Thousands of Floridians are waiting for the arrival of their food stamps, from the program that is now called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP benefits). Qualifying households can use their food assistance benefits to purchase foods such as bread, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy, plants and seeds to grow food at home.
These funds cannot be used to purchase products such as toiletries, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vitamins, medicines, pet food or hot food.
Also, as of May 2021, online retailers such as Walmart, Amazon, Aldi, BJ’s, Wholesale Club, Freshfields Farm, Hitchcock’s Market, Publix, and Mount Plymouth Food accept online payments with your Florida EBT card. It is likely that many other retailers have joined the SNAP Benefits distribution chain, which helps families to shop online more easily and quickly by taking advantage of their good prices.
Upcoming SNAP EBT Payments in Florida
In Florida, benefits are issued to beneficiaries based on the 9th and 8th digits of their SNAP case number. You will need to read the digits backwards, starting with the ninth and then with the eighth. For example, if your number ends in 123-456-789, then your number would be 98. I know it can be a little confusing, but that’s the way it is in Florida.
At this time of the month, those groups with eligibility from 00 to 31 have already received their benefits. From now on, and until May 28, the eligibility groups range from 32 to 99 according to the following table of dates:
- 32-34 = benefits available on May 10th
- 35-38 = benefits available on May 11th
- 39-41 = benefits available on May 12th
- 42-45 = benefits available on May 13th
- 46-48 = benefits available on May 14th
- 49-53 = benefits available on May 15th
- 54-57 = benefits available on May 16th
- 58-60 = benefits available on May 17th
- 61-64 = benefits available on May 18th
- 65-67 = benefits available on May 19th
- 68-71 = benefits available on May 20th
- 72-74 = benefits available on May 21st
- 75-78 = benefits available on May 22nd
- 79-81 = benefits available on May 23rd
- 82-85 = benefits available on May 24th
- 86-88 = benefits available on May 25th
- 89-92 = benefits available on May 26th
- 93-95 = benefits available on May 27th
- 96-99 = benefits available on May 28th
SNAP Benefits Maximum Payments Increased in 2024
The Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture adjusts the maximum allocations of SNAP benefits to all people based on the so-called “COLA” adjustment, that is, the cost of living adjustment. According to inflation, the COLA adjustment presents a percentage increase and is followed, apart from SNAP Benefits, by other programs such as Social Security. Until September 2024, the maximum amount that households can receive according to the number of people is as follows in the contiguous 48 states and Washington DC:
- Household size 1: $291
- Household size 2: $535
- Household size 3: $766
- Household size 4: $973
- Household size 5: $1,155
- Household size 6: $1,386
- Household size 7: $1,532
- Household size 8: $1,751
- Each additional person: $219
