Refugees are individuals who are unable or unwilling to return to their own country due to fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

Refugee Medical Assistance
Refugees not eligible for Medicaid may be eligible for Refugee Medical Assistance for the first 8 months in the United States.

Refugee Cash Assistance -
Refugees not eligible for Ohio Works First cash assistance may be eligible for Refugee Cash Assistance for the first 8 months in the United States.

How to Apply      
Step 1: Submit an application
You can submit your application in the following ways: Online for cash & food at:  www.benefits.ohio.gov
Online for medical benefits if you are over age 65 or have Medicare at:  www.benefits.ohio.gov
Online for Medicaid through the self service portal:  www.benefits.ohio.gov
By phone by calling:

937-498-4981, option 3

or by calling: 1-844-640-6446 to complete the application process Mondays through Fridays, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.
 

After completing a paper application, you may return the application:

by fax to : 937-498-7396

by mail to:

Shelby County Job & Family Services
227 South Ohio Avenue
Sidney, OH  45365


or by email to:

FMS-Staff@jfs.ohio.gov

Step 2: Gather Verification Documents
As part of the application, you will need to submit a number of verification documents.  The specific documents are listed in the application, but in general we will need to verify:

• Who is in the household
• All household income,  and

Step 3: The Interview
Once you have submitted your application for cash or food assistance, you will be contacted by a caseworker to complete your interview by telephone.
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Step 4: Return any Additional Verifications
At the end of your interview, the eligibility worker will send you a checklist of any additional verification documents we need to complete your case. You may fax verifications to:

937-498-7396

email to:

FMS-Staff@jfs.ohio.gov

or mail to:

Shelby  County Job & Family Services
227 South Ohio Avenue
Sidney, OH  45365

For more information on other services available to Refugees, contact:

614-466-4815

or email refugee@jfs.ohio.gov