Information on TANF Ohio Program.  TANF Ohio is also called Ohio Works First (OWF)

TANF Ohio is a support service for Florida families.  The purpose of TANF (Temporarily Assistance to Needy Families) Ohio is to provide financial and medical assistance to needy dependent children and the parents or relatives with whom they are living.  Eligible TANF households receive monthly cash and Medicaid benefits. TANF uses state funds to provide cash assistance to families.

Under TANF, eligible adults are limited to receiving benefits for a total of 60 months in their lifetime, including months of TANF-funded assistance granted in other states. Once this limit is reached, that adult and all members of his or her FA household are ineligible to receive any more TANF benefits. The 60 months need not be consecutive, but rather each individual month in which TANF-funded benefits are received is included in the lifetime count

Do You Qualify for TANF Ohio?

To qualify for Ohio TANF:

• you must be a resident of Ohio,
• either pregnant OR responsible for a child under 19 years of age,
• a US national, citizen, legal alien, or permanent resident,
• have low or very low income,
• and be either under-employed (working for very low wages), unemployed or about to become unemployed.

TANF Ohio Application Process:

Ohio has three ways to apply for cash, food and medical assistance:
1. You can apply online at https://odjfsbenefits.ohio.gov

2. You can fill out a “Request for Cash, Food and Medical Assistance” (JFS 7200) form and submit it to your county agency. You can get the form at
http://www.odjfs.state.oh.us/forms/findform.asp?formnum=07200
or by visiting your county agency. You can find the address and phone number of your county agency at http://jfs.ohio.gov/County/County_Directory.pdf or by looking in the county government section of your phone book. Some county agencies have multiple locations so make sure to call first to find the location nearest you. You can also register to vote at your county agency. 

3. You may also file the application through your local Ohio Benefit Bank site. The Ohio Benefit Bank helps low- and moderate-income Ohioans apply for work supports such as tax credits and public benefits, including Ohio Works First. To find the Ohio Benefit Bank site nearest you and to get more information, go to www.ohiobenefits.org.

For more information on the Ohio TANF program, call the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) about Ohio Works First, at 1-866-244-0071