SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is the nation’s most important anti-hunger program. SNAP provides nutritional support for low-income seniors, people with disabilities living on fixed incomes, and other individuals and families with low incomes. SNAP is a federal program administered by the Florida Department of Children and Families Office of Economic Self-Sufficiency (ESS). ESS is responsible for determining eligibility for SNAP using federal guidelines.
SNAP eligibility rules and benefit levels are, for the most part, set at the federal level and uniform across the nation, though states have flexibility to tailor aspects of the program. Individuals must pass all eligibility rules to receive food assistance benefits.
Individuals are ineligible for SNAP if they:
Households can use food assistance benefits to buy breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, dairy, and plants and seeds to grow food for your household to eat. Households cannot use food assistance benefits to buy nonfood items such as pet foods, soaps, paper products, household supplies, grooming items, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vitamins, medicines, food to eat in the store, or hot foods. For more information on SNAP benefits, see the Food Assistance Program Factsheet .
For out-of-state agencies seeking to verify information with Florida's Department of Children and Families Economic Self Sufficiency Program regarding a client, please send an email to D11.SFL.CallCenter@myflfamilies.com .
Once approved for SNAP and/or TANF benefits, your re-loadable EBT card will be mailed to your mailing address on file.
The SUNCAP Program is a special Food Assistance Program for individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You may be eligible to receive food assistance benefits through the SUNCAP Program without any additional application, paperwork, or interviews. If you already receive food assistance benefits in the regular Food Assistance Program, you may be automatically put in the SUNCAP Program when you become SSI eligible. If your food assistance benefits will go down because of SUNCAP, you may choose to continue receiving your food assistance benefits under the regular Food Assistance Program.
For more information, see the SUNCAP Brochure .
Did you know as of May 2021, Walmart, Amazon, Aldi, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Freshfields Farm, Hitchcock’s Markets, Publix, Mt. Plymouth IGA and Whole Foods are accepting SNAP payments online? More retailers may join the online purchasing pilot as it progresses. Updates and other important information will be shared with all SNAP benefit recipients as soon as it is available.
Fresh Access Bucks (FAB), an initiative of Feeding Florida, is a USDA-funded statewide nutrition incentive program that encourages SNAP recipients to redeem their benefits at farmers markets, produce stands, CSAs, mobile markets, and community grocery outlets to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. Find out more about Fresh Access Bucks here: https://www.feedingflorida.org/food-access/fresh-access-bucks
As of May 2021, Walmart, Amazon, Aldi, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Freshfields Farm, Hitchcock’s Markets, Publix, Mt. Plymouth IGA, and Whole Foods are accepting SNAP payments online. More retailers may join the online purchasing pilot as it progresses. Updates and other important information will be shared with all SNAP benefit recipients as soon as it is available.
To determine if grocery delivery is available for your location, please visit the retailers’ websites. The available delivery ZIP codes indicate where retailers are able to provide their full line of groceries, including perishable items.
Please note: EBT cards may only be used for approved grocery items and cannot be used to pay delivery fees.
Using your EBT card online still requires your unique personal identification number (PIN). All retailers participating in the online purchasing pilot use compliant encrypted PIN-entry methods to ensure secure transactions.
Visit a participating retailer’s website or mobile app, add eligible grocery items to your cart, and select EBT as your payment method during checkout. You will be prompted to securely enter your PIN to complete the transaction.