If you live in Florida and need immediate help with food assistance, you may be eligible for the Florida Emergency Food Stamps Program. In this article, we will walk you through the steps on how you can get expedited SNAP benefits in Florida in as little as seven days.
In addition, if you have been effected by Hurricane Ian, we will provide you with everything you need to know about getting immediate food help and how to apply for disaster assistance.
We will provide you with everything you need to know about Florida Emergency Food Stamps including eligibility requirements and how to apply for Emergency Food Stamps in Florida.
After that, we will go over what happens after you are approved for expedited SNAP food benefits.
In this article, we will cover:
- What are Florida Emergency Food Stamps?
- Who qualifies for Emergency Food Stamps in Florida?
- Florida Food Stamps Eligibility & Income Limit
- Hurricane Ian Food Assistance
- How to apply for Florida Emergency Food Stamps
- Food Banks in Florida
What are Florida Emergency Food Stamps?
The Florida Emergency Food Stamps Program, also known as expedited SNAP, provides Florida households facing an emergency or life-threatening situation with food stamp benefits within seven (7) days.
Expedited (emergency) food stamps are available faster than regular food benefits, which typically take 30 days to receive.
If you have little to no income and qualify, you can get emergency food stamps in Florida within one (1) week.
The seven day period begins from the date you apply for Emergency Food Stamps in Florida.
How does Expedited SNAP work?
All expedited SNAP applications are screened using the expedited SNAP screening questions on Florida Food Stamps Application.
Florida DCF staff screen all applications for Emergency Food Stamps in Florida at the local office.
Additionally, an automated system screens any application submitted through MyACCESS Florida.
Applicants who meet the test for expedited services are entitled to:
- Postpone all verification until after receiving the first month’s benefit, except:
- Identity
- Proof they meet or are currently exempt from the Florida SNAP ABAWD Work Requirement
- Get benefits the same day they apply, if possible, but no later than the next business day.
Please note, there are exceptions to expedited SNAP. In the following situations, applicants may not get benefits in this time frame:
- Applicants in a drug and alcohol (D&A) treatment or a group living arrangement (GLA) facility.
- Process these applications to allow the resident an opportunity to receive benefits by the seventh day after the application date.
- Joint SNAP and SSI applicants released from public institutions.
- These applications are processed to allow the person an opportunity to receive benefits by the fifth day after release from the institution.
Who qualifies for Emergency Food Stamps in Florida?
If your household has little or no money and needs food assistance right away, you may qualify for Florida Emergency Food Stamps.
To be eligible for expedited processing of SNAP benefits, your household must be eligible for regular food stamps and meet one of the following requirements:
- Resources of $100 or less, and a monthly income less than $150 a month.
- Combined resources and monthly income must be less than your most recent monthly expenses for rent/mortgage and utilities.
- Your family includes a migrant or seasonal farmworker who has $100 or less in resources and very little income or income has terminated.
If you meet the Florida SNAP qualifications and one of the requirements listed above, you may qualify for Emergency Food Stamps in Florida.
If you do qualify for expedited SNAP in Florida, you will receive your food stamp benefits within 7 days.
However, if you are not sure that you meet the SNAP qualifications, we can help determine if your household is eligible.
What are the Income Limits for SNAP in Florida?
The most important eligibility requirement when applying for Florida food stamps is household income.
The Florida SNAP eligibility guidelines consider both gross and net income for your household.
Below is the Florida SNAP income limits for 2022-2023 by household size.
Please use the chart below to determine if your household income meets the Florida Food Stamps Income Limits.
| Florida SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2023 | ||
| Effective October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 | ||
| Household Size | Monthly Net Income (100% of FPL) |
Monthly Gross Income (130% of FPL)
|
| 1 | $1,133 | $1,473 |
| 2 | $1,526 | $1,984 |
| 3 | $1,920 | $2,495 |
| 4 | $2,313 | $3,007 |
| 5 | $2,706 | $3,518 |
| 6 | $3,100 | $4,029 |
| 7 | $3,493 | $4,541 |
| 8 | $3,886 | $5,052 |
| Each Additional Household Member: | +$394 | +$512 |
For more help determining if you are eligible for Florida food stamps, read our complete guides on the Florida SNAP Eligibility or Income Limits.
How will I receive my SNAP Benefits?
If you are approved for SNAP benefits in Florida, your monthly benefit amount will be electronically deposited onto an Electronic Transfer Benefit (EBT) card.
The Florida EBT Card, also known as the Florida ACCESS EBT Card works just like a regular debit card.
Once you are approved for benefits, the Florida EBT Card will be mailed directly to your house.
Your Florida ACCESS EBT Card will be sent via USPS First Class Mail. It will look similar to the image displayed below:
EBT cards can be used at a variety of stores throughout Florida including Sprouts, Trader Joes and Costco, to purchase eligible food items.
Additionally, you can purchase groceries online using your Florida SNAP EBT card, and have them delivered through the following grocery stores:
- ALDI
- Amazon
- BJs Wholesale Club
- Earth Fare
- Freshfields Farm
- Hitchcock’s Markets
- JC’s Market and Food Kitchen
- Mt. Plymouth Grocery
- Publix
- Sam’s Club Scan and Go
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
How Much Will I Get in Florida SNAP?
To find out how much you will receive in Florida SNAP benefits, use the Florida Food Stamp Calculator.
To begin, we first have to look at the maximum benefit a Florida household could get.
The chart displays the Maximum SNAP Allotment Amount for your household size.
The 2022-2023 Maximum SNAP Allotments benefits for Florida as follows:
| Maximum SNAP Benefit Amount by Household Size for Florida | |
| Effective October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 | |
| Household Size | Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment |
| 1 | $281 |
| 2 | $516 |
| 3 | $740 |
| 4 | $939 |
| 5 | $1,116 |
| 6 | $1,339 |
| 7 | $1,480 |
| 8 | $1,691 |
| Each Additional Household Member: | +$211 |
How do I apply for Florida SNAP Benefits?
If you have reviewed the Florida SNAP Eligibility Guidelines and believe you may qualify for EBT benefits, the next step is to submit your Florida SNAP application.
There are four ways you can apply for food stamps in Florida – online, in-person, or by phone or fax.
Option 1 – Online at ACCESS Florida
The easiest and quickest way to apply for FL Food Stamps is online at the My ACCESS Florida website at www.myflorida.com.
Click here to apply for Florida Food Stamps online.
Option 2 – By Phone
You can call your local Florida DCF office to apply for food stamp benefits by phone or to have an application mailed to you.
Here is the number to call:
Florida DCF Customer Service Phone Number: 850-300-4323
If you are hearing-impaired or deaf, please call the Florida Relay 7-1-1 number or 1-800-955-8771.
You can complete the paper SNAP Application and return it to your local FL DCF office for processing.
In addition, if you are completing your Florida SNAP Application by phone or fax, download the Florida Food Stamps SNAP Application.
Option 3 – By Mail
Mail your completed Florida SNAP Application to the DCF Processing Center.
The Florida DCF Mailing Address is:
ACCESS Central Mail Center
P.O. Box 1770
Ocala, FL 34478-1770
Option 4 – In Person
Lastly, you can apply for Florida food stamp benefits in-person at any of the Department of Families and Children Services offices.
Click here to locate the Florida DCF Office near you.
After you submit an application, you will be contacted by an eligibility worker to complete the online application.
Households in which all members are either older adults (age 60 and older) or people with disabilities are eligible to participate in the Florida SUNCAP.
Hurricane Ian Food Assistance
If your household has been effected by Hurricane Ian, please continue reading to find out everything you need to know about getting immediate help.
In response to Hurricane Ian, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) released over $235 million in SNAP benefits to over 773,500 households who were at risk of being impacted by Hurricane Ian. That means that over 1.4 million individuals received their SNAP benefits before the Hurricane hit – to help them prepare their food supply.
Hurricane Ian Replacement SNAP Benefits
The Florida DCF received approval to issue replacement SNAP benefits to individuals who did not receive an early release of their October benefits.
Replacement SNAP benefits will automatically be sent out to food stamp recipients that live in the following counties:
- Charlotte
- Collier
- Desoto
- Flagler
- Glades
- Hardee
- Hendry
- Highlands
- Hillsborough
- Lee
- Manatee
- Okeechobee
- Orange
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Putnam
- Sarasota
- Seminole
- Volusia
- Osceola (pending approval)
- St. John’s (pending approval)
Replacement SNAP benefits were automatically loaded onto Florida EBT cards on October 3, 2022.
If your household received October SNAP benefits early in preparation of Hurricane Ian, then you will NOT automatically be issued replacement SNAP benefits.
If you suffered a loss of food as a result of Hurricane Ian, you must submit a manual request for Replacement SNAP benefits per federal guidelines.
Please submit your request for Replacement SNAP Benefits here.
In addition, the Florida DCF has approved SNAP benefits to be used to purchase hot meals for the time being.
For more information about the Hurricane Ian assistance available to you, please check out the Florida DCF website.
How to Apply for Florida Emergency Food Stamps
Here are the step-by-step instructions to apply for Emergency Food Stamps in Florida.
Step 1 – Print the Application
First, you want to print out the application. After that, look over all the information to make sure it is correct.
You can access the Florida Emergency Food Stamps Application here.
Step 2 – Complete your Application Information
Fill in all the requested information. Once complete, sign and date the application.
Step 3 – Submit your Application
Fax your application and a copy of your photo ID to 1-866-886-4342.
Alternatively, you can take your application and documents to your local DCF benefits office.
Department of Children and Families offices are open Monday through Friday.
To find a Florida DCF office near you, visit the My FL Families website.
Once on the website, select your local county from the drop-down menu.
Step 4 – Complete your Interview
If you fax the application, a caseworker will call you by the end of the next workday to set up an interview appointment at your local DCF office.
You may request a telephone interview if you are unable to attend an in-person interview.
Step 5 – Wait for Notification
If your family is eligible for emergency SNAP benefits, you will receive a notice with instructions.
These instructions will tell you how to start using your benefits.
You will receive them by the end of the following business day after you submit the application.
Step 6 – Submit the Verification Documents
In order to continue receiving SNAP benefits, you will be requested to submit additional documentation about the income, resources, and expenses of people in your household.
The caseworker will let you know how soon this information must be provided and what information is required.
Step 7 – Complete the Recertification
At the end of your food stamps certification period, the DCF will send you information about how you can continue receiving benefits. You must complete your Florida SNAP recertification to continue receiving food stamp benefits after the date listed on the letter.
What If I Have No Food?
If you have no food and need immediate help, contact the Florida Department of Children and Families for a referral to a food pantry or food bank near you.
Food Banks in Florida
To find a Florida food bank or food pantry near you, visit the Feeding Florida website.
Once you are on the website, click the orange “Find Food Now” button located at the top-right of the screen.
Next, enter your address, city or zip code to find a food bank or food pantry near you.
The Feeding Florida network is the largest hunger-relief organization in Florida.
Together with 2,400 partner agencies, they reach over 3.1 million Floridans annually with food and resources.
There are Florida food banks and pantries ready and available to help meet your immediate nutritional needs.
Expedited SNAP in Florida Summary
We hope our post on Emergency Food Stamps in Florida and expedited SNAP was helpful to you! If you found this article helpful, please share it using the “Share this” button below.
If you have additional questions about Florida Food Stamps or Florida EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below. We’re here to help!
Be sure to check out our other articles about Florida SNAP and EBT, including:
Disaster Food Stamps in Florida
Florida SNAP Eligibility Guide
FL Food Stamps Income Limit
Florida Food Stamps Phone Number
EBT Card Discounts & Freebies in Florida
Florida Food Stamps Application FAQs
Florida SNAP Work Requirements
