Food Assistance FAQs

The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to raise nutritional levels, to expand buying power and to safeguard the health and well-being of individuals in low-income households in Ohio. A household may consist of an individual or a group of individuals who live together and usually purchase, prepare and eat their food together. SNAP benefits are available through the "Ohio Direction Card" an electronic debit card system.

Visit our help page on how to apply for Food Assistance

Each customer will receive an appointment letter to call in to the agency for an interview to re-determine eligibility for Food Assistance. The appointment letter will state a time and day for you to call the agency to complete your interview. Our interview phone lines are open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please be sure to check your appointment letter, and call us at your scheduled interview time. Failing to conduct this interview may result in the delay or termination of your benefits. The interview hotline 1-844-640-6446 should only be used to complete your interview or to reschedule your interview. For other inquiries, please contact our call center at 614-233-2000.

The amount of food assistance you will receive is based on your household size, income and expenses.

Ten days total from the date printed on the request for verifications. If verifications are not turned in within the 10-day timeframe, it may result in a delay in processing and possible denial of your application.Verifications can be submitted by mail, fax (614-233-2109), or in-person at drop box or our Quick-Scan station.

As long as your income falls within the guidelines and you abide by the rules and regulations of the food assistance program.

Expedited services are available for households with no income and who meet the expedited guideline within 24 to 72 hours. For non-expedited services, once all verifications are received, it can take up to 30 days for assistance to be determined. When approved, the card will be received within 5 – 10 days.

Household items, magazines, newspapers, tobacco products, medicine, paper goods, vitamins, or alcoholic drinks may not be purchased with food assistance card. For more information about your EBT card please read the EBT FAQ document(PDF, 224KB)

In order to complete your application, you will need to provide accurate verifications of your identity, residency, household income, and expenses. The specific documents accepted are listed in the application, as well as this Verifications Needed for Benefits flyer(PDF, 371KB), but in general you will need documents like:

• Social Security cards or proof of an application for everyone who will be receiving the benefits
• Verification of residency (i.e. lease agreement or utility bill in your name)
• Verification of household income earned and unearned income (pay stubs, child support, Social Security Income, or any other income you are receiving or you have received within the last 30 days)
• Verification of child support paid
• Verification of mortgage/rent (via rent receipt from last 30 days, current lease agreement in your name, or letter from person that you are living with that includes how much you pay per month)
• Verification of utility cost (utility bill in your name or letter from landlord stating that you are responsible for the utility represented in the bill)
• Child care expenses (receipt or letter from child care provider stating how much you pay for child care services)
• Medical expense (if you are aged/ blind or disabled)
• If you are receiving Publicly Funded Child Care from FCDJFS we will be able to look up your co-pay

Eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is complex -- based on family size, income and expenses -- but both families and individuals may qualify to receive Food Assistance.

You may qualify for benefits if your household's gross monthly income is at or under 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. Some households with incomes over the limits may still qualify if someone in the household is elderly or disabled. Go to SNAP Eligibility Requirements to learn more or see if you may qualify.

Here is the link that provides more information about the Food Assistance Non-Discrimination Statement

• "And Justice For All" poster(PDF, 5MB)

Individual’s ages 18 to 49 year of age without children applying for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are considered Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) and must fulfill work requirements in order to receive their benefits. If an ABAWD is not deemed exempt,. they are required to participate in monthly Job Search work activity, a Work Experience Program (WEP) or an educational/occupational training activity.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several retailers have added the SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card option for online ordering. SNAP recipients are now able to order their food online and pick up curbside or in store. Those retailers providing this service include:

Walmart — All Ohio locations

• Order online at walmart.com or by mobile app
  • Walmart App for iOS
  • Walmart App for Android
• Select “EBT Card” as payment option
• Pay using EBT Card at pickup

Kroger — Select Ohio locations(PDF, 53KB)

• Order online at kroger.com or by mobile app
  • Kroger App for iOS
  • Kroger App for Android
• Select “SNAP EBT at Pickup” as payment option
• Pay using EBT Card at pickup

Giant Eagle — All Ohio locations

• Must have a curbside order that exceeds $35
• Call your local Giant Eagle location regarding EBT Card payment

The latest federal COVID-19 relief bill expanded eligibility for college students to qualify for food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The new, temporary changes apply to students who are enrolled in classes at least half-time and meet either of the following exemptions:

• The individual is eligible to participate in a state or federally financed work study program during the school year. Previously a student needed to be actively participating in a work study program in order to be eligible; or
• The individual has an expected family contribution of $0 in the current academic year. Students who receive the maximum Pell grant meet this exemption.

These new, temporary exemptions will be in effect until 30 days after to COVID-19 public health emergency is lifted. Students still need to meet all other eligibility criteria in order to qualify for SNAP.

Learn more about COVID-19 college student exemptions.

The SNAP Recertification Pre-Interview Questionnaire is available to all residents with or without a Self-Service Portal account who have opted-in to receive Ohio Benefits text alerts. 

Completing this paperwork ahead of your Recertification Interview can help reduce the amount of time you spend on the phone, which makes your interview faster and easier. 

Click here to view a step-by-step video.