If you are applying for food stamp benefits in Florida or are currently receiving benefits, it is important to know the Florida Food Stamp Work Requirements. This will not only help you get approved for benefits, but keep your SNAP EBT benefits as well.
Additionally, if you are considered an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWDs), there are special rules that apply.
To learn more about the Work Requirements for food stamps in Florida, including how to qualify and who is exempt from the SNAP requirements, continue reading below.
In this article, we will cover:
The Food Stamps Program is the largest and most effective safety net for Americans facing financial instability and hardship.
SNAP feeds about 41 million Americans annually, at an average cost of $2.42 per meal.
The Food Stamps Program in Florida has two sets of work requirements – a general work requirement that applies to all program participants and one for Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD).
Any individual considered an ABAWD, must meet both the general and ABAWD work requirements to receive food stamp benefits in Florida.
In addition, Florida has a special rule that requires the head of household to meet all work requirements. If they do not, then the entire household will be disqualified from benefits.
To learn more about the Florida SNAP Work Requirements for 2022, continue reading below.
The primary goal of the Florida Food Stamps Program is to help low-income individuals and households afford nutritious food.
Additionally, the program seeks to help recipients achieve self-sufficiency by emphasizing the importance of work – through the food stamps work requirements.
Current federal law states that adults ages 16 to 59 must meet the general work requirements to get SNAP benefits in Florida.
The Florida Food Stamp Work Requirements for 2022 include:
You must meet one of the listed work requirements for food stamps in Florida to qualify for benefits or to continue receiving monthly benefits.
If you fail to meet the food stamp work requirements, you will be denied benefits.
However, there are cases where you may be exempt from meeting the Florida Food Stamps Work Requirements. To find out who does not have to meet the work requirements for food stamps in Florida, then continue reading below.
Select individuals do not have to meet the SNAP work requirement rules in Florida to receive benefits.
You are excused from the Florida Food Stamps Work Requirements if you are:
Studying in school or a training program at least part-time* (*college students are subject to other eligibility rules).
If you do not meet the SNAP work requirements in Florida, you will be disqualified from getting food stamp benefits for at least a month.
In addition, you must meet the requirements in order to start receiving Florida SNAP EBT benefits again.
Once you meet the requirements, you cannot fail to meet the Florida Food Stamp Work Requirements again. If you fail to do so, you will be disqualified from receiving food stamp benefits for a longer period of time – and potentially, forever.
If you are between the ages of 18 and 49, are able to work, do not have children and are not disabled, you are considered an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD).
Stricter SNAP work requirements apply to able-bodied adults without dependents.
In fact, federal law requires that ABAWDs meet special work requirements in order to get benefits for more than 3 months within a 3-year period. This is called the ABAWD time limit.
Able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) can only receive SNAP EBT benefits in Florida for 3 months in a 3-year period.
You can meet the Florida ABAWD Work Requirement by doing any of the following:
Similar to the general food stamps work requirements in Florida, there are exemptions to the work requirements for ABAWDs. There are particular cases in which an ABAWD does not have to meet the Work Requirement rules.
If one of the following ABAWD Food Stamps Work Exemptions applies to you, you can receive Florida food stamps for more than three months.
You are excused from the ABAWD work requirement and time limit if you are:
If you fail to meet the ABAWD work requirements in Florida, you will lose your benefits once your three-month period has been exhausted. You must meet the ABAWD food stamps work requirements to receive FL SNAP benefits beyond the 3-month period.
At that point, to receive Florida SNAP benefits again you must:
Otherwise, you need to wait until your 3-year period restarts. At that time, you will be able to get another three months of benefits until the ABAWD time limit expires.
The ABAWD time limit for food stamps recipients is 3 months in a 3-year period.
However, the law allows states to temporarily waive the ABAWD time limit for those households in areas that do not have a sufficient number of jobs.
Areas that qualify for the ABAWD time limit exemption are those with an Unemployment Rate over 10 percent.
However, an ABAWD time limit waiver does not waive the general SNAP work requirements. These will still apply to your household.
To get excused from the ABAWD time limit and work requirements, check out the ABAWD Waivers Status for Florida.
Here are the most frequently asked questions about work requirements for food stamps in Florida.
If you are age 18 – 59 and able to work, you must meet the general work requirements in order to receive food stamps in Florida.
To meet the Florida Work Requirements, you must:
If you are considered an Able-bodied Adult without Dependents (children or a disabled individual), you must meet BOTH the general and ABAWD work requirements.
An ABAWD must meet the work requirements each month to continue to receive food stamp benefits.
They include the following:
In addition, CareerSource requires that you to track your hours by informing your assigned worker. Failure to contact CareerSource will result in your Florida SNAP benefits ending.
If you are already meeting the work requirements and you receive a notice to complete orientation, contact the DCF and ask the eligibility specialist to review your information.
If the ABAWD is not participating in work or a qualifying work/training program and wants to continue to receive SNAP benefits beyond the three-month time limit, then they must contact their local food stamps office to ask for help enrolling in a qualifying activity.
The local food stamps office is required to offer and provide a qualifying work or training opportunity to all individuals who are subject to the Florida Food Stamp Work Requirements.
If you are unable to work due to a good cause, you may not have to participate in SNAP Employment & Training Program in Florida.
Good cause includes temporary circumstances beyond a person’s control, such as:
Other reasons than those listed above may also be considered a good cause. To find out, please contact the Florida DCF and discuss your situation.
To report this change, you may login to your My ACCESS Florida online account and select “Report a Change” or contact customer service by calling 850-300-4323.
For more questions related to the Florida Food Stamp Work Requirements – either general or ABAWD requirements, check out the complete list of FL SNAP FAQs here.
We hope this post on the work requirements on food stamps in Florida was helpful to you. If you have any questions about the general or ABAWD Food Stamp Work Requirements in Florida, please let us know in the comments section below.
If you have additional questions about the Florida Food Stamps Program or FL SNAP EBT Card, please let us know.
In the meantime, for more help on with your Florida Food Stamp benefits, check out our other articles here:
Florida Food Stamps Income Limit for 2022
FL SNAP Food Stamps Eligibility Guide (2022)
Florida EBT Card Discounts and Freebies
Free Admission with Florida EBT Card
Florida Food Stamps Calculator
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