Ohio deprives thousands of eligible residents of food aid
Posted August 26, 2015 in Press Releases
State rejects opportunity to expand federal food aid to urban areas and many counties.
For immediate release
Contact: Wendy Patton, 614.221.4505
Thousands of working poor Ohioans qualify for an extension of federal food aid, but the state has failed to provide access to dozens of eligible cities and counties where they live, according to a new Policy Matters Ohio report. Federal rules allow states to waive time limits in areas where working-poor adults cannot find enough work hours (without a waiver, recipients are restricted to food aid for three out of 36 months unless they work at least 20 hours per week). A statewide waiver isn’t allowed in 2016, but many cities and counties remain eligible. Ohio has requested a waiver of time limits for 18 rural counties in 2016. Three counties that qualify for a waiver under the federal eligibility standards used by the state to determine this year’s request