As of Oct. 1, SNAP benefits have become more accessible for the people of Ohio. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Before this month, these benefits — which help families purchase groceries — were approved only for people who make 130% of the federal poverty level, which sits at $31,200 for a family of four in 2024. Now, they are available to those who make 200%.
That means a family of four with a household income of $62,400 now qualifies for SNAP benefits in the state — a big step to supporting families in Ohio as grocery prices continue to rise. It also means fewer Licking County residents will go to bed, to work or to school hungry.
“The change came through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the philosophy behind the change and the increase is to give our families more of an off-ramp from services than what we call the ‘benefit cliff,’” said Jennifer Ellis-Brunn, director at Licking County Jobs and Family Services.
In late May this year, about 18,325 people in Licking County relied on the federal program to feed their families, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
As of Oct. 8, though, that number had risen by more than 300 people, to 18,661 benefit recipients — equal to about 1 in 10 people in Licking County.
Ellis-Brunn noted that oftentimes when people work extra hours or get a small increase in payment, they become ineligible for SNAP benefits. And the loss in food assistance can outweigh the gain.
“That little bit of extra money that they get in their pocket can drastically reduce the amount of food assistance that they’re getting for their family or even make them not eligible anymore so what you find is that they’re scared to take those opportunities,” Ellis-Brunn said.
This ‘benefit cliff’ was making it difficult for people to become fully self-sufficient and go off public benefits.
Read more: Canal Market District Farmers Market organizers combat Licking County food insecurity through SNAP
This new change in SNAP benefits doesn’t affect people who are already on them. No one has to reapply if they are already on food assistance and they will still get the same amount of money.
Ellis-Brunn said that the Licking County Department of Jobs and Family Services received a significant increase in application throughout the first part of October and a lot of phone calls.
Food assistance is reviewed by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services each year, but it’s been a long time since the last significant increase in assistance.
This change in SNAP benefits comes in tandem with the SNAP Employment and Training Plan.
Ohio previously had a mandatory work and training program for “Able-bodied Adults Without Dependents,” (ABWADs) to maintain their benefits. ABWADs had to work a certain amount of hours at either paid or unpaid sites.
Now, with this new SNAP change, there’s voluntary employment training instead. If people don’t want to participate, they can still get benefits for three months, then they dont get benefits in the next 36 month period unless there’s been a “critical change,” according to Ellis-Brunn.
They are hoping that with this change, Job and Family Services will have more time to case manage and help people find stable employment.
But these new changes to SNAP benefits don’t affect the Food Pantry Network of Licking County.
Read more: Licking County Food Pantry transitioning to more customer-centric services
Anyone 200% or below the federal poverty line has always been able to use the resources that the food pantry provides. People state that they qualify but don’t have to show any proof of income.
The Food Pantry Network acts as a distribution site for many smaller pantries and shelters in the area. They also offer their own market on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and one on Tuesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
“We’ll see a lot of SNAP and WIC participants but because we’re at 200%, folks that just missed that cut off for WIC or just missed the cutoff for SNAP might not get those services but they can still get our services,” said Chuck Moore, executive director of the Food Pantry Network of Licking County.
“We’re really the last line of defense.”
Ellie Owen writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.