Miami-Dade County, Florida's most populous county, has the largest DCF presence in the state with seven distinct service centers, plus a countywide housing authority alongside several city-specific ones.
Assistance available in Miami-Dade 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.
Miami-Dade County applicants apply through ACCESS Florida online, by mail, or in person at the Central Service Center, one of several DCF locations across Miami-Dade.
🩺 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.
Miami-Dade County Medicaid applications are processed through the Central Service Center, or online via ACCESS Florida.
🏠 Housing Assistance
Miami-Dade Public Housing and Community Development, located at 701 NW 1st Court, manages public housing and Section 8 vouchers countywide. Several cities within the county, including Hialeah, Miami Beach, and Homestead, also have their own dedicated housing authorities.
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.
Miami-Dade County TCA applications go through the Central Service Center and the ACCESS Florida system, same as SNAP and Medicaid.
Miami-Dade County contact information
Central Service Center
1490 NW 27th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Miami, FL 33125
Miami-Dade has multiple service centers including Caleb, Central, Coconut Grove, Miami Beach, Opa-Locka, Florida City, and Quail Roost — each serving different parts of the 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 Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade County.
- For housing assistance, contact Miami-Dade Public Housing and Community Development 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.