How To Apply For Food Stamps As A College Student Florida

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Florida College Student Eligibility : The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), called food assistance in Florida and formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, provides food benefits, access to a healthy diet, and education on food preparation and nutrition to low-income households. Recipients spend their benefits (provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card) to buy eligible food in authorized retail food stores.

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How To Apply For Food Stamps As A College Student Florida

SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) works with state agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith-based organizations to ensure those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits. SNAP is the federal name for the program. State programs may have different names.

Florida SNAP College Student Eligibility

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. Some of the eligibility rules are:

  • Identity – Applicants must provide proof of their identity.
  • Work Rules – FAQs – Healthy adults, 18 to 50 years of age, who do not have dependent children or are not pregnant, may receive SNAP benefits for 3 months in a 3-year period if they are not working or participating in a work or work training program.
  • Income – Most households must pass a gross income limit less than or equal to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
  • Deductions – Some household expenses may be subtracted from the total monthly income in the food assistance budget. The budget may subtract for shelter expenses, dependent care, medical expenses, child support paid, utility deductions, and earned income deduction.
  • Residency – Individuals must be a resident of Florida.
  • Citizenship – Individuals must be a U.S. citizen or have a qualified noncitizen status.
  • SSN – Individuals must provide a Social Security Number or proof they have applied for one.
  • Child Support Cooperation – Certain individuals must cooperate with the state’s child support enforcement agency to prove a child’s legal relationship to their parent and to get the court to order child support payments.
  • Assets – Most food assistance households may have assets such as vehicles, bank accounts, or property and still get help. Households with a disqualified member must meet an asset limit of $2,500 ($3,750 if the household contains an elderly or disabled member. 
  • Reporting Changes – Households must report when their total monthly gross income exceeds 130% of the Federal Poverty Level for their household size and when work hours of able bodied adults fall below 80 hours per month.  The household must report these changes within 10 days after the end of the month of the change.

Florida SNAP College Student Ineligibility

How To Apply For Food Stamps As A College Student Florida : Reasons for SNAP ineligibility include:

  • Conviction of drug trafficking,
  • Fleeing a felony warrant,
  • Breaking SNAP Program rules,
  • Noncitizens without a qualified status, or
  • Students attending an institution of higher education at least half time, in some circumstances.

Florida College Student Income Limits 2023

Household Size* Maximum Income Level (Per Year)
1 $29,160
2 $39,440
3 $49,720
4 $60,000
5 $70,280
6 $80,560
7 $90,840
8 $101,120

*For households with more than eight people, add $10,280 per additional person. Always check with the appropriate managing agency to ensure the most accurate guidelines.

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Who is eligible for Florida SNAP College Student Program?

Florida College Student Eligibility : To be eligible for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of Florida and meet one of the following requirements:

  • You have a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,001, or
  • You have a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $3,001 and share your household with one of the following:
    • A person or persons age 60 and over or
    • A person with a disability (a child, your spouse, a parent, or yourself).

To see if you might be eligible for SNAP benefits, use SNAP eligibility. Because many programs offer services to families that may qualify them under other local criteria, we strongly recommend you contact the program in your community for more information and guidance.

SNAP Benefits For College Student

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, go to 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 [email protected].

How To Apply For Food Stamps As A College Student Florida

To apply online please visit the Florida Department of Children and Families online application portal.

SUNCAP For College Student

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.

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EBT Card Issuance For College Student

  • First time benefit recipients will be mailed an EBT card with instructions on use. 
  • If you received benefits in the past 25 months and still have your EBT card, you can still use that card.
  • If you are reapplying for benefits and no longer have your EBT card or your card has expired, please contact EBT customer service at 1-888-356-3281 for a replacement.  You may call EBT Customer Service at any time.  Another EBT card is not automatically mailed to you when your case is approved.
  • Your EBT Card will arrive in 5 – 7 business days
  • If your card has been cancelled or has expired it cannot be used and will need to be replaced.

Using your EBT Card

  • You can use your EBT card at locations that display the QUEST logo  and supported remarks such as “EBT Accepted Here” 
  • Sales tax cannot be charged on items bought with SNAP benefits.
  • Cash benefits can be withdrawn at ATM’s displaying the Quest Logo 
  • Cash Benefits can be withdrawn with no ATM fees at the below locations:
        • Bank of America
        • Chase
        • Citibank
        • Bank of West
        • Capital One
        • Flagstar Bank
        • Presto
        • S Bank
        • Wells Fargo
  • Items can be purchased with cash and cash back with a purchase is allowed where available.
  • Cash benefits cannot be used outside of the State of Florida for more than 30 days
  • Food Assistance can be used in all 50 states

Online Purchasing Pilot

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.

Which retailers will be accepting SNAP payments online? How will I know when more retailers join the online purchasing pilot?

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.

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How will I know if these retailers can deliver to my home? Can SNAP be used to pay for delivery?

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: the use of EBT cards for the purchase of groceries is restricted for approved grocery items only and cannot be used for delivery fees.

Is using my EBT card online secure?

How To Apply For Food Stamps As A College Student Florida : The use of your EBT card online will still require your unique personal identification number (PIN). All retailers participating in the online purchasing pilot are using compliant methods of encrypted-PIN entry to ensure secure transactions.

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