Overview
Food Assistance helps families stretch their food budgets to buy healthy food. The program is designed to increase nutritional levels and safeguard the health and well-being of Allen County residents. Benefits are distributed on a “Ohio Direction Card” which can be used like a debit card at the grocery store.
Healthy people under 60 can also participate in Food Assistance Employment and Training (FAET) while receiving food assistance to help them gain work experience and move toward self-sufficiency.
Ultimately, food assistance helps families meet their basic needs while adults work toward financial stability. Food Assistance (formerly known as the food stamp program) is known nationally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Do I Qualify?
Eligibility for food assistance is complex – based on income guidelines and family size – but both families and individuals may be eligible to receive food assistance.
You may qualify for benefits if your household’s gross monthly income is at or under 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Some households may qualify if they have incomes over the limit if someone in the household is elderly or disabled. For additional FAQs or to see if you’re eligible, CLICK HERE.
ODJFS Issues Another Warning on SNAP Fraud – 1.16.2025
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Director Matt Damschroder is urging Ohioans receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to act now to protect those benefits and be aware of skimming devices.
“Criminals continue to prey on vulnerable Ohioans who rely on food assistance to supplement their monthly grocery costs,” Damschroder said. “SNAP recipients should be vigilant in protecting their benefits by looking for signs of skimming, protecting their EBT card number and PIN, and using tools such as the ConnectEBT app and its “Lock Everywhere” feature to avoid becoming victims.”
Criminals use a process called “skimming” to steal EBT card numbers. This is when a fraudulent device is placed over a point-of-sale card reader to steal payment card information. When a recipient swipes their card over a compromised device, they are unsuspectingly sharing their card information with criminals. For more information on how SNAP recipients can protect their accounts, please download this pdf.
SNAP is a federal food assistance program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) that is overseen in Ohio by ODJFS and administered by county departments of Job and Family Services. ODJFS has a webpage on how Ohioans can protect their identity and benefits.
SNAP recipients are encouraged to take some simple steps to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim:
- Manage your benefits by downloading the secure ConnectEBT app on your mobile phone or tablet. Through the app’s card lock features, users can enable a feature that requires the user to unlock their EBT prior to making any purchases, including in-state.
- Create a PIN for your card that is unique and difficult to guess.
- Change your PIN monthly, before each scheduled deposit.
- Never share your card number or PIN. ODJFS will never ask for these numbers.
- Carefully examine point-of-sale card readers before using them to check for skimming devices.
- When using your card, cover the keypad with your body or hand to stop others from seeing your PIN.
ODJFS uses a variety of methods to detect potential fraud, including suspicious activity and identifying point-of-sale terminals where skimming or criminal transactions may be taking place. ODJFS shares that information with the Ohio Investigative Unit, local law enforcement and FNS.
EBT cardholders can reduce their risk by following these tips on avoiding skimmer devices:
- Do not use card reader if you notice anything unusual.
- Pull at the edges of the keypad before swiping your EBT card to ensure there is nothing over the reader.
- Notify store staff if you notice anything suspicious with the card reader.
