When an immigrant just arrived in Miami he begins for a new life and in many cases full of uncertainty and disorientation. One of the first steps an immigrant must take when he arrives in Miami after fixing his/her social security work order and applying for a work permit to start recourse for himself as soon as possible is to visit the Offices of the Department of Children and Families (C) hildren and Families).
The Department of Children and Families offices are where the U.S. government’s initial aid to immigrant refugees is processed and consists of food stamps, cash assistance, and Medicaid (medical insurance). The process can be performed either in the offices or yourself of a computer with internet access.
If you decide to go to one of the offices you will still have to fill out the application on one of the computers that are in place and then be interviewed by a social worker. If you want to make the application online without having to go to the office you must do so at the address www.myflfamilies.com by clicking on the “Food, Medical Assistance and Cash” option. Once in that section you should choose the “Apply On-line for Food Assistance, Cash Assistance, and Medicaid” option and once there select your language to continue if it is easier for them. Once the application is complete, they must be presented to the offices with the case number given by the system to present the interview with the social worker. Some of the Offices of the Department of Children and Families are located at:
DCF Headquarters 1317 Winewood Blvd Building 1, Room 202 Tallahassee, Florida
32399-0700 Phone: 850-487-1111 Fax: 850-922-2993
Customer Call Center Agents available 8am to 5pm Mon-Fri 1-866-762-2237
Florida Relay 711 or TTY 1-800-955-8771
Access florida fax number for documents FAX: 1-866-886-4342
Working in the Children and Families is very important for all immigrants who are just arriving because they will be able to count on some help until they can work and gain more independence.
How to Apply for Benefits
You can request help only with your name, address and signing your application. you will only have to answer so many questions as you can and sign your application. This will allow them to help you faster. If you need help completing this request or need interpreter services, there may be Community Partners in your area who can help you.
Visit the site www.myflorida.com/accessflorida or you can contact the customer support call center at 1-866-762-2237 for more information. You can file a faster application online by entering the www.myflorida.com/accessflorida.
How Long It Takes To Process Your Request
Processing begins with the date they receive your signed request. It may take 7 to 30 days for them to process your application for food assistance. Groups of accelerated families can receive food assistance benefits in less than seven days. His answers
whether your household meets the criteria for accelerated food assistance.
Accelerated family groups should have:
- A gross monthly income less than $150 and liquid assets less than $150;
- A monthly gross income in addition to lower liquid assets value than household rent or mortgage plus utility costs
- Be a homeless immigrant worker or a worker
temporary agricola with liquid assets less than $100. Applications for Medical Assistance and Temporary Cash Assistance may take
30 to 45 days and medical assistance applications may last longer if we need to determine if someone is disabled.
You you could check the status of your application by visiting the ACCESS Florida website at the http://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida and clicking on the link
“My ACCESS Account”.
An Application for Assistance may be submitted to any office of the Department of Children and Families and Economic Self-Reliance Services in the
State of Florida by you or by someone acting on your behalf, in person, by mail, facsimile (FAX) or electronically online.
Requests received during regular business hours will be considered as received on the same day. When a request is received after business hours, the request will be considered as received the next business day following its receipt. Food assistance benefits start from the date of the application if the application meets all eligibility requirements, completes the interview, and provides all necessary eligibility information by the 30th day after the date of the Request. The family group has the right to file an application on the same day that DCF is contacted, in an office, by telephone, fax in person, or electronically. Applicants do not have to complete the interview before submitting the application.
The receipt of food assistance does not affect the timeframe of other programmes. For an individual requesting food assistance and SSI
Same time, the deadline is the date of departure of the institution or the current date of receipt if it is presented after departure.
The collection of information in the application, including the SSN (social security number) of each member of the family group, is authorized under the Nutrition and Food Act of 2008 as amended 7 U.S.C. 2011-2036.
The information will be used to determine whether your household is eligible or continues to be eligible to participate in food assistance. We will verify this information through computerized data comparison. This information will also be used to monitor compliance with program regulations and program management.
The household cannot be denied food assistance benefits solely because it is denied from other benefit programs.