Navigating life’s challenges can be overwhelming, especially when facing financial hardship or needing support for your family. Lake County Job And Family Services (JFS) is dedicated to providing a wide range of assistance programs to residents of Lake County, Ohio. The Public Assistance Division is a key part of this commitment, offering crucial support to adults and families with minor children. Whether you need help with food, cash assistance, medical coverage, or child care, Lake County JFS is here to guide you.
The Public Assistance Division manages various essential financial aid programs designed to help individuals and families meet their basic needs. These programs include:
- Ohio Works First (OWF) Cash Assistance: Provides temporary cash assistance to eligible families to help them meet basic needs while they work towards self-sufficiency.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (Food Assistance): Offers food assistance benefits to low-income individuals and families to help them afford groceries and maintain a healthy diet.
- Prevention, Retention, and Contingency (PRC) Benefits: Provides short-term benefits and services to help families overcome immediate crises and achieve long-term stability.
- Medicaid Programs: A broad spectrum of medical programs are available, including:
- Medicaid for Residents of Nursing Homes: Assists with the cost of care for eligible individuals residing in nursing facilities.
- Community-Based Medical Benefits: Provides medical coverage for individuals needing care within their communities.
- Health Insurance for Low-Income Families and Children: Ensures access to essential healthcare services for families and children with limited incomes.
Eligibility requirements for each program vary, so it’s important to inquire about the specific criteria for the assistance you need.
Beyond financial and medical assistance, Lake County JFS also recognizes the importance of affordable and quality child care. The agency subsidizes child care costs for eligible families and plays a vital role in certifying child care providers, including both professional centers and home-based providers. This ensures that children in Lake County have access to safe and nurturing care environments.
Applying for Benefits and Getting Help
Lake County JFS makes it easy to access the assistance you need. Here’s how you can apply for benefits and get your questions answered:
- Apply Online: The most convenient way to apply, renew, or report changes to your benefits is through the Ohio benefits self-service portal: benefits.ohio.gov.
- Apply by Phone: You can apply for SNAP, Cash Assistance, Medicaid, and Child Care by calling the Ohio Benefits hotline at 1-844-640-OHIO (6446).
- Apply by Mail: To apply by mail, you can request an application to be mailed to you by calling 440-350-4483 or 440-918-4483. Ensure your application is signed and dated before sending it in.
- Apply by Email: Download the application form, complete it, and email it to [email protected]. Remember to include your case number if you have one and allow approximately 10 days for processing.
Contacting Lake County JFS for Inquiries
For any questions or to submit documents, Lake County JFS offers multiple points of contact:
- General Questions (SNAP, Cash, Medicaid): Call 1-844-640-OHIO (6446), select Option 2, then Option 7 for Customer Service.
- Email Inquiries: [email protected]
- Child Care Eligibility Questions: 440-918-4273
- Child Care Provider Hotline: 440-350-4248 or 440-918-4248
- Non-Emergency Transportation Inquiries: 440-350-4212 or 440-918-4212
- Customer Service Hotline (General Program Inquiries): 440-350-4011 (open 8am – noon and 1pm – 4:15pm each business day).
Reporting Fraud
If you suspect fraud within public assistance programs, it’s crucial to report it. You can report fraud in Ohio online at Report Fraud in Ohio or by calling 440-350-4227/440-918-4227.
Your Rights and Non-Discrimination
Lake County Job and Family Services is committed to ensuring equal access to its programs and services for all residents. As a recipient or applicant for assistance, it’s important to know your civil rights.
Non-discrimination Statement:
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (833) 620-1071, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to:
- mail:Food and Nutrition Service, USDA1320 Braddock Place, Room 334Alexandria, VA 22314; or
- fax:(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
- email:[email protected]
Lake County Job and Family Services is your partner in achieving stability and well-being. If you are facing challenges, reach out and discover how they can assist you and your family.
