Food & Nutrition

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP–formerly "Food Stamps")

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP–formerly the Food Stamp Program) helps low-income households buy nutritious food. It is also called the Food Assistance Program within the state of Florida.

A SNAP household is normally a group of people who live together and buy food and prepare meals together. If your household passes the SNAP's eligibility rules, the amount of benefits you get will depend on the number of people in your household and how much monthly income is left after certain expenses are deducted. An individual must live in the state of Florida. An applicant must be a U.S. citizen or have a qualified noncitizen status. Asset limits ($2000 in countable assets) only apply to households with a member disqualified for breaking Food Assistance Program rules, felony drug trafficking, running away from a felony warrant, or not participating in a work program. If at least one person is age 60 or older or disabled, the limit goes up to $3,000 in countable assets

The current income limits for October 2011 eligibility are listed below.

For more details on this program, consult the SNAP/Food Stamp Program Fact Sheet at: www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/access/docs/fafactsheet.pdf (PDF file. Requires Adobe Reader).

To submit an on-line application, visit: www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/

Find a Community Agency to Help You Apply:
Community agencies are working with the Department of Children and Families to provide help with applying for food stamps. A list of these community sites can be found at: www.dcf.state.fl.us/access/CPSLookup/search.aspx

Find a Regional Office or Client Relations Coordinator:
These offices should only be called if you have not been able to resolve your issues at the 1-866-762-2237 ACCESS helpline, or through your MyAccess account. If you need to check on the status of your application, please know that the Department of Children and Families has up to 30 days to process your application, and any status checks within that timeframe should be through your MyAccess account. Most calls within this time period will result in you being reminded that your application will be processed some time within the 30 day period.

To locate a Department of Children and Families' Regional Offices or Client Relations Coordinator, visit: www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/access/ess_programoffices.shtml.

SUNCAP Program

The SUNCAP Program is a special Food Stamp Program for individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You may be eligible to receive food stamps through the SUNCAP Program without any additional application, paperwork or interviews. Individuals in SUNCAP can use a simplified application to apply for benefits, and their interview for SSI serves the dual purpose of determining their SUNCAP eligibility. They are only required to re-certify every three years, instead of annually. If you already receive foods stamps, you may be converted automatically to the SUNCAP Program when you become SSI eligible. If your food stamp benefits will decrease as a result of SUNCAP, you may choose to continue receiving your food stamps under the regular Food Stamp Program.

For more information, visit: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess/suncap/english.pdf (PDF file. Requires Adobe Reader).

Florida Food Resource Directory

Florida Impact maintains a searchable database of local emergency food providers in each of the state's 67 counties. Entries include type of service, eligibility requirements, hours of operation, and contact information.

Visit the Florida Food Resource Directory now »

Florida WIC

WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The program provides a combination of supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals for health care to eligible participants.

Who WIC is for?

• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have recently become pregnant. Pregnant women should visit a health care provider and apply for WIC as soon as they find out they are pregnant.
• Infants under one year of age.
• Children under 5 years of age

What food does WIC provide?
WIC provides food rich in certain key nutrients. Women and children enrolled in the WIC program receive food checks for a variety of foods such as milk, cheese, eggs, cereals, peanut butter or dry beans, and 100% fruit and vegetable juices. Women who are exclusively breastfeeding their babies receive additional cheese, juice, and dry beans, as well as carrots and canned tuna fish. Infants who are not breastfed receive the WIC contract brand of infant formula for the first year of life. Beginning at 6 months of age, infants may also receive infant cereal and fruit juice. Special formulas or nutritional supplements are also available to participants with certain medical conditions.

WIC also provides Nutrition Education and Breastfeeding support and education.

For more information on eligibility and how to apply, visit: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/family/wic/pages/program_info/eligibility.htm

To find your local WIC office, visit: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/family/wic/pages/program_info/contact.htm

National School Lunch Program

Any child at a participating school may purchase a meal through the National School Lunch Program. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals, for which students can be charged no more than 30 cents. (For the 2010-11 school year, 130 percent of the poverty level is $23,808 for a family of three; 185 percent is $33,876.) Children from families with incomes over 185 percent of poverty pay a full price, though their meals are still subsidized to some extent. Local school food authorities set their own prices for full-price (paid) meals, and applications for free or reduced-price meals are provided by the local school.

To find contact information for your local school district, please refer to the Department of Education's Public School District Listings: http://www.fldoe.org/Schools/schoolmap/flash/schoolmap_text.asp

National School Breakfast Program

Any child at a participating school may purchase a meal through the School Breakfast Program. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the Federal poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals. (For the 2008-09 school year, 130 percent of the poverty level is $22,880 for a family of three; 185 percent is $32,560.) Children from families over 185 percent of poverty pay full price, though their meals are still subsidized to some extent. Free or reduced-price meal eligibility is determined through the National School Lunch Program application provided by the local school.

Summer Nutrition Programs

There are approximately 3,000 Summer Nutrition Program (SNP) sites around the state that provide free meals and snacks to low-income children through age 18 when school is out for summer vacation. (People over age 18 who are enrolled in school programs for persons with disabilities may also participate in the SNP.) Local governments, school districts, and non-profits sponsor SNP sites, which include schools, parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, housing projects, migrant centers, Indian reservations, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, houses of worship, summer camps and other sites. Most SNP sites are open to all children who go to the site during meal service times. No application is required.

To find the SNP sites nearest you, visit www.SummerFoodFlorida.org or call the Florida Department of Education toll-free at 1-800-622-5985.