Leon County, home to Tallahassee and Florida's state capitol, is served by a single DCF service center that also covers neighboring Wakulla County. Below is what's available locally for each of the four major assistance programs, who to contact, and how to start an application.
Assistance available in Leon 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.
Leon County applicants apply through ACCESS Florida online, by mail, or in person at the Tallahassee Service Center, which also serves neighboring Wakulla 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.
Leon County Medicaid applications are processed through the Tallahassee Service Center, or online via ACCESS Florida.
🏠 Housing Assistance
The Tallahassee Housing Authority, located at 2940 Grady Road, Tallahassee, manages public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) for Leon County. Unlike SNAP, Medicaid, and cash assistance, housing assistance is not applied for through ACCESS Florida — you apply directly with the local housing authority.
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.
Leon County TCA applications go through the Tallahassee Service Center and the ACCESS Florida system, same as SNAP and Medicaid.
Leon County contact information
DCF Service Center — Leon & Wakulla Counties
2810 Sharer Road, Tallahassee, FL 32312
Handles SNAP, Medicaid, and Temporary Cash Assistance for Leon and Wakulla counties.
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 Leon 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 Leon County.
- For housing assistance, contact Tallahassee 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.