What You Need to Know About SNAP Benefits Renewal in Florida - April 2025

If you're getting help with buying food through the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), also known as food stamps, it's important to remember that these benefits don't last forever. 

Every so often, you need to reapply to show you still need help. This is called recertification. In Florida, where the program is run according to both national and local rules, everyone who gets SNAP benefits has to go through this to keep getting help.

Most of the time, in Florida, you need to renew your benefits every six months. Make sure you know when your benefits start because you can't keep getting help after your current approval period ends without showing you're still eligible for the next period. 

Each state decides how to run its own recertification process, and Florida has specific requirements, including interviews and providing evidence that you still qualify for assistance.

In Florida, the first month you get SNAP benefits starts the clock on your certification period, which is usually 24 months (2 years). 

However, for older adults or people with disabilities who don't have any income from a job, there's a special rule that might require them to reapply at 12 months. For adults who can work and don't have dependents, the period is shorter – only four months.
 

How to Renew Your SNAP Benefits:

Florida will let you know it's time to renew your SNAP benefits by mail two months before your benefits are set to end, or by email if you've signed up for a MyACCESS account. When it's time to renew, you have several options:
 

• Online through the MyACCESS service,
• By mail, sending the needed paperwork to your local SNAP office,
• In person at the local office,
• Or over the phone.

Keep in mind, if you're renewing online through MyACCESS, you must complete your renewal by the 20th of the last month of your current benefits period. This is because MyACCESS doesn't process renewal submissions in the last 10 days of any month.

Remember, staying on top of your SNAP recertification ensures you continue to get the help you need with buying food. Make sure you're aware of your renewal date and have all your paperwork ready.

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