The county Department of Job and Family Services runs cash assistance programs locally in Ohio. The Ohio Works First program provides temporary financial assistance to needy families in the state. The program is similar to the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (welfare) program run by the federal government. There is financial aid available for households with children, whether they are single-parent or married couples.
The state provides financial assistance that can be used to cover various expenses, such as rent, utilities, food, medical bills, child care, etc. The money from Works First can also be used to pay for transportation for work-related reasons. This may include expenses such as gasoline, car repairs, or bus passes. The state will only give free cash to low income families if they are participating in some form of work related activity, which could mean having a job, being in training, or going back to school.
Applying for cash from Ohio Works First
There is a Department of Job and Family Services in every county and major city. There are many locations in bigger cities, including Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. All applications needs to be submitted to the appropriate center, or they can be done online if it is more convenient.
The cash assistance is for low income families that have children. The funds can help parents who are struggling to support their children, including single mothers or dads, teenage parents, the disabled, and even elderly if their social security payments are less than the cut off amounts. In order to receive welfare benefits, the child needs to be immunized and enrolled in school. The parent must also be employed, in training, or seeking employment. Payments will only be given for a maximum of 36 months over the course of the lifetime. The state can occasionally make exceptions.
When you apply, make sure to bring proof of your income and expenses. This will help your application be processed more smoothly. This can include a lease showing the monthly rent amount, copies of utility bills, and disability notices, income from child support, and more. This can help provide documentation of your income, which can be used to help show your ability to pay rent. The applicant also needs to sign a self-sufficiency contract, agreeing to be employed, volunteering, or looking for a job for the entire time they are on the Ohio Works First cash assistance program.
The work requirement for this job includes 0 to 20 hours of employment, which may include on the job training. There can be job search or readiness training allowed, which can include vocational education training. To participate in the Work First program, individuals must be enrolled in education classes, which can include GED and post-secondary courses, life skills training, or ESL classes.
The only people who can get this aid are U.S. citizens who live in Ohio. In some instances, cash payments can be made to legal immigrants who are applying for citizenship. A permanent resident is a person who has been given permission to live and work in a country indefinitely. The case workers at the local Department of Job and Family Service office will also explain any other terms and conditions.
Financial aid from OWF cash program
This means that the amount you pay each month for your plan will be based on how many people are in your family. To calculate the average payment, or the amount to be made by Ohio Works First, a case manager can go over that. Although the average payment made by OWF is $474 per month, this only applies if the family has 3 people in it.
The money can be used to pay any type of living expense the family may have. This means payments for bills such as rent to stop an eviction or for power bills to keep heat or lights on. If someone does not have enough money to buy groceries or medicine, TANF welfare can help pay for these things. Not having enough food or medicine can be very dangerous. This money can also be used to pay for things like child care, uniforms, and transportation that are related to work. There are other programs that provide free clothes to people in need.
The Ohio EBT card, also known as The Ohio Pathway card, is used to electronically transfer funds to recipients. If there are questions about what can or cannot be purchased with the card, the Department of Job and Family Services can provide clarification. If a household has a checking or savings account, the money can be transferred into that account on a monthly basis.
The main advantage of the Ohio Works First cash assistance is that it can be combined with other forms of public assistance. This means that many families are enrolled in multiple programs at the same time, such as SNAP food stamps, Medicaid, and SSI disability. The financial security of a struggling household can be greatly improved by taking some simple steps to save money.
Phone number to apply for Work First cash assistance – TANF in Ohio
If you need to apply for benefits, you can go to a local Ohio Department of Job and Family Services office. You can also apply for cash aid online. For more information on how to apply for cash assistance, please call 1-866-244-0071.