The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Florida, administered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), is designed to help millions of low-income individuals and families purchase basic food items. According to state data, nearly 3 million Floridians receive food allotments to help keep them at risk of hunger and poverty.
Benefits are delivered to eligible individuals through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, called the Florida Access Card there. This card functions like a debit card and can be used at grocery stores and authorized retailers.
The program follows federal guidelines, but Florida has implemented certain flexibilities, such as expanded category-based eligibility (BBCE), which allows households with slightly higher incomes to qualify if they meet other assistance program criteria.
Applying and Qualifying for SNAP in Florida
To qualify for SNAP in Florida, applicants must be certified permanent residents of the state and meet specific income, resource, and immigration status requirements.
Income limits are based on household size and are updated annually. For example, for a one-person household, gross monthly income must not exceed $2,510 (200% of the federal poverty level), while for a four-person household, the limit is $5,200.
Households that include older adults (60 years or older) or people with disabilities have more flexible rules, such as exemptions from the resource limit in most cases, but this must be determined by a Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) official when reviewing the application.
Indisputable citizenship and residency requirements
Additionally, applicants must be U.S. citizens or qualified aliens (such as refugees or lawful permanent residents) and provide a Social Security Number (SSN) or proof that they have applied for one and that it is being processed.
However, recent changes to federal law (H.R. 1) have restricted eligibility for some legal immigrants, such as refugees and trafficking survivors, which could affect thousands of Florida residents. This is something you should discuss with your nearest DCF office.
One more thing you should know about SNAP benefits
In addition to the income requirements, Florida requires able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) to work or train at least 20 hours per week. However, there are exemptions for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, people with disabilities, pregnant women, or those caring for young children.
The good news is that the state has eliminated the savings limit for most families, making the program more accessible. Only households with elderly or disabled members who exceed the income limit must comply with the $4,500 resource cap. The final aid calculation also considers basic expenses such as housing and utilities, allowing families with moderate incomes to still receive support to purchase food.
September payment dates and food stamp amounts
Florida’s DCF distributes funds every month between the 1st and the 28th, and the date a beneficiary is assigned depends on their case number. Pay attention, because it can be tricky: it depends on the digits 8 and 9 of your case number, read backward. That is, a two-digit number is formed where the digit 9 represents the tens and the digit 8 represents the units (for example, if the digit 8 is 2 and the digit 9 is 3, the number is 32).
Let’s look at the upcoming payment dates, since we’re currently in the middle of the month:
- September 15: 49-53
- September 16: 54-57
- September 17: 58-60
- September 18: 61-64
- September 19: 65-67
- September 20: 68-71
- September 21st: 72-74
- September 22: 75-78
- September 23: 79-81
- September 24: 82-85
- September 25th: 86-88
- September 26: 89-92
- September 27: 93-95
- September 28th: 96-99
To check the status of your payment online, you can use the DCF’s “Check my EBT Account” tool by clicking this link. Then, if you prefer to use the phone, you can call the dedicated SNAP services hotline at 1-888-356-3281. Or find the nearest offices using this website.