An individual or family in Florida facing financial difficulty can apply for food stamps from the Department of Children and Families. Florida's Food Assistance Program provides eligible households with benefits for the purchase of food. The benefit amount given depends on family size and household income, and the applicants must meet state and income requirements and restrictions.
Minimum Benefit Requirements
A person applying for food stamps in Florida must be a U.S. citizen or have a legal immigration status and be a Florida resident. All applying household members must have a Social Security number or legal proof a number has been applied for. All able-bodied adults between 18 and 50 years old who have no dependents are limited to three months of food stamp benefits every three years if unemployed and not in a state work program.
A single parent or guardian must provide information about the child's other parent or parents and work with the local child support enforcement agency to obtain a child support order if needed. Refusal to participate in child support enforcement results in a denial of food stamp benefits.
Filing
Food stamp benefit applicants can use the online application at the official website of the Florida Department of Children and Families or go to a local Florida ACCESS Customer Service office in person. The application asks for information on the applicant and household members, such as names, birth dates and Social Security numbers; and all sources of income, such as wages. Documentation of income and the identity of all household members must be submitted.
The applying person is issued an EBT card that functions like a debit card upon approval. The monthly food stamp benefit is loaded onto the card, and the recipient then uses the card to pay for food at area grocery stores.
Disqualified Members
A Florida household with a disqualified member, or person who cannot receive food stamps benefits due to an infraction, are subject to special income rules when applying. A person can be disqualified for prior Florida food stamp program violations, a felony drug trafficking charge, evading a felony warrant or refusing to participate in a state work program when required to do so.
Income and Assets Limits
A household with no persons barred from receiving food stamps must have a yearly net income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level for the family size. An applying household with a disqualified member must be at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level. A family with a household member who is over the age of 60 or disabled need only meet the monthly net income limit when applying; the total estimated yearly income can exceed the federal poverty guidelines.
Asset limits are usually not considered unless the household has a disqualified person, per the Florida Department of Children and Families. A household with a disqualified member cannot have more than $2,000 in assets -- or $3,000 if the family has an elderly or disabled person -- as of 2011.
Benefit Amount Determination
The benefit amount received depends on the household's total income and size. A family of one can receive up to $200 per month, a family of two up to $367 per month, and a family of three receives no more than $526 per month as of 2011.
Certain deductions from the total income of the applying household are made by the Florida Department of Children and Families. The income the food stamp benefit is based on is the money remaining after the subtractions. Twenty percent of the household's earned income is deducted, as well as a standard deduction -- $142 for families of three or less -- and other household expenses, such as child care and a percentage of shelter and utility costs.
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