Low-income households in Florida receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is administered at the federal level by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and at the local level by the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
This article discusses the March 2025 payment dates, maximum amounts, eligibility criteria, and other important details based on official data.
The Food Assistance Program, which is the local name for SNAP in Florida, distributes benefits via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. Its goal is to supplement the food budgets of vulnerable families, ensuring access to a healthy diet. Funds are deducted monthly and can only be used at authorized merchants, excluding non-food items.
According to the USDA, more than 2.8 million Floridians received SNAP benefits in 2024, demonstrating the program’s statewide relevance and the risk of malnutrition for many families.
Distribution dates for March 2025 in Florida
SNAP payments in Florida are made between March 1 and March 28, 2025, using the last two digits of the Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number, but read backwards.
According to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), households certified prior to June 1, 2020 receive benefits between the first and fifteenth of each month:
- EDG ending in 0: benefits arrive on the 1st of the month
- EDG ending in 1: benefits arrive on the 3rd of the month
- EDG ending in 2: benefits arrive on the 5th of the month
- EDG ending in 3: benefits arrive on the 6th of the month
- EDG ending in 4: benefits arrive on the 7th of the month
- EDG ending in 5: benefits arrive on the 9th of the month
- EDG ending at 6: benefits arrive on the 11th of the month
- EDG ending at 7: benefits arrive on the 12th of the month
- EDG ending at 8: benefits arrive on the 13th of the month
- EDG ending at 9: benefits arrive on the 15th of the month
For households certified after June 1, 2020, benefits are sent between March 16 and March 28.
Maximum amounts and adjustments for inflation
For fiscal year 2025, SNAP maximum amounts were adjusted 3.4% for inflation, following the USDA Affordable Food Plan. The values in force since October 2024 are:
- 1 person: $292
- 2 people: $536
- 3 people: $768
- 4 people: $975
- 5 people: $1,161
- 6 people: $1,386
- 7 people: $1,532
- 8 people: $1,756
- Each additional person: $220 extra
Eligibility criteria and income limits for SNAP in Florida
Florida uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE), which aligns SNAP requirements with those of the Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) program.
As a result, households that qualify for TCA have automatic access to SNAP, with no additional evaluations required. Gross income limits are set at 185% of the federal poverty level, which is higher than the 130% required nationwide.
In 2025, a family of four can expect to earn up to $4,810 per month, compared to $3,380 under the federal standard. Medical expenses, housing, and child care are among the deductions used to calculate net income. Only the net limit, which is equal to 100% of the poverty level, applies to households with elderly or disabled members.
Unlike other states, Florida does not impose asset limits for SNAP eligibility. While most states limit possessions to $2,500 (or $3,750 for households with people with disabilities), in Florida, applicants can have savings, property, or vehicles without jeopardizing their eligibility if they meet income requirements. This policy makes the program more accessible to families who have limited but stable resources.
