The Food Assistance Program helps people buy food for their household members. Benefits are accessed through Ohio EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card, which can be used at over 900 stores in Cuyahoga County. The card is similar to commercial debit cards. The amount of Food Assistance Benefits received depends on the assistance group composition. Assistance groups are people who live together and fix and eat their meals together. An assistance group can be one person or one family or a group of people who are not of the same family.

Eligibility for Food Stamps

• Income below 130% Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (See “Income Guidelines” under Benefits section for user-friendly chart)
  • • All members living in your household count towards your household size
• Be a US citizen or a qualified alien
• All household members over 18 must be working, in school, or have a child to take care of (or other exemption to not work)

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) helps eligible pregnant and breastfeeding women, women who recently had a baby, and children up to 5 years of age pay for specific food items.

Ohio WIC Program Eligibility

Pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding; women who have recently had a baby; infants from birth to 12 months of age; children from 1 to 5 years of age; Who:

• They show up for the WIC appointment, and provide identification;
• They are residents of the state of Ohio;
• Have a medical or nutritional risk determined by a health professional; and
• Meet income eligibility guidelines – 185% of federal income poverty guidelines.

The client receives nutrition counselling, breastfeeding support, and food benefits.

Application must be done in person at WIC clinic with all children present that you would like to include. You meet with health professionals to complete height, weight, nutritional assessments, paperwork at your apt and receive 3 months worth of benefits at a time.

You will receive a WIC nutrition card with a list of approved foods and locations where it can be used. You need to return to WIC every 3 months for education, re-certification, and renewal of benefits on your card.