MIAMI.- The nearly 3.2 million beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Florida are continuing to receive food stamps for the month of July this week, in amounts of up to $1,751.
The SNAP food stamp program, commonly known as Food Stamps, is a federal aid program responsible for providing seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families with nutritional support to cover their basic family needs in the midst of economic difficulties.
In the state of Florida, resources are administered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Office of Economic Self-Sufficiency (ESS). They are sent monthly through the Access Floridawhich works like a debit card and allows access to food at authorized retail establishments.
Food assistance can be used to purchase fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy products, bread, cereals and non-alcoholic beverages. However, it does not cover items such as pet food, household items or medicines.
Payment amounts in Florida
The amount Floridians receive each month depends on household size, income and expenses relative to federal poverty guidelines. For example, a single-person household must have a gross monthly income of no more than $1,580 and a net monthly income of $1,215 to be eligible.
In 2024, due to the 3% increase in the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), the deposited amounts vary from $291 for a single person and $1,751 for families of eight people.
Families with two and three members can receive between $535 and $766, households with four and five people can acquire up to $976 and $1,115, while those with six and seven members receive a monthly benefit of $1,386 and $1,532.
Which beneficiaries are receiving SNAP this week?
In the Sunshine State, SNAP vouchers are distributed from the 1st to the 28th of each month, based on the eighth and ninth case numbers assigned to each recipient, excluding the tenth. According to the ESS schedule, during the last week of the seventh month of the year, from the 21st to the 28th, SNAP vouchers will be deposited to those individuals whose case numbers end between the digits 72 and 99.
Below are the payment dates for this week:
72-74: Sunday, July 21
75-78: Monday, July 22
79-81: Tuesday, July 23
82-85: Wednesday, July 24
86-88: Thursday, July 25
89-92: Friday, July 26
93-95: Saturday, July 27
96-99: Sunday, July 28
To be eligible to receive SNAP vouchers in Florida, applicants must meet certain requirements. Primarily, they must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or qualified aliens residing in the state.
They must also have a maximum monthly income set at 200% of the federal poverty level. That is, a family of two members cannot have an income higher than $3,052 per month.
Beneficiaries must also have a current bank balance of less than $3,001 and share their home with a person, with adults over 60 or with a person with a disability, including a child, spouse, one of their parents or the applicant themselves.
@Lydr05
Source: With information from AS USA, RPP and La Opinión
