Stay Informed, Stay Prepared, and Know the Actions to Help Our Community
by Rebecca S. McGuire, Ph.D., Vice President of United for Housing at United Way Broward
If you buy groceries with an EBT card, or you know someone who does, several rules have changed since last summer. Some changes affect who qualifies for SNAP, and some affect what the card can buy, and a federal funding decision about WIC is still pending.
About 13.7% of Broward County’s residents receive SNAP, the federal program helping seniors, people with disabilities on fixed incomes, and limited-income families buy food. One of the most significant recent changes involves who must meet SNAP’s work requirements. A federal law signed on July 4, 2025, known as H.R. 1, changed the SNAP work requirement. Supporters of the change say it encourages employment and directs benefits toward people with the greatest need. Critics say it adds paperwork and puts people at risk of losing food assistance.
Adults without children at home, now generally through age 64, must document 80 hours per month of work, job training, workfare, or approved volunteering. Parents of children aged 14 and older are also covered. Exemptions that previously applied to Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth have been removed.
For those subject to the requirement, meeting the monthly hours is especially important because non-compliance can affect continued eligibility. If a person does not meet the 80 hours in a month, the state begins counting. Three months of non-compliance within three years will end eligibility.
The potential impact of these changes is significant. The Florida Policy Institute estimates 235,000 Floridians could lose some or all benefits and 100,000 lawful immigrants are likely to lose SNAP eligibility. Separately, the SNAP Tracker project counted 278,720 Floridians who lost benefits between July 2025 and January 2026.
If you or someone you know is affected, here are important steps to consider:
- find out whether the work requirement applies to you
- keep pay stubs, schedules, and volunteer logs because the state requires proof of hours
- check your mail and the MyACCESS portal regularly, and respond promptly to any notice
If you qualify for an exemption, apply with documentation. Exemptions include a medical certification that you cannot work, pregnancy, care for a child under 14, work at 30 or more hours per week, an income of at least $217.50 per week, and other state-approved reasons, such as a condition related to mental health.
The changes are not limited to eligibility requirements. SNAP rules also now affect what people can purchase with their benefits. Since April 20, 2026, Florida’s Healthy SNAP rules have limited items that can be bought with SNAP.
Be aware that your monthly benefit amount and the list of participating stores have not changed. Soda, including diet and zero-sugar versions, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed ready-to-eat desserts such as Twinkies and Oreos are no longer eligible, and checkout systems will block them automatically.
Many familiar items remain eligible, including Gatorade, Powerade, coffee, tea, sparkling water, granola bars, Pop-Tarts, baking mixes, baking chips, baked goods made or packaged in the store, and refrigerated or frozen desserts. If you are unsure about an item, ask the store before you make your purchase, and consider carrying another form of payment. The state shares updates through the MyACCESS portal and text messages.
SNAP is not the only food assistance program facing changes or uncertainty: WIC funding is under review. WIC serves pregnant and postpartum women, breastfeeding parents, infants, and children under age 5. H.R. 8646, an agriculture appropriations bill in the Florida House, would reduce the WIC benefit for fruits and vegetables by about 10%. Separately, the White House has proposed reductions of 62% to 75%.
Under this larger proposal, the monthly benefit for fruits and vegetables for a breastfeeding mother would decrease from $52 to between $13 and $19.76. Virtual WIC services also were scheduled to expire on September 30, 2026 unless Congress acted, so we recommend you confirm your status with your WIC office.
With these changes affecting food-assistance programs, knowing where to turn for help can make a difference. United Way Broward is here to help. Our organization does not make decisions about SNAP eligibility nor do we issue benefits, but we do connect people in need to food and a wide range of other services.
211 Broward is the first call to make. This helpline operates 24/7, and it connects residents to resources for food, housing support, healthcare, eldercare, childcare, legal aid, and mental health. Dial 211 or 954-537-0211, or visit 211-Broward.org.
United Way Broward’s Project Lifeline provides food, hygiene items, and other essentials to people facing hardships, and our team maintains a list of participating food pantries across the county. We also regularly hold food distributions, open to the public at no charge, at our headquarters located at 1300 S. Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.
United Way Broward’s MISSION UNITED is another resource, helping Veterans and their families find employment services, education, legal aid, healthcare, and housing support. Call 954-486-4833 for any questions you may have.
Our organization also provides extensive research on and support to ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households. ALICE refers to people in Broward County, of all ages and all backgrounds, who are working but earning less than the basic cost of living in the county, and people in these households include home health aides, educators, bus drivers, retail employees, and friends and neighbors we see every day.
It is extremely important to stay informed and stay involved. If your benefits change or a notice confuses you, call 211 early. Congress is still deciding WIC funding, and residents with a range of views should speak with their elected officials. You can look up your legislators on the Florida Senate website. Check that your voter registration is current. For general questions about United Way Broward’s services, call 954-462-4850.
And even if you are not personally affected by these changes, there are meaningful ways to support neighbors who are by:
- making a donation
- volunteering your time, talents, and expertise
- joining other civic-minded people in Leaders United
- participating in our public policy and advocacy efforts
Together, we can build a Broward County where every person in our community can rise and thrive.