We know readers have various questions regarding how the Ohio Food Stamps (SNAP Benefits) including how the application process works, income limits, eligibility, whether non-citizens can get benefits, how much you can get in benefits if approved, how long you can stay receive food stamps, and more. We decided to set up this Ohio Food Stamps FAQs page to address the most common questions we get.
More questions will be added as and when we receive reader feedback.
Ohio Food Stamps FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Ohio Food Stamps.
What are Ohio Food Stamps?
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.
Monthly SNAP benefits can be used to purchase eligible food items at grocery stores, markets, gas stations, seafood markets, bakeries, and more.
Benefits are accessed by using an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card, also known as the Ohio Direction Card.
In the state of Ohio, the program is administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (JFS) through the Ohio Benefits online portal.
When applying for Ohio food stamp benefits, one of the first questions applicants want to know is how the food stamp calculator in Ohio works.
The Ohio Food Stamps Calculator tells you exactly how much you will receive in monthly benefits.
This is important because it allows you to determine if food assistance will make a difference for your household.
Am I Eligible for Ohio SNAP Benefits?
There are three main requirements you have to meet to be eligible for SNAP benefits in Ohio, as summarized below:
Income Requirements
To get SNAP, you must meet the gross income and/or net income limits.
Resource Requirements
Additionally, to be eligible for SNAP, you cannot have cash-at-hand of more than $2,250/$3,500.
Work Requirements
Lastly, all able-bodied adults ages 18-49 must work to get/and continue to receive SNAP benefits unless they meet exemptions.
However, if you are under the age of 18, pregnant, disabled, or elderly, you may be exempt from the work requirements.
Furthermore, Able-bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD) need to fulfill work requirements in order to continue to receive SNAP benefits unless they meet exemptions.
What is the Income Limit for Ohio Food Stamps?
There are many factors that determine how much you will receive in SNAP benefits in Ohio.
These include household size, monthly income, and if a member of your household is 60 years old or older, or has a disability.
The income limit is perhaps the most important factor.
Most households in Ohio must have a total gross monthly income less than or equal to 130% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (FPIG), to be potentially eligible for SNAP.
The Ohio SNAP Income Chart provided below shows both the gross monthly income and net monthly income based on your household size.
| Ohio SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2022 | ||
| Effective October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022 | ||
| Household Size | Ohio SNAP Maximum Gross Monthly Income (130% of FPIG) | Maximum Net Monthly Income (100% of FPIG) |
| 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 | $4,839 | $3,722 |
| 9 | $5,331 | $4,101 |
| 10 | $5,823 | $4,480 |
| Each additional person | +$492 | +$379 |
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 Do I Apply for SNAP in Ohio?
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 the 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 Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) 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.
Can Students get Ohio Food Stamps?
Generally, Ohio college students are not eligible for SNAP.
However, there are exceptions to this rule.
College students enrolled at least halftime can qualify for SNAP based on a broad list of exceptions, assuming they meet the Ohio SNAP income and asset criteria and one of the following criteria:
- Work-study eligible according to their Financial Aid award letter
- Have zero expected family contribution according to their Financial Aid Award letter
Students that do not have a FASFA on file still may qualify for SNAP if they are:
- Working for pay at least 20 hours per week
- Caring for a child under age 6
- Caring for a child age 6-11 as a single-parent while enrolled full time or unable to obtain childcare
- Receiving TANF benefits
- Unable to work because of a disability
- Under the age of 18 or older than 50
Are students on Work Study Eligible?
Yes. While the COVID pandemic conditions persist, any student that qualifies for work study, may be eligible for SNAP and is encouraged to apply.
Do International Students qualify for Ohio Food Stamps?
No. Unfortunately, international students are not eligible for Ohio SNAP, but an international student’s kids may be eligible.
Ohio University International Students
International students attending Ohio University are eligible to participate in all of Ohio University’s Bobcats Helping Bobcats programs.
Can immigrants get Ohio Food Stamps?
Yes. New laws have made most legal immigrants eligible for food stamps.
As a general rule, almost all legal immigrants are eligible for food stamps once they have been in the U.S. for five years.
To be eligible, an immigrant must qualify to get food stamps. This means they must be one of these types of immigrants:
- “Green card” holders (lawful permanent residents);
- Refugees, asylum seekers, Cuban/Haitian entrants, or Amerasian immigrants;
- If you are granted withholding of deportation or withholding of removal;
- Persons paroled into the United States for at least one year;
- Persons with conditional entrant status, or
- Victims of domestic violence or immigrant trafficking under some circumstances.
However, some qualified immigrants are eligible for food stamps right away. Those eligible immediately include:
- Immigrant children under age 18;
- Immigrants who receive benefits based on severe disability (such as SSI or disability-related Medicaid, if the disability will last a year or more);
- Refugees, asylum seekers, Cuban/Haitian entrants, Amerasians, and persons granted withholding of deportation or withholding of removal in the U.S.;
- Immigrants with work histories (who can claim 40 quarters of work through their own employment or through adding that of their parents or spouses);
- Veterans and active-duty members of the U.S. armed forces, along with their spouses and dependent children; and
- Certain Hmong or Laotian Highland tribe members, and their spouses and dependent children.
How to Check Ohio EBT Card Balance?
There are three ways to check your Ohio Direction Card balance.
Option 1 – Via Phone
Call the Ohio EBT recipient hotline at 1-866-386-3071.
Option 2 – Online
- You can check the balance online here.
Option 3 – Using the Last Transaction Receipt.
- You can also check the balance by locating your Last Receipt
What are the work requirements for Ohio SNAP Benefits?
Once a family or individual is approved for food assistance, adults of the family who are considered Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD) must meet the work requirement in order to continue to receive food assistance.
An ABAWD is any individual who is:
- At least 18 years old, but not yet 50,
- Able-bodied,
- Not pregnant, and
- Not in an assistance group with a minor child.
There are several different ways to meet the work requirement.
- Work 20 hours per week
- Participate 20 hours per week in a job search program (for a maximum of three months)
- Participate in a work experience program. The number of hours you must complete is the amount you are receiving in food assistance, divided by minimum wage.
What documents should I bring to Food Stamps Application Interview?
When you apply for SNAP benefits in Ohio, your caseworker will schedule an interview with you to review your application.
Bring the following documents to the interview appointment
Identification such as:
- Driver’s license
- Social security card
- Birth certificate
- Current mortgage or rent verification
- Current utility bills
- Verification of the last 30 days of income
Where can I use Ohio SNAP EBT Card Online?
Ohioans who are eligible for food stamps can now use their Ohio Direction cards to purchase food online through
a growing list of retailers, including Walmart and Amazon.
Below is the full list of eligible grocery stores.
- ALDI
- Amazon
- BJs Wholesale Club
- Dave’s Supermarket
- Earth Fare
- Giant Eagle
- Lucky’s
- Meijer
- Sam’s Club Scan and Go
- Walmart
Here are some retailer-specific details:
In addition to delivery options, SNAP recipients are able to order eligible food online and pick it up curbside or in-store.
Those retailers providing this service include:
Walmart — All Ohio locations
- Place your order online or by the mobile app (IOS and Android)
- Next, select “EBT Card” as the payment option
- Then, pay using EBT Card at pick up or pay for delivery where available.
Giant Eagle — All Ohio locations
- Must have a curbside order that exceeds $35
- Call your local Giant Eagle location regarding EBT Card payment
Kroger — Select Ohio locations
- Order online or by the mobile app (IOS and Android)
- Select “SNAP EBT at Pickup” as the payment option
- Pay using EBT Card at pick up or pay for delivery where available.
Will Ohio SNAP Benefits Expire if I don’t use them?
No. Your SNAP benefits are made available in your account each month on your scheduled designated day.
Any benefits you use are deducted from the first benefits that were made available to your account.
If you do not use all of your SNAP benefits during the month, they stay in your account and can be used during the next month.
However, benefits not used within 365 days will be removed from your account and cannot be replaced.
I lost my job. Can I get more Food Stamps in Ohio?
Probably. If you lost your job, or are making less money, report this to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services as soon as possible.
They will use this new information to evaluate your eligibility for more SNAP benefits.
If you now qualify for more SNAP, your monthly payment will increase.
Additionally, if you are approved for unemployment benefits, you must report this to Job and Family Services.
Ohio Food Stamps FAQs Summary
We hope this post on How to Use Ohio EBT Online at Walmart was helpful to you!
If you have more questions about your Ohio EBT or SNAP Benefits, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about Ohio SNAP and Ohio EBT, including:
