Ohio Works First (OWF) provides monthly, time-limited cash assistance to financially eligible families and emphasizes employment, training and work experience as a means to help families become self-sufficient. The OWF program requires most recipients meet with a Success Coach to create a plan to address any barriers preventing families from reaching these goals.

Eligibility

Potential recipients of OWF must have at least one minor child in their custody or be pregnant in their 3rd trimester and meet income eligibility guidelines. Financial guidelines are based upon the number of family members and consider both earned and unearned income and resources.

Self-Sufficiency Contract and Work Activities

Nearly all adults who wish to receive OWF assistance must meet with a Success Coach to complete a Self-Sufficiency Contract (SSC) before their cash assistance can begin. At this appointment, the customer and Success Coach will discuss work history, education, skills and interests in order to establish goals for the family and a work activity plan. The SSC outlines the requirements of this work activity for the customer, as well as supportive services the agency will offer to help families work through barriers and achieve self-sufficiency.

As part of this plan, adults in single-parent families are required to participate in an approved work activity assignment for 20 or 30 hours per week. Two-parent families are required to participate for a total of 35 or 55 hours per week, depending upon whether the families receives childcare services. Parents who are in receipt of SSI as the result of a disability, but are also eligible for OWF benefits, will not be required to participate in a work activity.

Time Limits

Cash assistance in the state of Ohio is typically limited to 36 months in an individual's lifetime, which do not have to be consecutive. Success Coaches work closely with families approaching time limits to ensure that all potential resources and referrals have been explored.

If after 36 months, a family still faces significant barriers and meets an exemption criteria, families can request that JFS evaluate their case to determine if they will be eligible for a hardship exemption of 1 month or more. Hardship criteria includes, but is not limited to: domestic violence, homelessness, current involvement with Children Services, experiencing complications in the third trimester of pregnancy, and having a significant physical or mental disability. These exemptions cannot exceed 24 months, as federal law limits cash assistance to 60 total months and includes months granted as a hardship.

Kinship

Cash benefits are also potentially available for children who are either temporarily or permanently placed in the full-time care of a family member. This type of assistance does not require a Self-Sufficiency Contract, but does offer other supportive services, like the Kinship Navigator program, to help kinship families discover and access available community resources.

How do I apply for OWF benefits?

Applicants must complete an application online at https://odjfsbenefits.ohio.gov/ or by clicking here general application (7200), regardless of whether or not they are already in receipt of other assistance. Once the application is received, the applicant will be scheduled for a telephone interview within 2 business days or a face-to-face within five business days with an Eligibility Referral Specialist.

At the time of appointment, applicants should provide all required verifications (Proof of Identity, Social Security number, proof of age, proof of citizenship, proof of residence and proof of income). If determined eligible and required to participate in a work activity, the Eligibility Referral Specialist will refer the customer to a Success Coach to create a Self-Sufficiency Contract.