While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Food Stamps, helps eligible low-income individuals and families buy the food they need to stay healthy in the form of monthly benefits.
SNAP uses Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to distribute the benefits.
The Ohio SNAP food assistance program is administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Learn more about SNAP on the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services website here.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP benefits can be used to purchase approved food items. These include:
See a more comprehensive list of what you can buy with SNAP benefits here and a list of approved snacks and meal supplements here.
There are also food items that cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits, including alcoholic beverages and hot prepared food. See a comprehensive list of what you cannot buy with SNAP benefits here.
SNAP provides monthly benefits, known as an allotment, to eligible households. The allotment amount you can receive is based on 1) the number of people in your household and 2) your household income.
To calculate your allotment amount, multiply your household’s net income by 0.3 and then subtract that number from the federal maximum monthly benefit amount in the table below.
| Household Number | Federal Maximum Allotment Per Month |
| 1 | $291 |
| 2 | $535 |
| 3 | $766 |
| 4 | $973 |
| 5 | $1,155 |
| 6 | $1,386 |
| 7 | $1,532 |
| 8 | $1,751 |
| Each additional household member | +219 |
You have one year (365 days) to use your allotment or the benefits on your EBT card will be canceled.
To learn more about your benefit amount in Ohio, click here.
To qualify for SNAP in Ohio, you must meet the following requirements:
Learn more about Ohio’s income limits and other eligibility criteria here.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Ohio Food Stamps program, helps families buy the food they need to stay healthy. If you are in need of food assistance and wish to apply to SNAP, complete the following three steps:
Learn about the income limits and personal eligibility requirements to receive SNAP benefits here.
Find a list of what you need to apply on the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services website here. You can also view a copy of the application here to see what information is required.
To apply for SNAP online, create an account on Ohio’s Benefit portal here and fill out the SNAP application.
To apply by mail, print and fill out the paper application available here and send it to your local Job and Family Services Office. To find the address of an office near you, click here.
To apply for SNAP by fax, print and fill out the paper application available here and send it to your local Job and Family Services Office. To find the fax number of an office near you, click here.
To apply for SNAP in person, click here to find the nearest Ohio Job and Family Services office location. You can download and fill out your Application for Food Assistance here or fill out a form at your local Job and Family Services office when you go in to apply.
Another in-person application option is to visit your local Ohio Benefit Bank for assistance filling out your application and submitting it. You can find local Benefit Banks in your area here.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services at 1 (614) 466-4815 or contact your local Job and Family Services office here.
If you need to obtain an application in a different language, click here.
Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:
If you applied for SNAP online, by phone, by mail or by fax, you will receive a notice in the mail from the Department of Health and Welfare with your determination and benefit amount. If you are approved, you will then receive your EBT card in the mail within 14 days of your determination letter.
If you applied in person at a local Division of Welfare office, you will receive your determination and EBT card on the same day so long as you provide all the required information and documentation.
If documents are missing from your application, or the Department of Health and Welfare needs more information from you to finish processing your request, you will need to wait for your determination and EBT card to come in the mail.
Once you receive your EBT card, you can use it to purchase items that are approved by SNAP at groceries and retail stores that accept EBT transactions. Learn about what you can purchase with SNAP here.
SNAP benefits are replenished each month that you are a member of the program. To check the balance of your EBT card, call the number on the back of your card or 1 (866) 386-3071. You can also check your balance online here.
If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the Ohio Department of Health and Welfare, you can appeal your decision in person or by mail within 90 days of receiving your determination letter.
When you are denied benefits, you will receive a State Hearing Request Form along with your denial letter.
To file an appeal by mail you will need to submit the State Hearing Request Form to the following address:
ODJFS Bureau of State Hearings
P.O. Box 182825
Columbus, Ohio 43218-2825
To file an appeal by fax you will need to fill out the hearing request and send it to 1 (614) 728-9574.
If you wish to request a hearing by phone, you can call the state's consumer assistance line at 1 (866) 635-3748. Just be sure to have your denial letter and hearing request on hand for reference.
To file an appeal by email, send your request to bsh@jfs.ohio.gov with the subject line “State Hearing Request” Be sure to have your denial letter and hearing request on hand for reference.
To file a hearing request online, click here.
If you are filing online, by phone or by email, remember to have the following information on hand:
For more information about the appeals and hearing process, click here.
You can check the balance of your EBT card by calling the number on the back of your card or 1 (866) 386-3071. You can also check your balance online here.
Learn more information about EBT cards and how to use your benefits on the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services EBT card document here.
If you have lost your EBT card and require a replacement, call Ohio’s EBT customer service number at 1 (866) 386-3071.
You cannot obtain a replacement EBT card in person at a Job and Family Services office in Ohio.
For more answers to common questions related to EBT cards, click here.
For help with obtaining SNAP benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services at 1 (614) 466-4815.
If you are out of state and have any questions for the department in Ohio, you can email them at out_of_state_inquiries@jfs.ohio.gov.
You can also visit or call a local Job and Family Services Office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.
Offices and services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Food Stamps program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Food Stamps Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, requirements for program eligibility, and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
Last Updated: February 2, 2024
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Ohio Food Stamps program, helps families buy the food they need to stay healthy. If you are in need of food assistance and wish to apply to SNAP, complete the following three steps:
Learn about the income limits and personal eligibility requirements to receive SNAP benefits here.
Find a list of what you need to apply on the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services website here. You can also view a copy of the application here to see what information is required.
To apply for SNAP online, create an account on Ohio’s Benefit portal here and fill out the SNAP application.
To apply by mail, print and fill out the paper application available here and send it to your local Job and Family Services Office. To find the address of an office near you, click here.
To apply for SNAP by fax, print and fill out the paper application available here and send it to your local Job and Family Services Office. To find the fax number of an office near you, click here.
To apply for SNAP in person, click here to find the nearest Ohio Job and Family Services office location. You can download and fill out your Application for Food Assistance here or fill out a form at your local Job and Family Services office when you go in to apply.
Another in-person application option is to visit your local Ohio Benefit Bank for assistance filling out your application and submitting it. You can find local Benefit Banks in your area here.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services at 1 (614) 466-4815 or contact your local Job and Family Services office here.
If you need to obtain an application in a different language, click here.
Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:
If you applied for SNAP online, by phone, by mail or by fax, you will receive a notice in the mail from the Department of Health and Welfare with your determination and benefit amount. If you are approved, you will then receive your EBT card in the mail within 14 days of your determination letter.
If you applied in person at a local Division of Welfare office, you will receive your determination and EBT card on the same day so long as you provide all the required information and documentation.
If documents are missing from your application, or the Department of Health and Welfare needs more information from you to finish processing your request, you will need to wait for your determination and EBT card to come in the mail.
Once you receive your EBT card, you can use it to purchase items that are approved by SNAP at groceries and retail stores that accept EBT transactions. Learn about what you can purchase with SNAP here.
SNAP benefits are replenished each month that you are a member of the program. To check the balance of your EBT card, call the number on the back of your card or 1 (866) 386-3071. You can also check your balance online here.
If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the Ohio Department of Health and Welfare, you can appeal your decision in person or by mail within 90 days of receiving your determination letter.
When you are denied benefits, you will receive a State Hearing Request Form along with your denial letter.
To file an appeal by mail you will need to submit the State Hearing Request Form to the following address:
ODJFS Bureau of State Hearings
P.O. Box 182825
Columbus, Ohio 43218-2825
To file an appeal by fax you will need to fill out the hearing request and send it to 1 (614) 728-9574.
If you wish to request a hearing by phone, you can call the state's consumer assistance line at 1 (866) 635-3748. Just be sure to have your denial letter and hearing request on hand for reference.
To file an appeal by email, send your request to bsh@jfs.ohio.gov with the subject line “State Hearing Request” Be sure to have your denial letter and hearing request on hand for reference.
To file a hearing request online, click here.
If you are filing online, by phone or by email, remember to have the following information on hand:
For more information about the appeals and hearing process, click here.
You can check the balance of your EBT card by calling the number on the back of your card or 1 (866) 386-3071. You can also check your balance online here.
Learn more information about EBT cards and how to use your benefits on the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services EBT card document here.
If you have lost your EBT card and require a replacement, call Ohio’s EBT customer service number at 1 (866) 386-3071.
You cannot obtain a replacement EBT card in person at a Job and Family Services office in Ohio.
For more answers to common questions related to EBT cards, click here.
For help with obtaining SNAP benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services at 1 (614) 466-4815.
If you are out of state and have any questions for the department in Ohio, you can email them at out_of_state_inquiries@jfs.ohio.gov.
You can also visit or call a local Job and Family Services Office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.
Offices and services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Food Stamps program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Food Stamps Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, requirements for program eligibility, and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
Last Updated: February 2, 2024