Since launching MyACCESS in December 2023, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has encountered significant issues, including benefit shortages.
Newsweek reported this week that Florida residents enrolled in SNAP and Medicaid are facing a loss of benefits and health insurance coverage because of issues with a recently introduced application portal.
MyACCESS is a platform that allows residents to apply for and renew benefits such as SNAP and Medicaid. The portal is said to be experiencing glitches, causing lengthy wait times for in-person requests and calls to the DCF. SNAP beneficiaries were required to recertify by Jan. 31 in order to retain their benefits.
The exact number of recipients facing challenges accessing their benefits and health coverage is unclear. However, Newsweek reported that according to community advocate Vanessa Brito, over 160 individuals have reported issues with the portal. Brito noted that claimants are struggling to upload documents, resulting in their applications being denied due to incompleteness.
"In instances where an individual is having difficulty, the department has created a special call center with almost 200 agents standing ready to assist," DCF officials said in a statement.
