Bay County, home to Panama City and the Emerald Coast tourism corridor, has its own DCF service center that also covers Gulf County, plus two distinct local housing authorities serving the metro area.
Assistance available in Bay 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.
Bay County applicants apply through ACCESS Florida online, by mail, or in person at the Panama City Service Center.
🩺 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.
Bay County Medicaid applications are processed through the Panama City Service Center, or online via ACCESS Florida.
🏠 Housing Assistance
Bay County has two housing agencies: the Panama City Housing Authority (2315 Ruth Hentz Avenue) and the separately-run Housing Authority of Springfield (3806 E 8th Street), both serving the Panama City metro area.
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.
Bay County TCA applications go through the Panama City Service Center and the ACCESS Florida system, same as SNAP and Medicaid.
Bay County contact information
Panama City Service Center
2505 West 15th St., Panama City, FL 32401
Handles SNAP, Medicaid, and Temporary Cash Assistance for Bay County and neighboring Gulf County.
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 Bay 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 Bay County.
- For housing assistance, contact Panama City 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.