Ohio SNAP Recipients Begin Receiving Partial November Benefits
COLUMBUS, OHIO – Hundreds of thousands of Ohio families have begun receiving partial November SNAP benefits, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) announced today.
As of this morning, ODJFS had processed $66.8 million in partial SNAP benefits for approximately 364,000 Ohio households – just over half of the 716,000 households that are set to receive SNAP benefits for the month of November.
Because of the large number of recipients, benefits are being issued in batches. All SNAP recipients in Ohio who remain eligible for benefits under the latest federal guidance will be issued their benefits within the next few days.
Based on the latest guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, ODJFS made the necessary system changes this week to begin issuing benefits. The federal guidance instructs ODJFS to reduce the maximum amount each household can receive in November by 35% and to recalculate each household’s payment based on that new maximum amount. It is a two-step process, first requiring ODJFS to calculate the new payment amount, then transmitting those amounts for each household to its Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) vendor to issue to recipients through their Ohio Direction (EBT) card.
ODJFS will continue processing benefits throughout the day today, likely completing the calculations as early as tonight. All eligible recipients are part of the current processing and will receive their partial November benefits within the next few days, regardless of their normal issuance day. Typically, the distribution of SNAP benefits is staggered through the 20th of each month.
SNAP recipients are encouraged to check their balances through their Connect EBT app, or Ohio Benefits Self Service Portal.
Due to the process to recalculate each household’s payment amount, ODJFS will not know the total amount of partial November benefits until all benefits are processed. In accordance with FNS guidance, the exact amount each household will receive is based on factors such as gross and net income and allowable deductions, such as housing and medical costs.
Under the revised federal calculations, nearly all recipients will receive less than 65% of their normal benefit. Some recipients, particularly those whose earnings place the household near the cutoff for eligibility, may receive no benefits this week under the revised calculation. An official notice explaining each household’s specific benefit change will be issued.
Prior to the federal government shutdown, approximately 1.4 million Ohioans received about $264 million in food benefits from SNAP each month. Once the federal government shutdown ends, additional FNS guidance will be needed to determine how to handle the difference between what would ordinarily be issued for the month and what is being issued this week.
Last week, Governor Mike DeWine ordered ODJFS to distribute $7 million to eight regional food banks. He also ordered ODJFS to distribute emergency relief benefits to more than 63,000 Ohioans – including more than 57,000 children – who are at or below 50% of the federal poverty level through an additional benefit to Ohio Works First (OWF) participants. Last week, ODJFS distributed $3.7 million in emergency relief as part of this effort.
With the distribution of partial SNAP benefits now underway, the additional OWF benefit will cease.
The latest information on the impact of the federal government shutdown on ODJFS programs can be found at jfs.ohio.gov.
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