The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Florida, administered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), provides financial assistance to low-income households via an EBT card.
Since 2021, this can be used as a debit card in authorized stores, including online at Walmart, Amazon, and Publix.
The USDA-funded Fresh Access Bucks program incentivizes purchases at farmers markets while also providing double benefits for fresh fruits and vegetables. The program aims to increase access to nutritious food and promote self-sufficiency by purchasing seeds or plants.
Everything you need to know about SNAP benefits
The benefits include unprepared foods such as fruits, dairy products, meats, and bread, as well as seeds for cultivation. Purchases of alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, hot foods, hygiene products, or household items are prohibited. “The program prioritizes basic nutrition, not supplements or luxuries,” a USDA spokesperson told ELMIRA.
SNAP benefit deposits are distributed between April 1 and April 28, using the eighth and ninth digits of the beneficiary’s case number, excluding the tenth.
For example, ranges 00-03 receive funds on day one, whereas 32-34 correspond to day ten. The entire schedule is available in DCF documents, and you must use the 8th and 9th numbers but read them backwards.
- 00-03: April 1st
- 04-06: April 2nd
- 07-10: April 3rd
- 11-13: April 4th
- 14-17: April 5th
- 18-20: April 6th
- 21-24: April 7th
- 25-27: April 8th
- 28-31: April 9th
- 32-34: April 10th
Payments continue with more groups until April 28, but we are going to break down the payments as the days go by in sections of about 10 groups at a time, so that you don’t get confused.
- Household size 1: $292
- Household size 2: $536
- Household size 3: $768
- Household size 4: $975
- Household size 5: $1,158
- Household size 6: $1,390
- Household size 7: $1,536
- Household size 8: $1,756
- Each additional person: $220
Who can apply for SNAP benefits in Florida?
In Florida, SNAP eligibility is determined by household size, resources, and income. The general requirements include:
To be eligible, monthly gross income must not exceed 130% of the federal poverty line, and net income must not exceed 100%. Financial resources must be under $3,000 ($4,500 if there are elderly or disabled adults).
Exceptions apply to households whose members participate in employment or disability-exempt programs.
Adults aged 18 to 59 without dependents must work at least 20 hours per week or participate in job training. Pregnancy, caregiving responsibilities, and certified physical limitations are all exemptions.
Requests can be made for free through the MyAccess portal, at DCF offices, by mail, or by fax. After submitting the documentation, some cases necessitate telephone or in-person interviews. Once approved, funds are loaded monthly to the EBT card, which can be used at over 260,000 stores nationwide.
MyAccess lets you view balances, report changes in income, and upload documents. The system is operational 24 hours a day, though updates may take up to 72 hours to be reflected. Lost or stolen cards must be reported to DCF immediately so that they can be blocked and replaced.
