Food Assistance
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act allowed states to issue emergency allotments for households participating in the SNAP program. As a result, people receiving SNAP (or Food Assistance) have been receiving additional assistance each month in a minimum amount of $95.00 per month since March 2020. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 has ended these additional benefits.
This Federal announcement means that the last emergency allotment will be issued in late February. Beginning in March, recipients will only receive their one, normal monthly payment, which is loaded on to their electronic benefits card. As this is a federal change, there are no fair hearing rights or fair hearing benefits on the ending of these SNAP emergency allotments.
The Food Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program and nationally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) helps eligible needy Ohioans pay for food. In Ohio, recipients use an electronic benefits transfer card, the Ohio Direction Card, to buy most food or food products, with the exception of alcohol, tobacco, and hot food. Ohioans may qualify for benefits if their gross monthly household income is at or below the designated percent of the federal poverty guidelines. If you are elderly and disabled, you may have more income and still qualify. Some individuals may not qualify for food assistance based on citizenship, work rules, or other factors.
To apply, go to www.benefits.ohio.gov and fill out a Request for Cash, Food and Medical Assistance form and submit it to our agency. Once you have returned the completed form, you will be scheduled to call our toll free call center at 1-844-640-6446 to speak to one of our caseworkers, who will determine your eligibility.
For assistance with the EBT card, please visit: https://www.ebt.acs-inc.com/ebtcard/ohebt/ebt_lost.jsp.
Food Assistance issuance will be scheduled in the following manner:
- If you have a new case
- If your Food Assistance case is closed at least one day
| ISSUANCE DAY | |
| Last Digit of Case Number | Issuance Day of the Month |
| 0 | 2nd |
| 1 | 4th |
| 2 | 6th |
| 3 | 8th |
| 4 | 10th |
| 5 | 12th |
| 6 | 14th |
| 7 | 16th |
| 8 | 18th |
| 9 | 20th |
Non-Discrimination 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, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
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 responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 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 discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint 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: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
CALL CENTER HOURS:
M-W 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
T 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
F 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
CALL CENTER PHONE:
844-640-OHIO (6446) | FAX: 419-353-6091