Manatee County, anchored by Bradenton just north of Sarasota, has its own DCF service center and two distinct housing agencies covering the city and county.
Assistance available in Manatee 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.
Manatee County applicants apply through ACCESS Florida online, by mail, or in person at the Bradenton 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.
Manatee County Medicaid applications are processed through the Bradenton Service Center, or online via ACCESS Florida.
🏠 Housing Assistance
Manatee County has two housing agencies: the Housing Authority of the City of Bradenton (2002 9th Avenue East) and the Manatee County Housing Authority (5631 11th Street E), serving the city and broader county respectively.
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.
Manatee County TCA applications go through the Bradenton Service Center and the ACCESS Florida system, same as SNAP and Medicaid.
Manatee County contact information
Bradenton Service Center
2004 43rd Avenue W., Bradenton, FL 34205
Handles SNAP, Medicaid, and Temporary Cash Assistance for Manatee County, sharing DCF Circuit 12 with DeSoto and Sarasota 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 Manatee 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 Manatee County.
- For housing assistance, contact Housing Authority of the City of Bradenton / Manatee County 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.