Florida grants
& benefits: MyACCESS, Medicaid and cash aid.

Florida uses Broad Based Categorical Eligibility to decide SNAP cases. DCF says meeting SNAP rules can also qualify you for other help, such as Healthy Families Florida and the National School Lunch Program, though some have waiting lists.

A separate DCF office, Public Benefits Integrity, investigates fraud or misuse in SNAP, cash assistance and Medicaid. MyACCESS has short videos on creating an account, linking a case and uploading documents.

TCA is Florida's TANF cash program for families with children under 18, or under 19 if still in high school full time. Gross income must be under 185% of the poverty level, and countable assets must be $2,000 or less.

Adults can receive TCA for 48 months in a lifetime, while child-only cases have no time limit. Some adults must take part in work activities through Regional Workforce Boards unless they qualify for an exemption.

Relatives raising a child whom a Florida court declared dependent and placed in their home can apply for Relative Caregiver payments. Only the child's income and assets count, and the payment is higher than TCA for one child.

Optional State Supplementation (OSS) sends a monthly check to low-income older or disabled residents of assisted living facilities, adult family care homes and mental health residential treatment facilities who need help with daily living.

For Medicare and Medicaid questions, SHINE offers free, unbiased, confidential counseling from trained volunteers. The Department of Elder Affairs runs it with local Area Agencies on Aging, and it began virtual Medicare classes on October 12, 2026.

FloridaCommerce funds local agencies that take LIHEAP applications and pay your utility directly, with heating help from October through March and cooling help from April through September.

Income limits, what LIHEAP will not pay and local providers are in our Florida LIHEAP guide.