Family Assistance

Food Assistance

The Food Assistance program is designed to raise nutritional levels, to expand buying power, and to safeguard the health and well-being of individuals and families whose gross monthly income is within 130% of the federal poverty guideline. Half of all recipients are children.

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Medicaid

Medicaid is the state and federally-funded program that pays for healthcare services for eligible low-income people of all ages, including children, pregnant women, families, older adults, and Ohioans with disabilities. Medicaid services are delivered via contracted healthcare providers, ensuring that Medicaid consumers get access to needed services, such as physician visits, hospital inpatient care, prescription drugs, and home health services.

Ohio Works First

Ohio Works First (OWF) is the state's cash assistance program for low-income families and is funded by the Federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant. OWF provides a cash grant to help meet basic needs for qualified individuals.

Alternatives to Nursing Facilities (Waiver Programs)

Waiver programs allow people on Medicaid with disabilities to receive care in their homes and communities instead of in nursing homes.

ODJFS Benefits

ODJFS Benefits provides an easy and quick way for people in Ohio to apply for benefits or report changes to an existing case. View the online application or change in reporting.

Collabor8 Call Center Hours

  • Monday through Wednesday 
    8 am to 4 pm
  • Friday 
    8 am to 3 pm

The Call Center is closed:

  • All Federal Holidays
  • Thursdays

Call Center Phone: 844-640-6446

Cash Assistance

Ohio Works First was established to provide time-limited cash assistance to eligible families through Ohio's Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program, which emphasizes employment, personal responsibility and self-sufficiency. Applications are processed at county departments of job and family services, and cash assistance is provided to eligible families for up to 36 months. For child-only cases, there are no time limits for cash assistance. For more information on this program, please see the Ohio Works First fact sheet (PDF).

Food Assistance

The Food Assistance program is designed to raise nutritional levels, to expand buying power and to safeguard the health and well-being of individuals in low-income households in Ohio. A household may consist of an individual or a group of individuals who live together and usually purchase and prepare their food together. You may qualify if your household's gross monthly income is at or under 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. However, you may still qualify if your household's gross monthly income is over the limit if someone in your household is elderly or disabled. For more information on this program, please see the Food Assistance fact sheet (PDF).

For other Food Assistance, The United Way has provided a link to the Online Food Resource Calendar. Please click on the following link which will provide you with information with locations where food is available at one or more locations every day during the week, and generally one or both days on the weekend. View the food calendar.

Medical Assistance

Medicaid is a state and federally-funded healthcare program that provides assistance to certain low-income and medically vulnerable people. Ohioans who are eligible for Medicaid are entitled to all medically necessary services. Ohio's Medicaid program provides health care coverage to people who meet certain eligibility requirements. Depending on income, insurance status may affect eligibility and some consumers may be required to pay monthly premiums or co-pays. For more information on this program. Families and Individuals | Medicaid (ohio.gov)

SNAP, OWF Cash Assistance, and /or Medicaid  Fax 419-422-1081

Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC)

Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) is a program designed to assist low-income families in overcoming immediate barriers to achieving or maintaining self-sufficiency.  The program provides non-recurring, short-term, crisis-oriented benefits.  Plans are locally defined, resulting in each county having their own PRC program that may differ from other counties.  For more information on services available under Hancock County’s PRC plan please see the PRC Services Matrix.  To apply for PRC benefits, download the PRC application, Spanish - PRC application complete it, and submit the completed application to our office.  

Reporting Fraud

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is committed to investigating allegations of fraud. If you suspect fraud you can call 419-425-6375 or report it.

Fraud Costs