Why Did My Food Stamps Decrease in Florida? Understanding Your Benefits

If you’ve recently looked at your EBT card balance and wondered, "why did my food stamps decrease in Florida?", you’re not alone. Many families across the Sunshine State have seen a change in their monthly benefits. This article will help explain some of the common reasons why your food stamps might have gone down, so you can better understand what happened and what steps you might need to take.

The End of Extra Emergency Food Stamps

Many families recently noticed a big drop in their food stamp benefits, and for a lot of people, the main reason why did my food stamps decrease in Florida is because the special extra payments from the COVID-19 pandemic ended. For over three years, during the public health emergency, most households getting food stamps received extra money each month. This was called an "emergency allotment" and it was added on top of your regular benefit amount. When the federal government ended the public health emergency, these extra payments stopped in February 2023. This means that if you were getting the maximum amount or even just extra help, your benefits returned to what they were before the pandemic, based solely on your household’s income and expenses.

Changes in Your Household Income

Even a small raise at work or a new part-time job can change how much food stamp help you get. This is because food stamps are for families who meet certain income rules, and the program is designed to help those with the greatest need.

The state looks at all the money coming into your household. If your total income goes up, your food stamp amount will likely go down because you’re seen as needing less help.

Here are some types of income that count:

• Wages from jobs (gross income before taxes)
• Social Security benefits
• Child support payments
• Unemployment checks
• Pension or retirement income

It’s really important to tell the Department of Children and Families (DCF) right away if your income changes. They use this information to calculate your benefits.

Your Household Size Has Changed

The number of people living in your home who eat meals together and share food costs also plays a big role in how much food stamp help you receive. Food stamp amounts are based on how many eligible people are in your household.

If someone leaves your household, your benefits will probably decrease. This could be an adult child moving out, an elderly parent moving to a nursing home, or even a roommate who was part of your food stamp case leaving.

Let’s look at an example:

1. A family of 4 gets $600 a month.
2. One adult child moves out.
3. Now a family of 3, benefits might drop to $450.

On the flip side, if someone new joins your household, your benefits might go up. So, always report these changes to DCF.

You’re Not Reporting All Your Expenses

Food stamp calculations don’t just look at how much money you make; they also consider some of the money you spend on necessary things. These are called deductions, and they can help you get more benefits.

If you stop having certain expenses or forget to report them, your benefits might decrease. It’s like getting a discount for things you have to pay for.

Here are some common deductions that can help your food stamp amount:

Make sure DCF knows about all your qualifying expenses. You might need to provide proof, like bills or receipts.

Work Requirements Have Been Reinstated

During the pandemic, some rules about working or looking for work were paused. Now, for certain adults, these rules are back in effect. If you’re an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD), you might need to meet specific work requirements to keep your food stamps.

An ABAWD is generally someone between 18 and 52 years old who doesn’t have a child under 18 in their household. If you fit this description, you might be required to:

• Work at least 80 hours a month.
• Participate in a work program for 80 hours a month.
• Do a mix of working and training.

If you don’t meet these requirements and don’t have an exemption, your food stamps might be limited to just three months every three years.

You Have Reached Time Limits

For some individuals, there are time limits on how long they can receive food stamp benefits, even if they qualify based on income. This mostly applies to those ABAWDs we just talked about.

If you are an ABAWD and you haven’t been working or doing a work program, you can usually only get food stamps for 3 months in any 3-year period. After those 3 months, your benefits will stop unless you start meeting the work requirements or qualify for an exemption.

It’s like a clock that starts ticking once you begin receiving benefits without meeting the work requirements. Once the 3 months are up, your benefits will stop, causing a decrease to zero for that individual.

Not Reporting Changes to DCF on Time

The food stamp program requires you to report certain changes in your household situation within a specific timeframe. If you don’t report these changes promptly, it can affect your benefits.

For example, if your income goes up and you don’t tell DCF, they might find out later and decide you received too much money. This could lead to your benefits being lowered to make up for the overpayment.

It’s always best to report changes as soon as they happen.

• New job or increase in pay
• Someone moves into or out of your home
• New baby in the household
• Changes in expenses like rent or childcare

These updates help DCF keep your benefits accurate.

You Have Too Many Assets

While income is the main thing DCF looks at, they also consider your household’s assets. Assets are things you own that have value, like money in a bank account.

There are limits on how much money or how many assets your household can have and still qualify for food stamps. For most households, the asset limit is $2,750. For households with at least one member who is 60 or older, or disabled, the limit is $4,250.

Here’s what counts as assets:

Certain assets, like your home and one vehicle, usually don’t count towards these limits. If your countable assets go over the limit, your food stamps might decrease or even stop.

What to Do If Your Food Stamps Decreased

It can be tough when your food stamps go down, especially when you depend on them to help feed your family. If you’re wondering why your food stamps decreased in Florida, the best first step is to contact the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). They can explain exactly why your benefits changed and what information they used to make that decision. You can also check your case status online through the MyFLFamilies portal. Understanding these changes is key to managing your household budget and finding other resources if you need them.