Union County, Florida's smallest county by land area and seated in Lake Butler, routes SNAP and Medicaid applicants to the Gainesville service center in neighboring Alachua County, while housing assistance is handled by its own local authority.
Assistance available in Union 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.
Union County applicants apply through ACCESS Florida online, by mail, or in person at the 16th Avenue Complex service center in Gainesville (Alachua 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.
Union County Medicaid applications are processed through the Gainesville Service Center, or online via ACCESS Florida.
🏠 Housing Assistance
The Union County Housing Authority, located at 715 W Main Street, Lake Butler, manages public housing for Union County — Florida's smallest county by land area.
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.
Union County TCA applications go through the Gainesville Service Center and the ACCESS Florida system, same as SNAP and Medicaid.
Union County contact information
16th Avenue Complex (shared with Alachua County)
1000 NE 16th Avenue, Building J, Gainesville, FL 32601
Union County does not have its own DCF storefront — the nearest service center is in Gainesville.
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 Union 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 Union County.
- For housing assistance, contact Union 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.