Benefits · Nutrition
How to apply for Miami-Dade Meals for the Elderly (Congregate + Home-Delivered)
Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD), Nutrition Services Unit
Who it's for
Miami-Dade's Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD) Meals for the Elderly program provides two free meal pathways for Miami-Dade residents age 60 and older: congregate meals at one of 19 designated meal sites across the county, and home-delivered meals (the local Meals on Wheels) for seniors who are homebound or have a qualifying disability. Congregate participants receive a hot, nutritionally balanced meal on weekdays at a community center or designated congregate site, along with social engagement and information about other senior services. Home-delivered participants receive seven free frozen meals per week, plus fresh fruit, milk, and other food items, delivered weekday mornings Monday through Friday. The program is funded through a blend of Older Americans Act Title III-C dollars (federal), Florida Department of Elder Affairs allocations, and Miami-Dade County matching funds. A spouse of an eligible senior receives meals without an independent age or disability requirement; an under-60 individual with a disability who lives with an eligible recipient and depends on them for care can also be enrolled.
The congregate-meals pathway requires only age 60+ and Miami-Dade residency — call 786-469-4707 to be enrolled and assigned to one of 19 meal sites. The home-delivered (Meals on Wheels) pathway additionally requires documented homebound status or a qualifying disability — CAHSD case management makes that determination, and most regions operate a waitlist. There is no income or asset test, but participants are offered the option to contribute voluntarily based on their means (no one is denied for inability to pay).
What you'll need
- Proof of age (Florida driver's license, Florida ID, or birth certificate)
- Proof of Miami-Dade County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
- For home-delivered meals: documentation of homebound status or qualifying disability (typically a physician's note or a CAHSD case manager assessment)
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 786-469-4707
Renewals
annual reassessment by CAHSD case manager
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.