Hancock County Job and Family Services

Family Stability

Family stability programs (formerly OWF) include cash, medical, and food assistance. The goal of these programs is to support families as they become self sufficient.

Promoting stable, self sufficient families

Cash Program

Eligibility is based on the number of people in the family and the amount of income those people receive each month. A household must contain a minor child (or still in school) and/or a woman at least six months pregnant. Earned income includes the gross wages from employment or self employment. Examples of Unearned income are unemployment, workers compensation, child support, or money received from family or friends. All cash assistance recipients are eligible to receive medical assistance.

Medical Assistance

Medical assistance programs include: Healthy Start/Healthy Families; aged; blind; and disabled; long term care; and home and community based services which include passport, disabled, medically fragile, OBRA, and individual options (MRDD). Pregnant women and children under the age of 21 may be eligible for some form of medical assistance. The resource limit for these programs varies. Resources are anything that can be converted to cash. The home the recipients live in is excluded. Examples of common resources are listed under Disability Assistance.

Food Assistance

Eligibility for food stamps is based on the number of people in the household who purchase and prepare their food together. Earned and unearned income, utilities, shelter costs, child care, and medical bills are considered when calculating food stamps.

The state has implemented an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) issuance system. this enables clients to use a "credit card" type system that credits monthly allotments and debits purchases. FS coupons are no longer accepted in the state of Ohio.

The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability or political beliefs.

PRC (Prevention, Retention, Contingency)

Provides short term assistance to obtain or retain employment. PRC may include: employer subsidies; retention bonuses; work support services; and referral services. It may also provide assistance with emergencies. These are limited to household expenses.

Applicant/Client Responsibility is required for all Programs

To maintain eligibility for assistance, participants must provide required verifications, keep scheduled appointments, and report all changes in the circumstances of the household. Some programs require the participants' to cooperate with other departments to maintain benefit levels and failure to comply could result in termination of your assistance.