The Department of Children and Families to assist the disabled and elderly with food assistance through conducting telephone interviews.
DCF Food Assistance
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has been approved by the USDA to administer telephone interviews for individuals with disabilities and the elderly who preregistered online by November 9 for the federal Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP), or food stamp program.
The program is under the auspices of the federal government to provide food assistance to residents in Florida counties negatively impacted by Hurricane Irma in September. The storm resulted in thousands of Florida residents losing electricity for several days. The loss of electricity in turn resulted in significant food loss, and wages for residents
Individuals who are head of household age 60 or older or with a disability and preregistered online but were physically unable to visit a DSNAP Food for Florida site personally or send an authorized representative may participate in an interview for federal DSNAP benefits over the phone on Saturday, December 2, and Sunday, December 3. If individuals are determined eligible, Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards will be sent to their mailing address. Additional details, including the number to call and hours of operation, will be released in the coming weeks.
Requirements to participate in a DSNAP phone interview on December 2 and 3:
- Must have preregistered online by November 9, and
- Must be head of household 60 years of age or older or disabled, and
- Must have valid identification. Identity will be verified during the interview.
During the DSNAP benefit period from September 27 through November 9, DCF administered the federal program in Florida for 45 consecutive days, serving more than a million families and distributing nearly $900 million in DSNAP benefits. DCF processed more than 1.1 million DSNAP applications, and DSNAP benefits were issued to 3.1 million individuals. Together with disaster food assistance provided through the regular SNAP program’s replacements and supplements, DCF provided more than $1.5 billion in benefits that families can use as they continue to recover.
Individuals must meet the above requirements to participate in a DSNAP phone interview. Those who do not meet the above criteria as specified in Florida’s federally-approved DSNAP waiver for phone interviews may choose to apply for regular SNAP food assistance and other public benefits via www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/.
