Food for Florida disaster assistance opens for Florida residents

TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - Residents in many Florida counties who were impacted by Hurricane Irma may be eligible for the Food for Florida Disaster Food Assistance Program. 

The program is a part of a partnership between the Department of Children and Families and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help families who lost income, had damage to their home, lost food, or had other hurricane-related expenses.

Those who are eligible will receive short-term food assistance in the form of Electronic Benefits Transfer cards. The food assistance benefits start at $386 for a two-month allotment.

Eligibility is based on income and current SNAP recipients are not eligible for the Disaster-SNAP benefits.

Residents of Pinellas County wishing to apply should apply in person and bring a government-issued identification at the Seminole Recreation Center located at 9100 113th St. N. in Seminole starting Sept. 27.

Nearly 480,000 households could be eligible for the program in Pinellas County alone. 

Those applying should be aware of the potential for long lines and wear comfortable clothing and shoes along with sunscreen, officials say.

LINK: Click here to see if you're eligible. 

To make the process easier, applicants can pre-register online on the Food for Florida website: www.myflfamilies.com/fff/

The program is open to applicants in Pinellas County from Sept. 27 - Oct. 2. Click for more information: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/access/fff/

Citrus County is also open for pre-registration and will open a registration location Sept. 30.

Other Bay Area counties that are approved for D-SNAP and will be opening soon for registration are: Desoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Polk, and Sarasota. The site locations page will be updated before the county opens up for registration: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/access/fff/siteLocations.shtml