Baker County, a rural county along the Georgia border, shares its DCF service center with Duval County in Jacksonville, but has its own dedicated local housing agencies based in the county seat of Macclenny.
Assistance available in Baker County
🛒 SNAP Food Stamps
SNAP provides monthly food benefits on an EBT card. Florida households generally qualify with gross income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, with deductions for housing, child care, and medical costs for elderly or disabled household members reducing countable income further.
Baker County applicants apply through ACCESS Florida online, by mail, or in person at the Gateway Service Center in neighboring Jacksonville (Duval County).
🩺 Medicaid
Florida Medicaid income limits vary sharply by category — children and pregnant women qualify at higher income levels than parents or other adults, since Florida has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. Seniors and people with disabilities may qualify through separate long-term care pathways with different rules.
Baker County Medicaid applications are processed through the Gateway Service Center in Jacksonville, or online via ACCESS Florida.
🏠 Housing Assistance
Baker County is served by two related agencies based in Macclenny: the Baker County Housing Assistance Program (Section 8) and the Macclenny Housing Authority (public housing), both at 402 E Stansell Avenue.
Waitlists for Section 8 vouchers commonly close for extended periods due to high demand. Check directly with the housing authority for current waitlist status before assuming a program is unavailable.
💵 Cash Assistance (TCA)
Temporary Cash Assistance provides monthly payments to families with children under 18 (or under 19 if a full-time high school student). Households must have countable assets at or below $2,000, and adults face a lifetime limit of 48 months of benefits with work or job-training requirements unless exempt.
Baker County TCA applications go through the Gateway Service Center in Jacksonville and the ACCESS Florida system, same as SNAP and Medicaid.
Baker County contact information
Gateway Service Center (shared with Duval County)
5000-1 Norwood Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32208
Baker County does not have its own DCF storefront — the nearest service center is in Jacksonville.
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (call ahead to confirm)
Statewide Contact Numbers
ACCESS Customer Call Center: 1-850-300-4323
General DCF/SNAP helpline: 1-866-762-2237
Elder & disability long-term care (Medicaid): 1-800-963-5337
Florida Relay (deaf/hard of hearing): 711
How to apply for benefits in Baker County
- Create an ACCESS Florida account at myflorida.com/accessflorida to apply for SNAP, Medicaid, or Temporary Cash Assistance online.
- Gather documents — photo ID, proof of income (pay stubs or benefit letters), proof of residency, and Social Security numbers for household members.
- Complete the interview — most applications include a phone interview with a DCF caseworker serving Baker County.
- For housing assistance, contact Baker County Housing Assistance Program / Macclenny Housing Authority directly — this is a separate application from ACCESS Florida.
- Watch for your decision and renewal notices — most certification periods last 6–12 months, and DCF mails a renewal reminder before they expire.