Will Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) Help Me?

Food Stamps is a benefit offered for low-income individuals and families that helps with food. The food stamp program was renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP in 2008, the goal of the program is to help recipients maintain healthy diets by making relatively expensive items like fresh fruits and vegetables accessible to those with low incomes. Applying for SNAP in some states requires pay stubs, housing information, utility bills, child support orders and bills for child or elder care. SNAP is administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

What is SNAP and who can apply for it?

SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, helps people with low incomes buy healthy food. To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen or qualified noncitizen, live in Florida, and meet certain income limits. Foster children aged 18-24 are exempt from work requirements.

Note: As of 2023 there are new work requirements. Go to this page to get more answers.

Who is eligible?

You must prove your identity, meet income limits, and be a Florida resident. You can’t have a drug trafficking conviction or flee a felony warrant. Students in college at least half-time are usually not eligible, but there are some exceptions.

What do I need to apply for SNAP?

You can apply online, at a Department of Children and Families (DCF) office, or by mail. You’ll need to provide proof of identity and income, as well as other information about your household.

Click here —> to Apply for Benefits online.

What happens after I apply?

It takes about 30 days to process your application. You may need an interview or to provide more information. If you’re approved, you’ll get an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card in the mail.

What can I use these benefits for?

You can use your benefits to buy food at grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and some online retailers. They can’t be used for non-food items like pet food or toiletries.

Are there other benefits available?

Yes, you may also qualify for Medicaid or other state and federal programs. Some foster children can get Medicaid and other benefits until age 26.

Are there work requirements for this?

Yes, there are work requirements for some people in the SNAP program. If you're aged 53 through 59 and you don't meet certain exceptions, you have to join the SNAP Employment and Training program, also known as E&T. This means you have to work or do job training to keep getting SNAP benefits.

Go to this page to get your questions answered.

SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, helps low-income individuals and families in Florida afford healthy food. To qualify, you need to be a U.S. citizen or have a qualified noncitizen status, live in Florida, and meet certain income limits. If you're a foster child aged 18-24, you are exempt from work requirements. To apply, you can do so online, at a Department of Children and Families office, or by mail. After applying, it might take up to 30 days to process your application. If you're approved, you'll receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card in the mail that you can use to buy food at grocery stores, farmers' markets, and some online retailers. However, SNAP benefits cannot be used for non-food items like pet food or toiletries. Additionally, some foster children may also qualify for Medicaid and other benefits until age 26.