How to apply for Pinellas Adult Emergency Financial Assistance Program (AEFAP) in Florida
Pinellas County Human Services Department
Who it's for
Pinellas County's Adult Emergency Financial Assistance Program (AEFAP) provides one-time financial help to individuals and married couples without minor children — including seniors living alone or as couples — facing eviction, foreclosure, or utility shut-off. Help can include past-due rent to prevent eviction, emergency mortgage assistance, or utility payment to keep heat/cooling/water on. AEFAP is administered by the Pinellas County Human Services Department and serves as the county's safety-net for adult-only households who don't fit standard family-with-children assistance criteria. Income eligibility is approximately at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level for a 1-person household (around $31,920 annually / $2,660 monthly per the published threshold). Assistance is available on an annual basis based on documented need. First contact is 2-1-1 (available 24 hours a day) to determine qualification; the Financial Assistance Program processes requests Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can also apply through the Human Services online portal (connections.pinellas.gov/care-coordination) or call (727) 464-4200. The same intake also screens for LIHEAP, which is administered locally by the Pinellas Community Urban League at (727) 327-0977.
AEFAP is crisis-triggered — you qualify only when you have documented evidence of imminent eviction, foreclosure, or utility shut-off AND meet the income cap (approximately $31,920/year for a single-person household, scaled up for larger households). Assistance is described as available 'on an annual basis based on need' — case managers have discretion on whether to authorize multiple assists in a single year. The intake at (727) 464-4200 also screens for LIHEAP (administered separately by the Pinellas Community Urban League at 727-327-0977) and for Pinellas County Health Program enrollment if you're under 65 and uninsured.
People who qualify for one senior program often qualify for others. See everything you may qualify for — free, no SSN, about five minutes.
Discover my benefitsWhat you'll need
- Government-issued photo ID for the applicant
- Proof of Pinellas County residency
- Proof of household income (pay stubs, Social Security award letter, SSA-1099) for the prior 30 days
- Documentation of the emergency (eviction notice, foreclosure notice, utility shut-off notice, or final bill)
- Lease, mortgage statement, or utility bill showing the obligation
- Social Security cards for household members
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 727-464-4200
What to say when you call
"Hello, I'm calling to ask about Pinellas Adult Emergency Financial Assistance Program (AEFAP). I'd like to know whether I may qualify, what documents I need, and whether I can apply online, by mail, by phone, or in person. I understand I may need government-issued photo ID for the applicant, proof of Pinellas County residency, proof of household income (pay stubs, Social Security award letter, SSA-1099) for the prior 30 days — is anything else required? What is the best next step?"
Tip: have a pen ready, ask for the person's name, and write down any case or reference number they give you.
Renewals
annual; one-time assistance per crisis with case manager discretion for recurrence
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Discover my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.