Get Help
We believe every person deserves the dignity of adequate, nutritious food, but millions of Ohioans can't always afford it on their own.
We're here to help.
Find Your Foodbank
Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks partner with 3,600 local food pantries and meal programs to serve all of Ohio’s 88 counties.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called food stamps) can provide funds to help you purchase groceries for yourself and your household. SNAP funds are loaded onto an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which works a lot like a debit card. SNAP can help you stretch your food purchasing and household budgets further, giving you more money to buy fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein, dry goods, and other grocery staples at your local food retailers.
You can view a full list of items eligible to purchase with your SNAP funds and search for retailers that accept SNAP near where you shop for food. Here's a resource with more information about options for shopping with SNAP/EBT funds online in Ohio.
SNAP is an entitlement program – that means that participation in SNAP is based on income eligibility and is not limited to a certain number of people or households. You will not take away food benefits from anyone else by participating. You will put healthy food on the table, you will support local jobs and tax revenue, and you will free up other funds to pay the bills for your household.
Visit benefits.ohio.gov to apply for SNAP today.
My SNAP benefits/EBT card were stolen through electronic theft, like a card skimming device, card cloning, or another phishing scam. What can I do? Congress approved replacement funds for benefits electronically stolen from October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2024. Types of electronic theft include card skimming devices (when devices installed on card reader machines or point-of-sale terminals illegally capture card data), card cloning (when criminals create fake EBT cards to shop with skimmed benefits), and other criminal methods, such as scams and phishing. Unfortunately, EBT cards are more likely to be targets for these types of theft, as they are less secure than other forms of payment, like chip-enabled credit cards or payment methods with two-factor verification.
If your SNAP benefits have been stolen, you can complete the JFS Form 07011 to request replacement benefits. You will need to print, sign, and mail or hand-deliver your form to your local county Job and Family Services (JFS) office. You can find your county office here. If you need assistance with completing this form, please contact a SNAP outreach assister at one of the numbers listed below.
SNAP Emergency Allotments Ended. What Do I Need to Know? SNAP benefits decreased for all SNAP households starting in March 2023. Each month during the pandemic, SNAP benefits were loaded onto EBT cards two separate times. Starting in March, you have only been receiving the amount of your first benefit. Call 1-866-386-3071 to check your benefit amount or use JoinProviders.com for a free smart phone app to track your funds. You will not lose the benefits currently on your card. You can manage your case information, including updating your address and contact information as well as information about expenses like child care and shelter costs which impact your benefit amount, at benefits.ohio.gov.
Learn more about this federal law change from our End of SNAP Emergency Allotments flyer, available in the following languages:
English • Spanish • Somali • Nepali • Arabic • Mandarin • Russian
SNAP Interim Reports are Back. What Do I Need to Know? SNAP Interim Reports were waived during the pandemic but returned beginning in July 2022. Interim Reports are required for many households six months after an application or recertification. Learn more about when to expect notices, how to submit your Interim Report when it is due, how to update your information to make sure you receive notices, and how to get help if you need it from this SNAP Interim Reports informational resource.
Who is eligible for SNAP?
In general, if your household income is below 130% of the federal poverty level, you are likely eligible for SNAP. Here is a quick glance at monthly gross income limits by household size:
| Household Size | 130% FPL | Household Size | 130% FPL | Household Size | 130% FPL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,580 | 4 | $3,250 | 7 | $4,921 |
| 2 | $2,137 | 5 | $3,807 | 8 | $5,478 |
| 3 | $2,694 | 6 | $4,364 | Each addt’l | + $557 |
These income limits are higher for elderly or disabled household groups.
How much could my household receive in SNAP benefits?
The amount of SNAP you receive is based on your net countable income, after subtracting basic household expenses like rent and utilities from your gross income. Many households do not receive the maximum SNAP household benefit, but any amount is helpful to stretch food purchasing dollars for yourself and your family.
| Household Size | Max. SNAP | Household Size | Max. SNAP | Household Size | Max. SNAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $291 | 4 | $973 | 7 | $1,532 |
| 2 | $535 | 5 | $1,155 | 8 | $1,751 |
| 3 | $766 | 6 | $1,386 | Each addt’l | + $219 |
Are there other benefits to participating in SNAP?
In addition to helping you afford the groceries your family needs, participating in SNAP can also help you access many other savings programs and discounts. Please take a look at this More Ways SNAP Can Help Ohioans flyer for information about how you can save on everything from internet and cell phone service to tickets to attractions and so much more!
Apply For SNAP
SNAP can provide funds to help you purchase groceries for yourself and your household.
You can apply on your own by clicking the button below, or by calling any of these foodbanks for help with applying:
Southwest Ohio: Freestore Foodbank: 513-381-7627, Shared Harvest Foodbank: 513-881-9024
Northeast Ohio: Greater Cleveland Food Bank: 216-738-2067
Central and Eastern Ohio: Mid-Ohio Food Collective: 614-782-5503, Second Harvest Food Bank of Clark, Champaign, and Logan: 937-325-8715 ext. 103
Northwest Ohio: Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank: 419-242-5000 ext. 221
Southeast Ohio: SE Ohio Foodbank/HAPCAP: 740-270-3247
Locate Other Resources & Programs That Help
Home Energy Assistance Programs
The Winter Crisis Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a one-time annual benefit available to renters and homeowners to help heat their homes. Summer Crisis HEAP targets residents over the age of 60 or with certified medical conditions for help with cooling their homes. The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) can be helpful for households looking for consistent, manageable utility payments to fit limited budgets.
Visit energyhelp.ohio.gov to learn more and apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) or enroll in a Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) from the Ohio Development Services Agency.
Nutrition Programs
Are you struggling to find infant formula during the nationwide infant formula shortage? Please download this Infant Formula Resource Guide from Children's Defense Fund - Ohio. Visit this resource page from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for resources to find formula or donated breastmilk. Our foodbanks may have small quantities of donated formula available - we recommend checking with your local Department of Health and your child's pediatrician first.
The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program serves income-eligible pregnant and breastfeeding women, women who recently had a baby, infants, and children up to five years of age. To apply, visit the Ohio Department of Health website or call 1-800-755-GROW.
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides free or reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches to K-12 students. Parents/guardians submit applications for their student(s) to participate in the NSLP directly to their child’s school.
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free meals to children when schools are closed and the traditional National School Lunch Program isn’t operating. You can search for sites near you on the Ohio Department of Education’s interactive map or by calling 1-866-3-HUNGRY.
Pandemic EBT was created by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide funds for families with children to purchase groceries when schools and child care centers are closed. Learn more about Ohio's Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program at ohiopebt.org.
Health Insurance Support
Get Covered Ohio can help you shop for and enroll in the Healthcare.gov plan that best meets your needs and your budget! The Ohio Association of Foodbanks leads this project in partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and eight regional and local organizations. Make your appointment with a trained, licensed Navigator at https://getcoveredohio.org/ or by calling (833) 628-4467. We can also help you apply for Medicaid and understand changes that are coming to Medicaid.
Healthy Start provides coverage for children in low-income households. Healthy Families provides coverage for all families that have at least one child and have low incomes. To check your eligibility and apply for Healthy Start or Healthy Families, click here. Our certified Connecting Kids to Coverage enrollment specialists can help you apply. These counselors are available through a partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Visit https://getcoveredohio.org/ to make an appointment. You can learn more at insurekidsnow.gov.
Other Medicaid programs include coverage for low-income adults and coverage for income-eligible older adults or people with disabilities. To check your eligibility and apply for health care assistance through Medicaid, click here.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act created a portal to shop for subsidized health care plans that can fit into your household budget based on your income. During an annual open enrollment period in late fall, anyone can shop for and enroll in a plan that meets their needs and budget. If you experience a change in circumstances, like a new baby or the loss of employer-provided health coverage, you can enroll during a Special Enrollment Period. To learn more and shop on your own for a plan that’s right for you, click here.