Why Is My Florida PEP Disbursement Late or Missing?

Florida PEP switched to 10 monthly disbursements starting in August 2025 (no longer quarterly). If you're expecting a payment that hasn't arrived, it's most likely a verification hold, an enrollment flag, or an SFO issue, not a lost payment.

First: Confirm Your Disbursement Schedule

PEP funds are released in 10 monthly installments throughout the school year. If you switched scholarship organizations (SFOs) or are in your first year, your first payment may be delayed while your account is verified. New students and families that transferred between Step Up and AAA often see 2-4 week delays.

Common Reasons for a Missing Payment

• Your enrollment is still being verified (especially for new or transferred students)
• Your Student Learning Plan hasn't been approved yet
• An automated double-enrollment flag was triggered (especially if your child briefly attended a public school — this suspended 27,000+ students in Q1 2025-26)
• Your banking or contact information needs updating in EMA
• You're enrolled with Step Up but they hit the 140,000-student cap. Confirm your renewal was processed.

Step-by-Step: What to Do

1. Log into EMA and check your account status for any alerts or flags.
2. Confirm your SFO. Step Up and AAA are separate organizations. Funds are NOT transferable between them.
3. Call Step Up's Customer Engagement Center: (877) 735-7837, Monday through Friday 8am-5pm EST. Have your student ID ready.
4. If multiple weeks pass without resolution, escalate to the Florida Department of Education.