Affected Groups Expand
Previously exempt SNAP participants must now work at least 80 hours monthly, equivalent to 20 hours weekly, or join approved job training, education, or community service programs. Newly covered include adults ages 55-64, parents of children aged 14-18, veterans, homeless individuals, and youth aging out of foster care. Exemptions persist for pregnant people, those caring for incapacitated individuals, full-time students, and certain unemployed applicants.
Compliance Deadlines and Risks
Ohioans must submit pay stubs, volunteer forms, or other verification by March 1 via the Ohio Benefits portal, mail, or local Job and Family Services offices. Noncompliance triggers benefit loss after three months in a three-year period, starting May 1; reinstatement requires 30 days of proven work. In Cuyahoga County alone, up to 25,000 of 190,000 SNAP users may be impacted, with statewide effects potentially mirroring national CBO estimates of 1.1 million losses by 2034.
Additional SNAP Tweaks
Utility allowance calculations changed last November, requiring non-elderly/disabled households to submit bills rather than auto-qualify via HEAP, often reducing benefits. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services urges case updates and text alerts to avoid interruptions. Medicaid work rules loom for 2027, overlapping SNAP requirements for many.
