Millions of low-income families across Florida, including thousands of residents in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, will see a modest boost to their food assistance budgets starting today.
The maximum monthly allotment for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—commonly known as food stamps—has officially increased. For a standard family of three living in Florida, maximum monthly benefits will rise by $23.
While the extra padding is a welcome relief for families facing high grocery costs, a massive shift in how the program is funded has local fiscal analysts sounding the alarm.
Beginning today, the federal government is adjusting the cost-sharing structure that keeps SNAP running behind the scenes. Florida is now responsible for covering 75 percent of SNAP's administrative costs, a sharp spike from the 50 percent share the state previously paid.
The administrative budget covers everything from processing local applications and running eligibility checks to managing fraud investigations and staffing state assistance offices.