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Public aid and government assistance from Florida DCF.

Find how to get government assistance in Florida from DCF and the government. The Department of Children and Families - ACCESS Florida Program has several resources that will help low income families, seniors and the disabled. Get help from public assistance including SNAP Food Stamps, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), Medicaid and Senior Citizen programs among others. The programs will help people make it through a difficult period. Learn more about applying for government benefits from DCF in Florida below.

Food stamps, WIC, and public aid programs for free or low cost groceries

Florida Food Assistance Program – Low income individuals can get assistance with buying healthy food, groceries, Ensure, baby formula and more. The main resources from the Department of Children and Families for low income households is SNAP food stamps as well as WIC for new parents, including single moms, with children. Applications for food stamp EBT Cards or on the ACCESS Florida portal.

The amount of public as well cash assistance provided on an EBT card to pay for your groceries and other items will depend on your total household income as well as the number of people in your family. Your income and basic living expenses as well as other eligibility rules will be factored into the amount of free groceries and food that is offered.

SNAP food stamps in Florida are intended to help pay for some of the household expenses. A number of different types of foods can be purchased using assistance and vouchers from the state of Florida. Families can buy cereals, breads, dairy, fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, and poultry among other items.

Additional food can be provided by the SUNCAP program. This secondary resource is offered for residents who also receive public assistance from Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This service may be offered to people on SSI without any additional application, paperwork, or interview. Therefore eligibility can be immediate and streamlined.

Women, Infant, Child (WIC) is another federal government funded program for lower income Women, Infants, and Children. It provides free baby or infant formula as well as medical care for pregnancy. The Florida WIC program provides the following resources at no cost to qualified individuals and families. Access healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and counseling, as well as referrals from WIC for health care and medical services from the ACCESS Florida DCF program.

Florida KidCare can offer free or low cost public health insurance coverage for children from birth through age 18, even if the parent is employed. There are four main components of the program as indicated below.
Medikids covers children age 1 through 4.
Healthy Kids if for children who are aged 5 through 18.
Another wide ranging public resource is Children’s Medical Services, which is for Florida children birth through 18 who have special health care needs.
WIC vouchers are often combined with SNAP food stamps in Florida.
Medicaid is also offered. This is for children birth through 18. A child who has other health or dental insurance may still qualify for Medicaid.

Florida short term cash assistance benefits from DCF

Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) in Florida can offer free government grants and cash assistance to the needy and low income. The resources are focused on families with children under the age of 19 that also meet the income guidelines and asset requirements that have been put into place by the state. This cash assistance benefit is the state of Florida TANF program.

The cash program, formerly know as welfare, is really focused on helping lower income families and people on a limited income (seniors, disabled, etc.) become self-supporting and pay for their bills and expenses while allowing children to remain in their own homes. In addition to offering cash to families with children, pregnant women and single mothers in Florida may also qualify for the TCA program which is mentioned below or food stamps. Find more details on cash assistance in Florida.

TCA - Relative Caregiver Program – If you are taking care of a child but are not their parent, then this program provides a monthly cash disbursement to relatives who meet eligibility rules. For example grandparents, uncles, aunts, and other relatives who have custody of a child under age 18 who has been court ordered as a dependent may qualify for public assistance, with details on the ACCESS Florida website.

The monthly cash assistance amount provided to caregivers is more than what is provided from the Temporary Cash Assistance for one child, but the amount paid out is less than the amount paid for a child in the foster care program.

Senior citizens and the disabled may qualify for cash assistance from the Optional State Supplementation. This Florida resource can offer a monthly cash payments to disabled or indigent elderly individuals who live in special non-institutional, residential living facilities, including adult family care homes, assisted living facilities, or mental health residential treatment hospitals and facilities. The supplemental program provides a monthly check that will be paid towards supplementing the individual’s income.

Telephone bills, free phone from DCF and money for bills. Receive a free or low cost cell phone or land line in Florida from the Link-Up and Lifeline Assistance Program. This national program is also offered in Florida, and was designed to ensure that all residents of Florida, regardless of their income, have access to telephone service and some type of phone connections in their homes. Financial assistance and savings on phones are provided by the state government Children and Families. More on a free government smartphone in Florida.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs is the main government affiliated organization that helps the over one million veterans in the state of Florida. Their immediate family members can also receive assistance. A number of public assistance programs, job placement, tax assistance, grants, and educational opportunities are provided to qualified veterans and military member. Click Florida veteran assistance programs.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides grants and public money to local governments as well as non-profit agencies in Florida so that they can assist low-income families with paying for home cooling bills and any heat expenses. The government funded utility bill program provides cash grants directly to local offices in your town and county. All applications and funding is run at the local level. Read more on Florida energy assistance programs.

Emergency Financial Assistance Program (EFAHP) – This program was created by Florida to try to help prevent homelessness. Money and grants can be distributed to pay a wide range of housing expenses that could cause homelessness. For example, money may be offered for rent, mortgage payments, or energy bills. The bottom line is that funding is offered for both homeowners and renters.

Refugee Services help entrants, immigrants, and refugees in Florida access information and financial assistance they need, and also become self-sufficient. Refugee Services can assist newly-arrived eligible clients in acquiring job skills, get pubic aid, obtaining employment, learning English, career counseling, and overcoming legal or medical difficulties. The state of Florida works with over 60 community provider contracts and non-profits, and the state provide grants, cash and medical bill assistance for at most eight months.

Public health and medical care services in Florida

Free or low cost health care coverage can be provided by Florida Medicaid. The federal government program, with details on ACCESS Florida, provides Medical coverage to low income families and individuals and can help people save significantly on their bills. It is a free health insurance plan for the poor, disabled and low-income in FL.

The state of Florida as well as the federal government share the costs of paying for the Medicaid program. Services are administered by the Agency for Health Care Administration. Both the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) as well as the Social Security Administration run the program for the needy and low income.

A wide variety of public medical care can be provided for low income families with children, Pregnant women, Children only, Aged and/or disabled individuals as well as Non-citizens with medical emergencies.

Medicaid for Low Income Families With Children may be an option for children up to age 18 as well as their parents and/or caretaker. Health care can be provided in these cases to low income individuals and families.

Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA) For Non-Citizens is offered for a serious medical condition such as emergency labor and delivery of a child. The need must be verified by a doctor or medical professional, and the program is only offered for those who are also Medicaid eligible except for their citizenship status.

DCF disability programs are offered too. Health care and Medicaid for Aged or Disabled can be offered for low income individuals who are disabled or who are aged (65 or older). Several organizations work together to offer both medical care and financial support. Learn more on Florida disability benefits.

Additional DCF social services

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity offers programs to help people find a job, get a car for work, or locate free gasoline. Employers can also take advantage of resources to find qualified candidates. Among other services they run a One-Stop Career Center that can help you with your job search. Find out if you qualify for Trade Adjustment Assistance or the Workforce Investment Act at the center. Or look for transportation help for work, including a free used truck, car or other program. Learn more on where can you get a donated car for free.

Financial assistance for child care is provided by the state from resources such as the Florida School Readiness Program. The state will subsidize your costs so that the parents can either attend attend job training, work at their current job, or enroll into an education service or class. In addition it will put the child in place to get off to a strong start on their overall learning. Read more on free child care assistance in Florida.

Other services offered in Florida include the following. Most of them are also part of the ACCESS Florida public assistance programs.

Domestic Violence prevention and support for victims.
Florida Department of Veterans Affairs also helps military member’s families.
Florida Housing Finance Corporation – Mortgage, rent, and foreclosure help.
Legal aid at no cost from Florida Legal Services.
Referral services to non-profits and public assistance.
Welfare Information Network.
Florida Discount Drug Card Program can save money on prescriptions.
Florida WIC – Good Nutrition for Woman, Infants & Children.
Food Assistance Through the Angel Food Ministries Program.
Information on food banks and pantries.
Maternal and Child Health.
Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
Alzheimer's Caregiver Support.
Florida Elder Services.
Florida Hospices and Palliative Care.
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Assistance – Save money on medicines.
Senior and Elderly Prescription Assistance Programs.

Apply for assistance from Florida Cities and Counties

To get applications for SNAP food stamps, free TANF cash assistance, child care or more, select a county below. Or call the Florida Department of Children and Families customer service at 1-866-762-2237 for details on public assistance. Or click here for a listing of ACCESS Florida offices by county and town.