The county has provided a convenient and clear resource defining SNAP work requirement exemptions. Download using the button on the left sidebar, or click on the image below.

To prevent disruption to benefits, it is important to stay informed and keep your case up to date. Not completing case management requirements may delay issuance of benefits.

Cuyahoga County JFS has recommendations to stay current at its Hunger Response site.‍

Make timely updates to contact information.
Use the Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal to apply online and manage your case. Be aware of benefit changes and available support.
Submit verifications requested on time.
Use the document upload on the Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal.
Use the document upload feature on the Eligibility Contact Center.
Don’t miss your interview appointments and submit complete applications.
Sign up for text alerts.

SNAP

Individuals are limited to receiving SNAP benefits for 3 months in a 3-year period unless they complete and document at least 20 hours per week (80 hours/month) of a work activity.

The work activity requirement may be met through paid employment, qualified training or community service.

Changes to SNAP Eligibility - Non-citizens

Eligibility has changed for SNAP non-citizens. The only non-citizens that are still eligible for SNAP are U.S. non-citizen nationals, lawful permanent residents (most after 5 years), Cuban and Haitian entrants, and migrants from the Compact of Free Association. Certain lawful permanent residents are not subject to the five-year waiting period. This includes people who:

Are certain Hmong or Highland Laotian tribal members. 
Entered as a refugee, were granted asylum, or were granted withholding of removal/deportation 
Have 40 qualifying work quarters 
Entered with a special immigrant visa 
Are under 18 years old 
Are certain survivors of trafficking   Are receiving benefits for people with disabilities  
Were lawfully residing in the U.S. and 65 or older on August 22, 1996,  
Certain individuals who are active-duty U.S. military or were honorably discharged from the U.S. military, and their spouses and children 
Are Amerasian immigrants 
Are certain American Indians born abroad

All other legal immigrants, including refugees and asylum recipients, are no longer eligible for SNAP benefits.

If you believe you may have been incorrectly discontinued, please reach out to the Cuyahoga County Welcome Center. 

Work Requirement Exemptions

Populations that were previously exempt from work requirements, but now will need to meet them include:

Individuals experiencing homelessness
Veterans
Former foster youth (age 24 or younger who were in foster care on their 18th birthday)
Adults whose youngest child in their home is age 14-18
Those who are ages 55-64

Individuals may meet exemptions and not have to comply with work requirements if they are:

Pregnant
Have a child in your home under the age of 14
An Indian, Urban Indian, or California Indian
Physically or mentally unfit for employment

People 59 or younger may also be exempt if they are:

Responsible for the care of an incapacitated person
Applying for or receiving unemployment compensation benefits
Participating in a substance use treatment or rehabilitation program

If an individual loses benefits, they must:

Meet the work requirement for 30 days
Meet an exemption
Wait until the 3-year limit resets

Work Requirements

To meet work requirements, individuals must complete and document at least 20 hours per week (80 hours/month) of a work activity.

The work activity requirement may be met through paid employment, qualified training or community service.

To verify unpaid hours, use form number 7410 or ABA Verification of Unpaid Hours located here. Forms can be submitted via mail or in person: 1641 Payne Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114, or online at ssp.benefits.ohio.gov.

Medicaid

For the first time, there will be federally mandated work requirements in the Medicaid program. The Medicaid expansion population, those who are ages 19-64, without a disability and with adjusted gross income less than 138% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) will need to meet new work requirements and renew Medicaid benefits every 6 months instead of annually.

Changes to Medicaid based on citizenship will be effective October 1, 2026.

Beginning no later than January 1, 2027, Medicaid expansion (Group VIII) enrollees between 19 and 64 years of age will need to either meet work or approved activity requirements or an exemption to remain covered. This flowchart may help you understand what this might mean for an individual.

To maintain Medicaid eligibility, individuals must demonstrate that they meet one of the following in a given month:

Work at least 80 hours, which can be verified by income in some cases
Complete 80 hours of community service
Participate in a work program for 80 hours
Be enrolled half-time in an educational program
Engaged in a combination of these activities totaling at least 80 hours.

People may be exempt from meeting work and community engagement requirements if they are:

Under 19 or over 65 years old
Pregnant or postpartum individuals
Eligible for Medicare
Caregivers of young children (13 or under) or disabled dependents
Already meeting SNAP or TANF work requirements
A person with disabilities or serious medical conditions
Participating in a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment program
Former inmates of a public institution during the last 3 months
Native Americans and certain other groups

Currently all Medicaid recipients have a potential for 3 months of retroactive coverage, or for their past medical bills to be paid by Medicaid. In November 2027, the Expansion population will have retroactive eligibility for up to one month, and all other Medicaid categories have potential for eligibility up to two months prior.

The Ohio Department of Medicaid has a Communications Partner Toolkit here.

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Local resources for hunger help

Call 2-1-1 or Chat at 211oh.org

‍County government, Greater Cleveland Foodbank, and others are partnering with 2-1-1 to ensure information is updated including how to connect with Cuyahoga Job and Family Services and where to go for help during the SNAP lapse.

Community Resource Center

‍Offers a one-stop shop with a free healthy-choice market and 15+ onsite agency partners who can assist with healthcare, employment, housing and more.

GCFB Help Center

Dedicated to connecting food-insecure individuals with the assistance they need, including over-the-phone applications for SNAP, Medicaid, and other public benefits. Calls are free and confidential at 216-738-2067.

Pantry Locator Tool

Enter your ZIP code to generate a list of partners that serve your area with food pantries, hot meals, and mobile distributions.

Cleveland Food Bank | Get Help Find Food

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New graphics!

Download, print, or customize an information sheet with instructions

We’ve created a communications toolkit to help organizations support their communities during the SNAP uncertainties. Download the kit on the left sidebar, and use community resources links below. New information is emerging every day for the 1.2 million Ohioans who use $234 million in SNAP each month to purchase food. To keep up, one place our team follows is The Hill.

This work began to help SNAP beneficiaries and organizations prepare for upcoming work requirement changes and required actions.