Walton County stretches from the inland county seat of DeFuniak Springs to the well-known beach communities of South Walton, including Santa Rosa Beach and Seaside. Despite the area's tourism profile, SNAP and Medicaid applicants route through a shared service center in neighboring Okaloosa County.
Assistance available in Walton 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.
Walton County applicants apply through ACCESS Florida online, by mail, or in person at the Ft. Walton Beach ACCESS Storefront in neighboring Okaloosa 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.
Walton County Medicaid applications are processed through the Ft. Walton Beach ACCESS Storefront (Okaloosa Co.), or online via ACCESS Florida.
🏠 Housing Assistance
The Walton County Housing Authority, located at 63 Bo-Pete Manor, DeFuniak Springs, manages housing assistance for the county, alongside the separately-run DeFuniak Springs Housing Authority at 120 Oerting Drive.
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.
Walton County TCA applications go through the Ft. Walton Beach ACCESS Storefront (Okaloosa Co.) and the ACCESS Florida system, same as SNAP and Medicaid.
Walton County contact information
Ft. Walton Beach ACCESS Storefront (shared with Okaloosa County)
450-G Racetrack Rd NW, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32547
Walton County does not have its own DCF storefront — the nearest service center is in Fort Walton Beach.
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 Walton 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 Walton County.
- For housing assistance, contact Walton 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.