If your SNAP benefits application has been denied or your existing food stamps benefits have been reduced or terminated, you can request a fair hearing with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (JFS). The JFS must receive your hearing request in a timely manner in order for your appeal to be valid. In this post, we are going to walk you through how to file an appeal for food stamps in Ohio with the JFS.
Additionally, if you are not received your SNAP benefits for the month, we are going to explain the possible reasons why your benefits have not yet arrived in your EBT account.
What to do if you did not receive your EBT Benefits?
If you did not receive your EBT benefits for the month, it could be due to several reasons, including:
- You did not Recertify your SNAP benefits
- You no longer meet the eligibility requirements
- Failure to comply with employment requirements
- Missed an appointment with the JFS
- Did not respond to a letter from the JFS asking for information
- You committed food stamps fraud
For further information regarding the status of your benefits, please contact your local JFS Food Stamps office.
You can locate the address and telephone number for your county JFS office here.
How to file an Appeal for Food Stamps in Ohio
If you disagree with a decision by the county JFS office to cutoff your SNAP benefits, you can appeal and ask for a hearing in writing or by phone.
it’s best to also appeal in writing.
Here are the steps to filing an appeal for food stamps:
Step 1 – How to Ask for a Hearing
To ask for a hearing, call or write your local agency or write to:
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Bureau of State Hearings
PO Box 182825
Columbus, Ohio 43218-2825.
If you receive a notice denying, reducing, or stopping your assistance or services, you will receive a state hearing request form.
Fill out the request form and mail it to State Hearings.
Alternatively, you may also fax your hearing request to State Hearings at (614) 728-9574.
The JFS must receive your hearing request within 90 days of the mailing date of the notice of action.
However, if you receive food assistance, you may request a hearing on the amount of your food assistance at any time during your certification period.
If someone else makes a written request for you, it must include a written statement, signed by you, telling us that person is your representative.
Only you can make a request by telephone.
Step 2 – Preheraring Resolution
Before the state hearing, you may be contacted by the Agency or Bureau of State Hearings (BSH) by phone to see if your issue can be resolved without a hearing.
This is called Prehearing Resolution.
Prehearing Resolution provides you the opportunity to resolve your issue quickly through an agreement with the agency.
Step 3- County Conference
A County conference is like a prehearing resolution but involves a meeting with the local agency to try to resolve the issue.
The JFS must receive your hearing request within 90 days of the mailing date of the notice of action regarding your benefits.
However, if you receive food assistance, you can request a hearing on the amount of your assistance at any time during your certification period.
In the food assistance program, your benefits will not continue if you were denied, reduced for your monthly benefit allotment upon recertification, or if the certification period has expired.
After the certification period, you must reapply and be found eligible.
You do not have to have a county conference to have a state hearing. Asking for a county conference will not delay your state hearing.
Step 4 – Formal State Hearing
Hearings are usually held at the local agency. If you are unable to go to the local agency, you can request that the hearing be held at another location.
For more information about the State Fair Hearing process, click here.
How to File an Appeal for Food Stamps in Ohio Summary
Here’s the bottom line:
If your Ohio food stamps application has been denied or your benefits have been reduced or terminated, you can request a fair hearing with the JFS.
The JFS must receive your hearing request within 90 days of the mailing date of the notice of action.
However, if you receive SNAP benefits, you may request a hearing on the amount of your food assistance at any time during your certification period.
Questions?
We hope this post on how to File an Appeal for Food Stamps in Ohio was helpful.
If you have further questions about Ohio SNAP or Ohio EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about Ohio SNAP and Ohio EBT, including:
Ohio Food Stamps Office Locations
Ohio SNAP EBT Balance and Login
SNAP Benefits increase for Ohio Recipients
