The economy is affecting not only banking and Wall Street executives, but also the average citizen. TBO.com reported yesterday that "the call volume [to the Department of Children and Families' ACCESS Florida line] has risen to 120,000 a day, 40,000 more than a year ago. The number of Floridians using the program is up more than 20 percent statewide and more than 60 percent in some areas."

Do you think you could benefit from food stamps or Medicaid? You can apply online using the ACCESS Florida application.

From the ACCESS Florida webpage:

The ACCESS Florida Applications will not be available on Thursday, August 28th from 8:00 p.m. until Midnight EST because we will be performing maintenance.

If you are working on an ACCESS application at 8:00 p.m., you will be able to log back into the application after the maintenance is complete - you must have the ACCESS Online Number and password created at the beginning of the process to finish your application.

If you are pre-screening to see if you might be eligible for benefits at 8:00 p.m., you may need to start over after the maintenance is complete.

If you are reporting a change at 8:00 p.m., you may need to start over after the maintenance is complete.

If you are using the Automated Response System to get information regarding the status of a recently completed application at 8:00 p.m., you may need to start over after the maintenance is complete.

If you are using the Platinum Community Partner link to get information regarding the status of a recently completed application at 8:00 p.m., you may need to start over after the maintenance is complete.

Do you need help with the ACCESS Florida online application? Try their online tutorial. It is based on the old application, but the content (what you need to apply, etc.) is the same.

When trying to access the online application for food stamps in Florida (also known as ACCESS Florida), please make sure you are:

1. Using Internet Explorer (it will sometimes work in other browsers, but not all the time);
2. Turning OFF the Pop-Up Blocker; and
3. Writing down the ACCESS Florida online number the site assigns to you and making sure you either remember or write down the password you choose. This is how you get back in to your application if you can't finish it in one sitting or you need to make changes to your application.

If you are unable to complete the application on the computer, there are print applications available from their website. Click here to access them.