Indian River County, seated in Vero Beach on Florida's Treasure Coast, has its own DCF ACCESS center and county-administered housing assistance.
Assistance available in Indian River County
๐ 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.
Indian River County applicants apply through ACCESS Florida online, by mail, or in person at the Indian River County ACCESS Center.
๐ฉบ Medicaid
Florida Medicaid income limits vary sharply by category โ 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.
Indian River County Medicaid applications are processed through the Indian River County ACCESS Center, or online via ACCESS Florida.
๐ Housing Assistance
The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners, located at 1800 27th Street, Admin Building B, Vero Beach, administers Section 8 housing assistance for the county.
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.
๐ต 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.
Indian River County TCA applications go through the Indian River County ACCESS Center and the ACCESS Florida system, same as SNAP and Medicaid.
Indian River County contact information
Indian River County ACCESS Center
1360 28th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Handles SNAP, Medicaid, and Temporary Cash Assistance for Indian River County, sharing DCF Circuit 19 with Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties.
Hours: MondayโFriday, 8:00 a.m.โ5:00 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 Indian River County
- Create an ACCESS Florida account at myflorida.com/accessflorida to apply for SNAP, Medicaid, or Temporary Cash Assistance online.
- Gather documents โ photo ID, proof of income (pay stubs or benefit letters), proof of residency, and Social Security numbers for household members.
- Complete the interview โ most applications include a phone interview with a DCF caseworker serving Indian River County.
- For housing assistance, contact Indian River County Board of County Commissioners directly โ this is a separate application from ACCESS Florida.
- Watch for your decision and renewal notices โ most certification periods last 6โ12 months, and DCF mails a renewal reminder before they expire.