CASH ASSISTANCE
Ohio Works First Cash Assistance is monthly income provided to low income families. Benefits are issued via a debit card or by direct deposit. To be eligible for Ohio Works First cash assistance, individuals must meet financial requirements and have a child under the age of 18 living in the home. Recipients are required to participate in some type of work activity with the goal of becoming self sufficient. Financial guidelines apply.
Relatives or legal guardians/custodians caring for minor children in their home can also file for a monthly cash check for the children only. Income of the relatives or guardian is not used when determining assistance for the children. Guardians must be appointed through the court system.
If you have problems with your card or need to report the card as lost or stolen, you must call the Customer Service Hotline at:
1-866-320-8822
FOOD ASSISTANCE
(SNAP) BENEFITS
Food Assistance, also known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) provides supplemental income to families that need extra assistance with their monthly grocery costs. Food Assistance is issued via an Ohio Direction Card allowing recipients to purchase food items at participating retailers.
This card acts like a debit card allowing food assistance to be used throughout the month as needed. Food Assistance will pay for all food items but will not pay for other supplies such as paper towels, cleaners, etc. The amount of food assistance a household receives is based on their household's income and monthly expenses going out.
Food Assistance will fluctuate when a household's situation changes, such as loss of employment or an increase in monthly rent. Financial guidelines apply.
If you have problems with your food assistance card or need to report the card as lost or stolen, you must call the Customer Service Hotline at:
1-866-386-3071
Download the New ODJFS ConnectEBT mobile app for easy access to your Benefit Information
FINANCIAL AND
MEDICAL SERVICES
Financial & Medical Services determines eligibility for public assistance programs, including Cash, Food, and Medical assistance. After the initial eligibility for benefits is authorized, the unit continues to maintain communication with consumers and processes changes on the case that are reported along with answering questions as they arise. The unit is also responsible for investigating fraud and unreported circumstances and calculating overpayments for benefits as needed.
Family Medical coverage is available to all households with a minor child in the home. This program also assists pregnant women with health care coverage throughout their pregnancy and up to one year after the birth of their child. Based on the household's income, coverage can be family coverage for all household members or coverage for the children only.
Medicaid Extension guidelines have been implemented under the Affordable Care Act. Eligibility is now offered to adults without children in the home who are under the age of 65. Federal income guidelines apply.
Visit healthcare.gov or benefits.ohio.gov to learn more or call the Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 1-800-324-8680. Representatives are available to answer questions related to eligibility or Medicaid due to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid Extension.
Medicaid also offers a program for elderly and disabled individuals. There are multiple Medicaid programs available to this population based on disability status, income, and resource guidelines. Anyone over the age of 65 or in receipt of SSI or Social Security Disability benefits may qualify for these programs if they meet the income and resource requirements.
If a person also has Medicare coverage through the Social Security office, they may be eligible to have their monthly Medicare premium paid for by the state, along with co-insurance and Medicare deductibles. Applications will be accepted through the mail, fax, phone, or by dropping off at the agency for this program.
Medicaid assistance is also available to nursing home residents and those needing home health services, if all financial and resource eligibility exists. Medicaid will typically require the nursing home resident to pay all of his/her income to the nursing home, except for a small monthly portion determined by the State of Ohio. This allows the consumer to have a small amount of income for personal needs, such as haircuts, etc. Medicaid then covers the rest of the monthly bill to the nursing home. Nursing home residents who have a spouse not living in the nursing home are sometimes allowed to allocate some of his/her monthly income to the spouse to assist with costs outside of the nursing home, such as mortgage and utility payments. Resources are also looked at closely when a person is applying for nursing home care.
FRAUD AND
BENEFIT RECOVERY
Applicants are required to report everyone who is living with them and all income and expenses when an application is filed for benefits.
Questionable situations sometimes arise. When this happens, a referral should be made to our Fraud Department.
Fraud referrals can be made by calling:
937-498-4981 - option 3
An investigation is completed to determine if there are unreported circumstances. If there is a fraud finding, an overpayment is completed for any benefits that the household would not have been entitled to receive.
Once an overpayment has been established, the case may be referred if warranted to the local Prosecutor’s office. Depending on the circumstances of the investigation, the case may be taken to court for prosecution.
The agency pursues collection from the recipient. Collections can be obtained through payments to our agency, recoupment from benefits currently being received, and from tax return offset.
Buying or selling Food Assistance/SNAP Benefits is illegal. If you sell or buy any SNAP Benefits it could result in criminal charges, jail time, and/or disqualification of receiving future benefits.
EMERGENCY HELP FOR RENT/UTILITIES
Prevention, Retention, and Contingency (PRC) Programs are designed to assist families as they face emergent needs and strive to gain more financial stability. Households must meet income eligibility requirements and must include a minor child. During the application interview, staff will explain other verifications that will be required for the specific programs.
Contingency Services are provided to meet emergent needs, such as preventing evictions and utility disconnections. Assistance under Contingency Services may only be provided once in a twelve-month period.
Retention Services may be provided to participants in the agency’s employment and training programs to assist them with retaining their new employment. These services may include help with transportation and clothing costs.
Under Prevention Services, training funds may be available for eligible individuals to upgrade their skills or train for a new career in a demand occupation.
Applications for these PRC programs are available and accepted at the Shelby County Department of Job and Family Services during regular business hours or click here to download the application.
Applications can be submitted at the front desk, via email at EFS-Staff@jfs.ohio.gov, regular mail, or placed in the agency drop box.
For more information, including specific eligibility criteria, on our PRC programs:
Phone: 937-498- 4981 and select option 5 and then option 6
Email: EFS-Staff@jfs.ohio.gov
REFUGEE ASSISTANCE
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.
Potential eligibility for cash, food, & Medicaid assistance will be explored once an application is received.
If you are a refugee seeking services outside of Job & Family Services
please contact :
Phone: 614-466-4815
Email: refugee@jfs.ohio.gov
HOW TO APPLY FOR CASH, FOOD, OR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Step 1- Submit an application.
You can submit your application the following ways:
Online: benefits.ohio.gov
By Phone: 844-640-6446
By Fax: 937-498-7396
By Email: FMS-Staff@jfs.ohio.gov
Paper applications can be returned via mail or in person at the agency:
227 S. Ohio Ave., Sidney, Ohio 45365
We have a 24 hour drop box outside the front door.
Submitting verifications with your application can help your application get processed quicker. Verifications needed vary by program. The items most frequently requested are income verifications, rent/utility documents, and resource documentation (such as bank statements, car titles, etc.).
Step 2- The Interview
After submitting an application for cash or food assistance, an interview is required. These are primarily conducted over the phone. You will receive a notice for an interview date and time. At the scheduled time, you will need to call 844-640-6446 to connect to a worker.
Step 3- Return any additional verifications.
You will receive a checklist in the mail of any verifications needed for your case. It’s very important you return these items by the due date to prevent your application from being denied.
Requested verifications can be returned in the following ways:
Emailed to: FMS-Staff@jfs.ohio.gov
Faxed to: 937-498-7396
In person at the agency or submitted in the drop box outside the front door.
BENEFIT QUESTIONS?
If you have questions or concerns regarding your case or application, please feel free to contact our Customer Service phone line at:
937-498-4981 press option 3 or
844-640-6446 to speak to a customer service representative.
FNS Nondiscrimination Statement: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns-nondiscrimination-statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or rataliation for prior civil rights acitivity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form.
To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
-
mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; -
fax: (202) 690-7442; or
3. email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.