florida Tax Handbook. See page 32 of the 2024 Florida Tax Handbook: http://edr.state.fl.us/content/revenues/reports/tax-handbook/.
American Rescue Plan Act Changes. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 extended PEUC and PUA benefits through the week ending September 6, 2021. It also increased the maximum duration of PEUC benefits ($300 a week) to 53 weeks and the maximum duration of PUA to 79 weeks. Although PEUC and PUA did not end until September 6, 2021, Florida withdrew from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program (FPUC) effective June 26, 2021. FPUC provided persons who were out of work due to COVID-19 with an additional $300 a week in unemployment insurance.
Reemployment Assistance weeks reverted to 12 effective January 1, 2022. DEO determines the maximum number of weeks available to RA claimants based on a statutory formula that looks at the average unemployment rate for the most recent third calendar year quarter (i.e., July, August, and September). Based on the downturn in unemployment, the maximum number of weeks for RA reverted to 12 effective January 1, 2022.
RA work-search and work registration requirements reinstated on May 30, 2021. Persons filing an application for RA benefits beginning March 15, 2020, are not required to complete work registration in Employ Florida through May 29, 2021. In addition, work search requirements for individuals requesting benefits for the weeks beginning March 15, 2020, were also reinstated on May 30, 2021.
RA biweekly reporting requirements reinstated. Although previously waived, biweekly reporting was reinstated effective May 10, 2020. DEO’s guide to claiming weeks is here.
Mobile app deployed. DEO has deployed a mobile app for RA applications.
DEO announces extended benefits. DEO announced implementation of Extended Benefits (EB).
Resources and guidance. For a list of resources and guidance from the United States Department of Labor on unemployment insurance and COVID-19, go here.
For DEO’s “Reemployment Assistance Frequently Asked Questions and Additional Resources,” updated 12/30/2020, go here.
For DEO’s latest claims data, go here.
DCF opens offices. DCF has reopened its brick-and-mortar storefronts, which were previously closed due to coronavirus.
DCF adds call center numbers. DCF has added a call center number for Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call center numbers now include 850-300-4323, 866-762-2237, or TTY 1-800-955-8771.
Certification periods extended by 6 months only through August 2020. Certification periods for cash, food and medical assistance were extended by 6 months for individuals and families scheduled to recertify in April through August 2020. FNS’ approval of the SNAP extension for August is here. However, effective September 1, 2020, SNAP, TANF and Medicaid recertifications have been reinstated, although DCF says that no one will lose Medicaid due to recertification.
DCF allows phone interviews. Phone interviews are now being used for TANF cash and SNAP food assistance.
Mandatory work requirements suspended only through May 2021. Under a directive from Governor DeSantis to waive work requirements for safety net programs, DCF waived work requirements for individuals participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) through May 2021. To do this, DCF explains that it partnered with the Department of Economic Opportunity to apply “good cause” statewide for TANF and SNAP recipients who would otherwise be subject to participation in mandatory work requirements as a condition of receiving those benefits. Through May 2021, persons who were sanctioned in the past due to work requirements will be able to reapply and participate in SNAP or TANF again.
Work requirements were reinstated effective June 1, 2021.
Emergency allotments (EA) ended. DCF automatically supplemented SNAP allotments of current recipients up to the maximum for a household’s size for July 2021. However, EA was discontinued beginning August 1, 2021.
The SNAP benefits increase by 15 percent ended in October 2021. Floridians who participate in SNAP to put food on the table will receive a temporary 15 percent supplement to SNAP under COVID relief passed by Congress and extended by the American Rescue Plan Act through September 2021.
FNS permanently increases SNAP through revamp of the Thrifty Food Plan. Effective October 2021, FNS has mandated a permanent increase to SNAP through a revamp of the Thrifty Food Plan. DCF says that the increase amounts to about 6% for Floridians.
Time limits suspended. SNAP time limits are suspended during the COVID-19 public health emergency. No one in Florida should be barred from SNAP due to time limits, even if they exhausted their time limit in the past.
Florida granted waiver to allow families to purchase groceries online. DCF has been granted a federal waiver to permit the State of Florida to launch a pilot project statewide effective April 21, 2020, that allows families to purchase groceries online with their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card instead of going into stores.
No Medicaid terminations from March 2020 through the end of the federal public health emergency. The national public health emergency has existed since January 27, 2020 and has been renewed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in 90-day increments since that time. The most recent renewal is effective January 16, 2022.
On March 31, 2020, AHCA alerted providers and DCF posted on the ACCESS website that:
Redetermination/recertification times are reinstated. As of October 1, 2020 AHCA's website is alerting recipients that the Department of Children and Families is now mailing letters for case reviews to check if a household is still eligible for Medicaid and/or Medically Needy. AHCA is urging people receiving these letters to take steps now to re-apply. But note, Medicaid coverage will not end during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. In January 2021 DCF conducted one-year “automated renewals” for people whose sole income is social security and SSI and are enrolled in an SSI-related Medicaid program (e.g., MEDS/AD, Medically Needy and Medicare Savings Programs). People getting VA income were not included in the automated renewal.
Extended application time. Effective with applications filed in February 2020, the time for submitting documentation required to process an application is extended for 120 days from the date of the application and eligibility will still be effective the first day of the month the application was received. Effective July 1, 2021, this policy has been rescinded. Medicaid applications submitted on or after July 1, 2021 may be denied on the 30th day after application or the day after verification information is due. Applications filed prior to July 1, will be allowed 120 days to provide requested verification to establish Medicaid eligibility.
Exclusion of additional unemployment payments in determining eligibility. The $600/week of additional unemployment insurance payments under the CARES Act will not be counted as income in determining Medicaid eligibility. (However, these payments will be counted as income in determining marketplace subsidy calculations.)
Coverage of Medicaid services during the state of emergency
COVID-19 Vaccines for Medicaid Enrollees. In an executive order published March 16, 2021 Governor DeSantis revised the vaccine distribution plan, which applies to the general public including Medicaid enrollees, to lower the age requirement to 40 effective March 29, 2021 and then effective April 5, 2021 all Floridians are eligible to receive any COVID-19 vaccination approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Medicaid enrollees eligible to receive the vaccine may visit myvaccine.fl.gov to find a location distributing the vaccine and to schedule an appointment.
On March 12, 2021, AHCA published instructions for Medicaid enrollees on how to obtain Medicaid transportation once they have scheduled an appointment for a vaccine. AHCA states: "Florida Medicaid will take you to get the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost. All you need to do is set up a time to get your vaccine. Next, let your Medicaid plan know you need a ride and they will take care of the rest. If you are not enrolled in a plan, call the Medicaid Helpline at 1-877-254-1055 to find out the name and phone number for a transportation service."
The state has also recently launched a new email system to help bring COVID-19 vaccines to homebound seniors. Seniors will be able to sign up to have the vaccine come to them by emailing a request to HomeboundVaccine@em.myflorida.com.
AHCA has posted Medicaid Alerts and FAQs providing more detail on Medicaid service changes in response to COVID-19. They address a wide range of topics including, but not limited to: telemedicine guidance for medical, behavioral health, and early intervention services providers; long-term care provider network flexibilities allowing more types of providers to deliver specified long term care services; and continuity of care for adult day care center enrollees during the time these centers are closed.
AHCA is loosening coverage restrictions for behavioral health services. Effective May 5, 2020, all prior authorization requirements for mental health or substance use disorder treatment are waived and service limitations (frequency and duration) are lifted. For behavioral analysis services, current authorizations will be extended through an "administrative approval process" which does not require providers to reassess beneficiaries currently getting services. Effective July 1, 2021 service limits will be reinstated for behavioral health services and effective July 15, 2021 Medicaid prior authorization requirements will be reinstated for behavioral health services.
Per a May 29, 2020 provider alert, during the state of emergency AHCA will be reimbursing providers for telemedicine well-child visits provided to children older than 24 months through age 20. Providers are directed to actively work to schedule follow-up in-person visits to administer immunizations and other physical components of the exam which cannot be accomplished through telemedicine.
Coverage of home and community-based waiver services (HCBS) - In response to the public emergency, Florida obtained approval from the federal government to make changes in HCBS waiver programs, including the Long Term Care and Developmental Disabilities programs. The changes are effective retroactively from January 27, 2020 to January 26, 2021. Details can be found here. They include, but are not limited to:
Note on COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccines for the uninsured. Florida has not opted to receive 100 percent federal Medicaid funding for COVID-19 testing of people without health insurance. Under the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act this option has been expanded to cover COVID-19 treatment and vaccines for the uninsured as well. Since the state has not taken up this option Floridians must look to an uneven patchwork of free testing, treatment, and vaccine resources scattered around the state. AHCA advises that uninsured people may receive free testing from their county health department or a federally qualified health center and that “many communities provide testing for free for individuals who do not have insurance. Please [click here] to find a test site in your area. Uninsured individuals should ask before the test whether testing is free of charge." There are no state agency instructions on where uninsured people can receive free treatment. However, more information on possible sources for free treatment is available here.
Residency proof no longer required at some vaccine sites, “paving the way for migrants.” - On April 29, 2021 Surgeon General Rivkees issued a new public health advisory specifying that COVID-19 vaccines are available to “a Florida resident” or someone “who is present in Florida for the purpose of providing goods or services for the benefits of residents and visitors of the State of Florida.” This new policy applies to all state-run and federally supported vaccination sites. It rescinds an advisory issued in January that had restricted vaccinations to people who could show proof of Florida residency
2021 unemployment compensation claimants can access free or reduced cost health insurance through the ACA marketplace. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace was re-opened in February 2021 to give people who need health insurance a new “special enrollment" opportunity to get covered. The 2021 American Rescue Plan eliminated or vastly reduced premiums for many people with low or moderate incomes.
Starting July 1, 2021, people who received or have been approved for unemployment compensation for any week beginning in 2021 can access free or reduced cost comprehensive health insurance plans through the ACA marketplace. This benefit is available regardless of someone's current income. To get this benefit, people must enroll in the marketplace no later than August 15, 2021. For help with enrollment, contact Covering Florida at 877-813-9115.
School children in distance learning still eligible for free or reduced cost meals. Students in distance learning for 2020-21 can still receive school meals through the National School Lunch Program if they are eligible. The student or parent/guardian may pick up meals at the school but should contact their school for more information.
For a list of current child nutrition program waivers for Florida from USDA, go here.
Congress allows increased fruit and vegetable benefits. At present, WIC provides $9 for children and $11 for women monthly for fruits and vegetables. The American Rescue Plan Act makes funding available for a four-month increase in the benefit of up to $35 monthly, if a state chooses to do so.
DOH attains waiver allowing remote issuance: Department of Health (DOH) obtained a waiver of the requirement that participants pick up their EBT cards in person at recertification or during nutritional education appointments.
WIC participants allowed to substitute certain food. Under a waiver from USDA, WIC participants in Florida are allowed to substitute milk of any available fat content and whole wheat or whole grain bread in package sizes up to 24 oz. when 16 oz. packages are unavailable.
USDA waived physical presence requirements: Although the scope and logistics are unclear at this time, USDA has given DOH permission to waive the requirement that persons be physically present at each certification or recertification determination in order to determine eligibility under the program through May 31, 2020.
USDA extends certification periods through May 31, 2020, for some participants.
For a list of current WIC waivers for Florida from USDA, go here.
HHS provides guidance. HHS has issued guidance on the flexibilities in TANF to respond to COVID-19.