The program was known as Food Stamps and aims to improve nutrition through financial support that can be used to purchase food in authorized stores.
The money is distributed on an EBT card between the 1st and 28th of each month and is used to buy fruits, vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, as long as they are cold foods at the time of purchase.
It cannot be used to pay for fuel, alcohol, cigarettes, or personal hygiene products, as this may be considered a crime.
Who Is Eligible For SNAP Florida?
Eligibility rules and benefit levels for SNAP are mostly set at the federal level and uniformly across the country, although states have the flexibility to tailor aspects of the program
SNAP Florida has eligibility requirements to ensure that assistance reaches those who need it. First, you must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or qualified alien currently living in the state.Â
The Florida Department of Children and Families stipulates the following requirements to be eligible for program benefits:
- Identity: Applicants must provide proof of identity.
- Healthy adults: Ages 18 to 50, who do not have dependent children or are not pregnant, can receive SNAP benefits for 3 months in a 3-year period if they are not working or participating in a work or job training program.
- Income: Most households must meet a gross income limit at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For example, a family of two cannot earn more than $3,052 per month.
- Deductions: Some household expenses can be deducted from the total monthly income in the food assistance budget. The budget can deduct housing, dependent care, medical expenses, child support, utility deductions, and earned income deductions.
- Residency: Individuals must be Florida residents.
- Citizenship: Individuals must be U.S. citizens or have qualified non-citizen status.
- SSN: Individuals must provide a Social Security number or proof that they have applied for one.
- Child support cooperation: Certain people must cooperate with the state’s child support enforcement agency to prove a child’s legal relationship with their parent and to get the court to order child support payments.
- Assets: Most households receiving food assistance can have assets such as vehicles, bank accounts, or property and still receive assistance. Households with a disqualified member must meet an asset limit of $2,500 ($3,750 if the household has an elderly or disabled member)
- Change report: Households must report when their total monthly gross income exceeds 130% of the federal poverty level for their household size and when the working hours of able-bodied adults fall below 80 hours per month. The household must report these changes within 10 days of the end of the month of the change.
