The Florida Department of Children and Families

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General Information about Food Stamps and SUNCAP

The Food Stamp Program helps low-income households to buy nutritious food. A food stamp household is normally a group of people who live together and buy food and prepare meals together. If your household passes the Food Stamp Program's eligibility rules, the amount of food stamp benefits you get will depend on the number of people in your household and how much monthly income is left after certain expenses are deducted.

Eligibility Requirements

Individuals must meet all factors of eligibility to get food stamp benefits. Some of the factors of eligibility are:

Identity - A person must show proof that they are the person as claimed.
Work Rules - Able-bodied adults, 18 to 50 years of age, who do not have dependent children, can only get food stamps in 3 months in a 3-year period, if they are not working or participating in a work or workfare program, at least 20 hours per week.
Income and Deductions - Households must have monthly gross income less than or equal to 130% of the federal poverty level and net income less than or equal to 100% of the federal poverty level. Households containing individuals, age 60 or older or disabled must only meet the net monthly income limit. Some household expenses may be subtracted from the monthly income in the food stamp budget. Deductions are given for shelter expenses, child-care, medical, child support, and earnings.

Other Eligibility Requirements:

An individual must live in the state of Florida.
An individual must be a U.S. citizen or an individual who has a qualified noncitizen status.
Individuals must provide the number from the Social Security Administration or proof that application has been submitted for the number.
Certain individuals are required to cooperate with the state's child support enforcement agency to establish paternity and obtain child support.
Households may have up to $2000 in assets (ex. Bank accounts and property, but not the home you live in or cars worth less than $8500) or if at least one person is age 60 or older or disabled, their household may have up to $3000 in assets.

Causes of Ineligibility

Individuals that are convicted of drug trafficking, fleeing felons, intentional program violators, ineligible noncitizens, and some students in institutions of higher education are not eligible for food stamps.

Food Stamp Purchases

Food stamp benefits can only be used for food and for plants and seeds to grow food for your household to eat. Food stamp benefits cannot be used to buy:

Any nonfood item, such as pet foods; soaps, paper products, and household supplies; grooming items, toothpaste, and cosmetics
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco
Vitamins and medicines
Any food that will be eaten in the store
Hot foods

SUNCAP

The SUNCAP Program is a special Food Stamp Program for individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You may be eligible to receive food stamps through the SUNCAP Program without any additional application, paperwork or interviews. If you already receive foods stamps, you may be converted automatically to the SUNCAP Program when you become SSI eligible. If your food stamp benefits will decrease as a result of SUNCAP, you may choose to continue receiving your food stamps under the regular Food Stamp Program.

Detailed information about the Food Stamp Program is available in the Food Stamp Program Fact Sheet.

For information about other ACCESS Florida programs, visit Medicaid and Temporary Cash Assistance.

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