Assistance Programs in Florida

Florida's LIHEAP helps income-qualified households pay home cooling and heating bills, including year-round crisis help when service is about to be shut off. FloridaCommerce funds local agencies across the state that take applications.

Free home energy improvements for income-qualified Florida households so future utility bills shrink. FloridaCommerce funds local weatherization agencies statewide; apply through the office that serves your county.

Free healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and referrals for pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under 5 in Florida. Apply through your county health department; being on Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF qualifies you automatically on income.

Florida SNAP puts monthly grocery money on an EBT card that swipes like a debit card. One MyACCESS application at myaccess.myflfamilies.com can start SNAP, cash assistance, and Medicaid together.

Health and dental insurance for Florida children from birth through age 18, combining Medicaid for children, MediKids, Florida Healthy Kids, and the Children's Medical Services plan. Most families pay $15 or $20 a month; many pay nothing.

Free or low-cost health coverage for low-income Florida children, pregnant women, parents, seniors, and people with disabilities. SSI recipients are enrolled automatically; everyone else applies through MyACCESS.

Florida's unemployment benefits: temporary, partial income replacement if you lost work through no fault of your own. FloridaCommerce runs the program; apply online through the Reconnect system at FloridaJobs.org.

Monthly cash for very-low-income Florida families with children under 18, plus pregnant women in some circumstances. The Relative Caregiver Program pays monthly amounts to relatives raising a court-ordered dependent child. Apply through MyACCESS.

Free legal information for Floridians on evictions, foreclosures, family law, public benefits, and debt, with a search tool that connects you to legal aid providers by location and topic. Available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

Dial 2-1-1 anywhere in Florida for free, confidential, 24/7 help finding local assistance: food, housing, utility bill help, health care, and crisis support. Eleven accredited centers cover all 67 counties.