If you are struggling to meet your basic food and nutrition needs, there is help available to you. The Ohio Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food assistance help to eligible low-income households. If you want to know if you qualify for food stamp benefits in Ohio, this article will provide you with the Ohio Eligibility for Food Stamps.
This Ohio Food Stamps Eligibility Guide will cover the requirements for fiscal year 2022.
In addition, this article will cover:
- Ohio Eligibility for Food Stamps in 2022
- Ohio Food Stamps Eligibility Requirements
- Food Stamps Gross and Net Income Limit
- How to Calculate Gross and Net Income for Food Stamps
- How Much Food Stamps You Could Receive in Ohio
- Ohio SNAP Vehicle Asset Test & Work Requirements
- How to Apply for Food Stamps in Ohio
- What Happens After you Apply for Ohio SNAP
Ohio Food Stamps Program
The USDA Food Assistance Program provides monthly benefits to low-income households struggling to meet their nutritional needs.
If you are struggling to afford food, then applying for Ohio food stamp benefits could provide your household with some much-needed relief.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps provides monthly cash benefits to eligible households in Ohio.
In Ohio, SNAP is administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (JFS) through the Ohio Benefits online portal.
If you meet the Ohio eligibility for food stamps, you will receive a special debit card, called an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card.
The Ohio EBT Card, also known as the Ohio Direction Card is loaded with your food benefits each month.
Monthly food stamp benefits can be used to purchase eligible food items at grocery stores, markets, gas stations, seafood markets, bakeries and more.
Households approved for the Ohio food stamps could receive over $1,500 in benefits each month.
The amount of food stamp benefits a household gets depends on three things:
- Household income from all sources (earned and unearned) such as money you get from a job, Social Security, SSI, or child support
- How many people live in your household
- Where you live
If you want to apply for SNAP benefits in Ohio, you must make sure you meet the Ohio eligibility for food stamps.
There are strict eligibility guidelines that you must to receive Ohio food stamp benefits.
To find out if you qualify for the Ohio Food Stamps Program, continue reading below.
Ohio Food Stamps Eligibility Guide for 2022
To be eligible for the Food Assistance Program in Ohio, you have to meet the eligibility requirements established by the USDA.
The Ohio Food Stamps Eligibility Guidelines will help you determine if you will qualify for SNAP benefits.
Do I qualify for Ohio Food Stamps?
To qualify for the Ohio Food Stamps and EBT Card benefits, you must:
- Be a U.S. Citizen or Legal Non-Citizen
- Live in the state of Ohio
- Meet the SNAP Income Limit
In addition to the eligibility requirements listed above, your household must also meet the three income and resources tests.
Income is the most important requirement when it comes to qualifying for Ohio food stamp benefits.
SNAP Income Tests
The three tests that determine your Ohio eligibility for food stamps include your household’s gross monthly income, net income, and assets.
We’ve provided more information about each of the three tests below:
Gross Monthly Income — is your household’s total income before any deductions. This includes money earned from work and other assistance such as unemployment, Social Security and child support.
Net Income — is your household’s total income after all allowable deductions.
Assets — is your household’s total resources that are considered available to purchase food, such as bank accounts and cash.
To learn more about each of the Ohio SNAP eligibility tests including how to calculate them for your household, continue reading below.
Ohio Eligibility for Food Stamps
To help determine if you qualify for Food Stamps in Ohio, we’ve explained each of the three SNAP eligibility tests below.
Test 1 – Gross Income Test
The first test you must meet is the gross monthly income test. This is a household’s income before any allowable deductions are applied.
The USDA requires that a household’s income must be at or below 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 2022.
In fiscal year 2022, the poverty line amount for an individual is $1,073. Therefore, 130 percent of that level is $1,396.
Furthermore, an individual applying for Ohio food stamps must have a gross monthly income of $1,396 or below to qualify.
For a family of three, the poverty line is $1,830 a month. Therefore, 130 percent of that is $2,379 a month, or about $28,550 a year.
The poverty level is higher for bigger families and lower for smaller families.
How to Calculate Gross Income
Use the example provided below to help you calculate your household’s gross monthly income.
| How to Calculate Gross Income for Food Stamps in Ohio | |
| Gross Income Calculation: | Example: |
| Determine household size . . . | 4 people with no elderly or disabled members. |
| Add gross monthly income . . . | $1,500 earned income + $550 social security = $2,050 gross income. |
| If gross monthly income is less than the limit for household size, determine net income. | $2,050 is less than the $2,871 allowed for a 4-person household, so determine net income. |
Ohio SNAP Income Limit
The SNAP Income Limit Chart, also known as the Ohio Food Stamp Eligibility Chart will help determine your household’s eligibility for benefits.
First, calculate your household’s gross income, then use the chart below to determine if it meets the income limit for Ohio food stamp benefits.
What is the income limit for food stamps in Ohio for 2022?
The Ohio Food Stamp Income Limit Chart shows both the gross and net monthly income based on your household size. The food stamp Ohio income limit for 2022 is based on your household size. Use the chart provided below to determine if your income qualifies:
| Ohio Food Stamp Income Limits for Fiscal Year 2022 | ||
| Effective October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022 | ||
| Household Size | Gross Monthly Income (130% of FPL) | Net Monthly Income (100% of FPL) |
| 1 | $1,396 | $1,074 |
| 2 | $1,888 | $1,452 |
| 3 | $2,379 | $1,830 |
| 4 | $2,871 | $2,209 |
| 5 | $3,363 | $2,587 |
| 6 | $3,855 | $2,965 |
| 7 | $4,347 | $3,344 |
| 8 | $4,838 | $3,722 |
| Each Additional Household Member: | +$492 | +$379 |
Test 2 – Net Income Test
The Net Income, or household income after deductions are applied, must be at or below the poverty line for your household size.
To find out how to calculate your net income with the allowable deductions, continue reading below.
Ohio Food Stamp Allowable Deductions
Certain deductions are allowable to be taken from the gross income to arrive at the net income amount.
The following deductions are allowed for all households depending on the living situation and expenses:
- 20 percent deduction from earned income to account for work-related expenses and payroll taxes.
- A standard deduction based on household size (see below) to account for basic unavoidable costs.
- Dependent care deduction for out-of-pocket child care or when needed for work, training, or education.
- Child support deduction for any legally obligated child support that a member of the household pays.
- Medical expense deduction for elderly or disabled household members that have incurred out-of-pocket medical expenses greater than $35 a month.
- Homeless household shelter deduction of $159.73.
- Excess shelter deduction for households with a shelter cost that exceed more than half of the household’s income. This deduction is uncapped for households with an elderly or disabled member. However, for all other households, this deduction is capped at $597 per month.
Once you have subtracted all eligible deductions from your household gross income, this will give you your monthly net income.
Ohio SNAP Standard Deduction
The food stamps standard deduction varies based on your household size and location.
Please use the chart provided below to find the standard deduction amount for your household.
| SNAP Standard Deductions for Fiscal Year 2022 | |||||
| Effective October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022 | |||||
| Household Size | Standard Deduction | ||||
| 48 States & D.C. | Alaska | Guam | Hawaii | Virgin Islands | |
| 1-2 | $177 | $303 | $356 | $250 | $156 |
| 3 | $177 | $303 | $356 | $250 | $156 |
| 4 | $184 | $303 | $367 | $250 | $184 |
| 5 | $215 | $303 | $430 | $250 | $215 |
| 6+ | $246 | $308 | $493 | $283 | $246 |
How to Calculate Net Income
Use the example provided below to help you calculate your household’s net monthly income based on 4-person household with a $2,050 gross income.
| How to Calculate SNAP Net Income in Ohio | |
| Net Income Calculation: | Example for a 4-person household: |
| Subtract 20% earned income deduction… | $2,050 gross income
$1,500 earned income x 20% = $300. $2,050 – $300 = $1,750 |
| Subtract standard deduction… | $1,750 – $184 standard deduction for a 4-person household = $1,566 |
| Subtract dependent care deduction… | $1,569 – $362 dependent care = $1,204 |
| Subtract child support deduction… | $0 |
| Subtract medical costs over $35 for elderly and disabled… | $0 |
| Excess shelter deduction… | See below |
| Determine half of adjusted income… | $1,204 adjusted income/2 = $602 |
| Determine if shelter costs are more than half of adjusted income… | $700 total shelter – $602 (half of income) = $98 excess shelter cost |
| Subtract excess amount, but not more than the limit, from adjusted income… | $1,204 – $98 = $1,106 net monthly income |
| Apply the net income test… | Since $1,106 is less than $2,209 allowed for a 4-person household, this household has met the income test. |
What Counts As Income?
For your SNAP application, cash from all sources will count towards your income limit including:
- Earned income (before payroll taxes are deducted)
- Unearned income, such as cash assistance, Social Security, unemployment insurance, and child support are all counted towards your income for food stamps purposes.
Ohio SNAP Net Income Limit for 2022
Once you have calculated your household’s net income, use the chart below to determine if your household meets the Ohio food stamp income limits for 2022.
| SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2022 | |
| Effective October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022 | |
| Household Size | Monthly Net Income (100% of Federal Poverty Level) |
| 1 | $1,074 |
| 2 | $1,452 |
| 3 | $1,830 |
| 4 | $2,209 |
| 5 | $2,587 |
| 6 | $2,965 |
| 7 | $3,344 |
| 8 | $3,722 |
| Each Additional Household Member: | +$379 |
For more information on the Ohio Food Stamps income requirements, check out out complete article on the Ohio Food Stamp Income Limit for 2022.
Test 3 – Assets Test
The final test to determine if you’re eligible for food stamp benefits is the assets test. This test determines if your total household assets fall below the acceptable limit.
Households with a member who is elderly (age 60 or older) or disabled, must have assets or countable resources of $3,750 or less.
Households without an elderly or disabled member, must have assets of $2,500 or less.
What counts as an Asset?
For your application, resources that could be available to the household to purchase food are counted towards your asset limit.
This includes:
- Bank accounts
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Real estate other than your home
- Income you earn from assets (like interest earned on savings and dividends you receive).
What does not count as an asset?
Certain items do not count as an asset. These are typically resources that are not accessible, such as the household’s home, personal property, and retirement savings*.
*Please note that withdrawals from these accounts may count as either income or resources depending on how often they occur.
Additionally, most automobiles do not count as an asset. However, there are special rules around vehicles. To learn more about this, continue reading below.
Do vehicles count as an asset for Food Stamps?
Vehicles count as a resource for SNAP purposes. However, most vehicles do not count towards the food stamps resources limit.
Please note that this rule varies based on the state you live in. Ohio is responsible for determining how vehicles may count toward household resources.
Vehicles are NOT counted if they are:
- Used for Income – taxi, truck, delivery vehicle, Uber, etc.
- Annually producing income consistent with their fair market value
- Needed for long distance travel for work (other than daily commute)
- Used as the primary residence or home
- Needed to transport a physically disabled household member
- Needed to carry most of the household’s fuel or water
- If the sale of the vehicle would result in less than $1,500
Vehicles counted as resource have a fair market value that exceeds $4,650.
Licensed vehicles are also subject to an equity test, which is the fair market value less any amount owed on the vehicle.
The following vehicles are excluded from the equity test:
- One vehicle per adult household member; and
- Any other vehicle used by a household member under 18 to drive to work, school, job training, or to look for work.
For vehicles with both a fair market value over $4,650 and an equity value, the greater of the two amounts is counted as a resource.
Additionally, the equity value of unlicensed vehicles generally counts as a resource, with some exceptions.
How much will I receive in Ohio Food Stamps?
The amount of food stamps you will receive comes down to a few major factors – your household income, household size, expenses and resources.
Household expenses include your rent or mortgage, gas, electric, water, sewer, phone, and medical expenses.
In addition, any child support or child care payments are counted as expenses.
Household resources include cash, bank account savings, and stocks.
Additionally, your monthly household income includes money earned from work, as well as payments from Social Security, Unemployment, and SSI.
All of these factors play a role in how much you will get in Ohio food benefits each month.
In January 2022, the average monthly SNAP EBT payment per household was approximately $246.
Use the table below to find out the maximum amount of Ohio food stamp benefits you could receive each month.
| Maximum Ohio SNAP Benefit Amount by Household Size for 2022 | |
| Effective October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022 | |
| Household Size: | Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment: |
| 1 | $250 |
| 2 | $459 |
| 3 | $658 |
| 4 | $835 |
| 5 | $992 |
| 6 | $1,190 |
| 7 | $1,316 |
| 8 | $1,504 |
| Each Additional Household Member: | +$188 |
To find out exactly how much you can expect to receive in Ohio food stamp benefits each month, check out our Ohio Food Stamps Calculator.
How to Apply for Food Stamps in Ohio
There are three ways you can apply for food stamps in Ohio – online, in-person, and by mail or fax.
For help completing your Ohio SNAP Application for food stamp benefits, follow the instructions provided below.
Ohio Food Stamps Application Guide
Here are the three ways you can apply for Ohio food stamps:
Option 1: Online – Ohio Benefits Website
The first option is to apply online using the Ohio Benefits online portal. You can access the Ohio Benefits website by visiting benefits.ohio.gov.
If this is your first time using Ohio Benefits website, you will first have to create an online account.
Setting up an Ohio Benefits online account is quick, easy, and should only take a few minutes.
Once you have created your account, you can apply for OH food stamps online by submitting your SNAP Application.
Option 2: In-Person at Ohio JFS Office
You can also apply for benefits in person at your local county Ohio JFS office location.
Click here to find an Ohio Food Stamp Office near you.
Option 3: Mail or Fax
The last option is to download a paper Ohio Food Stamp Application and mail or fax it in.
To complete a paper Ohio SNAP Application, click here to download Ohio Food Stamps Application.
Once completed, mail the application to your local county Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
To get the mailing address for the Ohio JFS Office near you, use our Ohio SNAP Office Location finder.
In addition, you can hand-deliver your completed Ohio SNAP Application to your local JFS office or fax it.
To locate the proper fax number for your county assistance office, click here.
What you Need to Apply for Ohio SNAP
Before apply for food stamp benefits in Ohio, it’s important that you gather all the necessary documents needed to complete your application.
Here is a list of information you will need to complete your Ohio SNAP Application:
- Social Security Number (SSN) or proof that you’ve applied for one
- Identity and Date of Birth (DOB) such as a Driver’s License or State ID
- Income information such as pay stubs, tax records, or child support notices
- Resource or asset information such bank accounts (checking, savings accounts), vehicles, homes, land or life insurance
- Housing expenses such as rent and utilities
- Any child care or dependent care costs
- Child support you pay for children not living with you
- Medical expenses (including prescriptions) for those with disabilities or 60+ years old
- Health Insurance information
Once you have gathered this information, you can now begin your Ohio Food Stamps Application.
Please note, the JFS may verify the information you provide by contacting other people or agencies.
In addition, your local JFS may ask you to provide other documents.
If you need help getting any documents, be sure to tell your SNAP caseworker.
What Happens After you Apply for Ohio Food Stamp Benefits
After you apply for food stamps in Ohio, you must complete an interview with your assigned caseworker at your local county Ohio JFS office.
Your interview may be over the phone or face-to-face. You will receive a letter in the mail with more information regarding your food stamps interview.
If you are elderly or physically unable to travel for a face-to-face interview, you can apply for a waiver, which is granted on a case by case basis based on hardship.
If your waiver request is granted, the face-to-face interview will be replaced with a phone interview.
During the interview, you will be required to provide verification of your income and expenses.
How long will it take to receive Ohio Food Stamp benefits?
If your Ohio SNAP Application is approved, you will start receiving benefits within 30 days from the date you submitted your application.
In addition, once you are approved for Ohio food stamp benefits, you will receive an Ohio Direction EBT Card in the mail.
An EBT Card, also known as an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card is similar to a bank debit card.
You will use the Ohio EBT Card to access your monthly food stamp benefits. Benefits can be used at local grocery stores and select online retailers.
Your monthly benefit will be loaded onto your Ohio Direction Card on an assigned date between the first and the 20th of the month
Ohio Emergency Food Help
If you are facing a life-threatening situation and need immediate help with food, there is assistance available to you.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) provides low income and elderly Ohio residents with immediate access to nutritious meals at no cost.
Families with resources worth $100 or less, and monthly income less than $150 will qualify for Emergency Food Assistance in Ohio.
To apply for Emergency SNAP benefits in Ohio, visit an Ohio TEFAP location near you.
In addition, there is immediate help available at participating Ohio food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens and other feeding sites.
To learn more and find out how to get help now find an Ohio food bank near you.
Ohio Food Stamps Customer Service Information
For additional help completing your Ohio Food Stamps Application, contact your local county assistance office (ODJFS).
You can contact the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services by calling their Customer Service Phone Number at 614-466-4815.
The Ohio JFS Fax Number is 614-466-1767.
Additionally, you can call the Ohio Family Assistance General Customer Service Phone Number at 866-244-0071.
Ohio Food Stamps Customer Service representatives are available to help you Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more questions about Ohio SNAP Benefits, see our Ohio SNAP FAQs.
Ohio Eligibility for Food Stamps Questions
We hope our post on the Ohio Eligibility for Food Stamps was helpful to you!
If you need additional help determining your eligibility for food stamps in Ohio, please let us know in the comments section below.
If you found this article helpful, we encourage you to please share it with someone using the “Share this” button below.
In the meantime, be sure to check out our other articles on Ohio Food Stamps and EBT:
Ohio Food Stamps Calculator for 2022
Ohio SNAP Income Limit for 2022
How to Check your Ohio EBT Balance
How to use Ohio EBT Online at Amazon
Amazon Prime Discount for Ohio EBT
