How to Apply for Food and Cash Assistance

If you are applying for food, cash and/or medical assistance, the multi-step process is the same for all types of assistance.

It may take up to 30 days for us to review your completed application. We complete cases in the order they are received and when all verification documents have been received. Read how to apply and make sure your application is complete. This will speed up your application process.

Options for how to apply

You can submit your application online or over the phone.

Online

1. Create Your Account: Visit our Access Service Portal to set up your account begin your application. For help creating an account, check out these How To videos.

2. Gather Your Documents: As part of the application, you will need to submit a number of verification documents. The specific documents accepted are listed in the application, as well as this list of verifications needed(PDF, 371KB), but in general we will need to verify:

  • Who is in the household,
  • All household income, and;
  • Basic information such as identity, Social Security Number(s) and birth certificate(s).

Please write your name and case number or social security number on all verification documents.

3. Submit Your Application: Apply online through the Self-Service Portal.

Apply Online

4. Interview with Us: Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a call, followed by a letter in the mail giving you an appointment date and time. The majority of our appointments are conducted over the phone. The appointment will generally be within two weeks of the submission of your application.

  • Please be prepared to provide verification documents.
  • Interviews generally take up to 90 minutes. If your benefit has a work requirement, you may be asked to do an additional interview.
  • During the interview, your caseworker will be able to answer any questions you may have about the application process.

5. Submit Any Additional Documents: At the end of your interview, your caseworker will give you a checklist of any additional verification documents we need to complete your case. The sooner you return the verification documents, the sooner your case can be completed. Return those verification documents to us with your name and case number or social security number on all documents.

  • Upload Online: Upload case verification documents directly through the Ohio Benefits Self Services Portal. Watch this How To Upload Documents Video for step-by-step instructions.

  • E-mail Us: Take a picture of your verification documents and email it to FRANKLIN-CDJFS-Verifications@jfs.ohio.gov. Please include your full name and case number in the email.
  • Mail: Address to
    • Northland Opportunity Center
      1721 Northland Park Avenue
      Columbus, Ohio 43229
  • Fax: 614-233-2398

  • Drop Off In Person: Drop off your application at one of the three following locations:

Phone

1. Gather Your Documents: As part of the application, you will need to submit a number of verification documents. The specific documents accepted are listed in the application, as well as this list of verifications(PDF, 371KB), but in general we will need to verify:

  • Who is in the household,
  • All household income, and;
  • Basic information such as identity, Social Security Number(s) and birth certificate(s).

Please write your name and case number or social security number on all verification documents.

2. Call Us: Call us at 1-844-640-OHIO (6446)

Note: Franklin County processes applications over the phone Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. If your wait for a caseworker exceeds five minutes, the system can call you back in the order the call was received.

3. Interview with Us: Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a call, followed by a letter in the mail giving you an appointment date and time. Please note that the majority of our appointments are conducted over the phone. The appointment will generally be within two weeks of the submission of your application.

  • Please be prepared to provide verification documents.
  • Interviews generally take up to 90 minutes. If your benefit has a work requirement, you may be asked to complete an additional interview.
  • During the interview, your caseworker will be able to answer any questions you may have about the application process.

4. Submit Any Additional Documents: At the end of your interview, your caseworker will give you a checklist of any additional verification documents we need to complete your case. The sooner you return the verification documents, the sooner your case can be completed. Return those verification documents to us with your name and case number or social security number on all documents.

  • Upload Online: Upload case verifications documents directly through the Ohio Benefits Self Services Portal. Watch this How To Upload Documents Video for step-by-step instructions.

  • E-mail Us: Take a picture of your verification documents and email it to FRANKLIN-CDJFS-Verifications@jfs.ohio.gov. Please include your full name and case number in the email.
  • Mail: Address to
    • Northland Opportunity Center
      1721 Northland Park Avenue
      Columbus, Ohio 43229
  • Fax: 614-233-2398

  • Drop Off In Person: Drop off your application at one of the three following locations:

Contact Us

Call our Customer Access Center at 1-844-640-OHIO (6446) and select the menu option that best suits your question:

  • Option 2: Medicaid, food assistance, cash assistance or child care benefits
  • Option 3: Ohio Benefits website
  • Option 4: Managed Care Plans or questions about Medicaid Covered Service
  • Option 5: EBT or EPPIC Cards
Back to top