Polk County, one of Florida's largest counties by land area, spans Bartow (the county seat), Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Lake Wales — each with its own local housing authority.
Assistance available in Polk 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.
Polk County applicants apply through ACCESS Florida online, by mail, or in person at the Lakeland 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.
Polk County Medicaid applications are processed through the Lakeland Service Center, or online via ACCESS Florida.
🏠 Housing Assistance
Polk County has several local housing agencies depending on city: the Housing Authority of the City of Lakeland (430 Hartsell Avenue), the Housing Authority of Bartow (1060 S. Woodlawn Ave.), the Lake Wales Housing Authority (10 W Sessoms Avenue), and the Winter Haven Housing Authority (2670 Avenue C SW).
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.
Polk County TCA applications go through the Lakeland Service Center and the ACCESS Florida system, same as SNAP and Medicaid.
Polk County contact information
Lakeland Service Center
200 N. Kentucky Ave., 1st Floor, Lakeland, FL 33801
Handles SNAP, Medicaid, and Temporary Cash Assistance for Polk County, sharing DCF Circuit 10 with Hardee and Highlands 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 Polk 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 Polk County.
- For housing assistance, contact Housing Authority of the City of Lakeland 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.