As the new school year approaches, low-income Florida families will receive a $450 check to help offset the cost of rising inflation. For those who have been worried about the legitimacy of the check, the good news is the check is not a scam but is, in fact, legitimate.
This year, a record state budget was signed into law by Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis. This budget included millions of dollars to provide one-time payments to Florida families with young children. These payments included parents with foster children, adoptive families, and single parent households.
According to a press release from the governor’s office, a total of $35.5 million of the Florida state budget was set aside for this one-time payment affecting approximately 59,000 Florida families.
In the letter, the governor issued the following statement:
“As a father of three young children, I know that getting ready for a new school year can be both exciting and stressful. To offset the costs of rising inflation, especially with a new school year approaching, the State of Florida is giving you $450 for each child in your care. This one-time payment can be used for anything from buying diapers to fueling at the pump. I also want to make sure you are aware of our state’s ‘Back-to-School’ sales-tax holiday, which will take place from July 25 to August 7, to help you get the supplies you need to prepare for the upcoming school year. Supplies that will be tax-free during this time include clothing, bags, computers, shoes and other school supplies.
Please accept this payment as a form of gratitude and acknowledgment for all that you do to help nurture Florida’s future. God bless you, and God bless the great state of Florida.”
Initially, it was unclear what requirements had to be met in order to qualify to receive a check. However, the Florida Department of Children and Families has clarified that to be eligible for these payments, people must have fallen under one of the following categories as of July 1, 2022:
- Being a foster parent
- A relative caregiver
- A non-relative caregiver
- Families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance (also known as welfare)
- Participants in the Guardianship Assistance Program
No action is needed to formally apply for these checks. If someone qualifies, they should expect to receive their check over the next few days before school starts. The checks have been mailed already directly to their intended recipients.
Sources:
Florida Sending $450 Check Per Child to 59,000 Families Across the State- FOX 13
Stimulus checks: Some Florida families with kids will get a $450 “inflation relief” check – CBS News