WELFARE
September SNAP benefits are brought forward in Florida due to Hurricane Idalia
Due to the arrival of Hurricane Idalia in the Sunshine State, an announcement has been made to speed up the payment of SNAP benefits in September.
On Wednesday morning, Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida as a category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 miles per hour.
As Floridians suffer from the ravages of the hurricane, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) has authorised the sending of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments (SNAP) early next month.
“We know how helpful the early release of food assistance benefits can be for our SNAP recipients when shopping non-perishable items to prepare for the storm or to replace food losses after the storm,” said DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris when announcing the news.
When will the payments arrive?
Typically, monthly payments of SNAP coupons are deposited to EBT cards from the 1st to the 28th of each month, depending on the birthday of the applicant. However, with the arrival of Hurricane Idalia, many Floridians have already begun to see the payment on their cards.
According to official information from DCF, benefits were released as of Tuesday, 29 August, for 46 counties in the state:
The states with the early SNAP benefits
- Alachua
- Baker
- Bay
- Bradford,
- Brevard,
- Calhoun
- Charlotte
- Citrus
- Clay
- Collier
- Columbia
- DeSoto
- Dixie
- Duval
- Flagler
- Franklin
- Gadsden
- Gilchrist
- Gulf
- Hamilton
- Hardee
- Hernando
- Hillsborough
- Jefferson
- Lafayette
- Lake
- Lee
- Leon
- Levy
- Liberty
- Madison
- Manatee
- Marion
- Nassau
- Osceola
- Orange
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Putnam
- Sarasota
- Seminole
- St. Johns
- Sumter
- Suwannee
- Taylor
- Union
- Volusia
- Wakulla
It is expected that recipients in the rest of the counties will see the money before 1 September.
SNAP in Florida
The average payment for SNAP coupons is $180 per individual; However, there are those who are eligible for the maximum benefit of $281 per month, depending on their gross income and deductions.
Whatever the payment method, the money is deposited monthly to an EBT debit card valid in selected stores and supermarkets. As the name of the program indicates, this payment method can only be used to purchase food. Cleaning supplies, personal care products, cigarettes, dietary supplements, makeup and alcoholic beverages, do not fall into the scheme.