Monroe County, encompassing the entire Florida Keys island chain, has two DCF service centers spaced along the Overseas Highway to serve the geographically spread-out population.
Assistance available in Monroe 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.
Monroe County applicants apply through ACCESS Florida online, by mail, or in person at the Key West Service Center, with a second location (Marathon Service Center) further up the Keys.
🩺 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.
Monroe County Medicaid applications are processed through the Key West Service Center, or online via ACCESS Florida.
🏠 Housing Assistance
Monroe County is served by both the Housing Authority of the City of Key West and the Monroe County Housing Authority, sharing an address at 1400 Kennedy Drive, Key West.
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.
Monroe County TCA applications go through the Key West Service Center and the ACCESS Florida system, same as SNAP and Medicaid.
Monroe County contact information
Key West Service Center
1111 12th St., Suite 304, Key West, FL 33040
Monroe County is served by two centers: Key West (1111 12th St.) and Marathon (2796 Overseas Hwy), covering the length of the Florida Keys.
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 Monroe 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 Monroe County.
- For housing assistance, contact Housing Authority of the City of Key West / Monroe 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.