What is Food Assistance
Food assistance (formerly food stamps) is a monthly benefit for eligible individuals and families to purchase food. Benefits come in the form of a plastic card called the Ohio Direction Card.
When families use the card at the grocery store, the purchase is automatically deducted from their monthly benefit.
Who is eligible?
Families and individuals can receive this benefit. Eligibility is complex -- based on family size, income, resources and expenses. Healthy people under the age of 60 may have to participate in a work activity to receive benefits. To find out if you may be eligible, visit the Ohio Benefits website.
Applying for Benefits
Click here for instructions on how to apply for food assistance.
It may take 30 days to complete your case. Please be patient until that time.
Summer EBT/Sun bucks
The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT or SUN Bucks) began in 2024 and continued for 2025. This program provides grocery benefits when school is out for the summer. School-aged children whose families receive SNAP, TANF, OWF, or other income-based benefits will be automatically enrolled to receive SUN Bucks. Children who are not automatically enrolled may still be eligible for SUN Bucks. To qualify, a child’s household must meet certain income limits and other requirements. For more information, please call 1-866-386-3071 or visit https://sebt.ohio.gov. Once a child is enrolled, SUN Bucks may be automatically added to the household’s SNAP account or issued as a separate electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement:
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.