When Will Ohioans Receive Their SNAP Benefits?
Columbus, Ohio – In Ohio, approximately 1.45 million residents are currently waiting for their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and the timeline remains uncertain.
SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) supports low-income households by providing monthly funds to purchase food. On November 1, funding for the program lapsed after the federal budget expired, including during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Following legal action by the city of Columbus and other parties, a federal court ordered the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release funds, but the deadline of November 5 was not met. Partial benefits were expected via a USDA contingency fund of over $4 billion; however, that funding has still not reached Ohio’s administering agencies.
Ohio’s governor confirmed benefits would not arrive during the first week of November. Though Ohio administers the program through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and local agencies, the federal delay has affected disbursements. The USDA has allowed up to 65 % of benefits to be released in November, previously capped at 50 %.
Ohio’s eligibility and benefits system will go offline on November 11 so that enrollment data for the 1.45 million recipients can be recalculated under new guidance. Once processed, files will be sent to the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) vendor to enable payments. Funds may be issued either in a lump sum or staggered, depending on vendor scheduling.
Typically, SNAP benefits are distributed between the 2nd and 20th of each month, with issuance dates staggered by case number. In Franklin County alone, around $31 million is typically disbursed monthly; statewide totals average roughly $263.4 million. The average benefit per household is about $190.
Beneficiaries should anticipate some disruption, possibly receiving less than their full benefit, while the federal shutdown continues. The state remains committed to processing eligibility and issuing payments as soon as possible.
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