To apply for SNAP, Medicaid, Child Care or Cash Assistance

You may sometimes find there is a wait on our eligibility contact center to talk to an eligibility specialist. However, there are other ways to reach us:

To apply for benefits:

You can apply online at www.benefits.ohio.gov.

You can find more about how to create an account, apply for benefits, make case changes or upload documents here: How to Use the Self-Service Portal

If you need emergency assistance please visit our Emergency Food Assistance page for resources (food banks, etc.)

To check the status of your case:
Call 1-844-640-OHIO (6446) and select your language. You’ll be asked to provide your zip code, Social Security Number and date of birth. You will then be provided with your benefit status. Please allow at least five business days for us to update on your application. It takes some time for all your information and documents to be received and reviewed in the system. Please note that the agency may take up to 30 days to process an application.

To sign up for text alerts:
After you hear the status of your case, you will have the chance to sign up for text or voice notifications about your case. Text alerts can provide you with status updates on your benefits application. You can also get alerts with information about when it’s time to renew or complete interim reports to keep your benefits active.

If you need to submit documents:
The sooner you return the verification documents, the sooner your case can be completed. Return verification documents to us with your name and case number or social security number on ALL documents.

ONLINE: Upload case verifications documents directly through the Ohio Benefits Self Services Portal. For more information on how to create an account and upload documents, visit How to Use the Self-Service Portal
EMAIL: Take a picture of your verification documents and email it to CJFSDocs@jfs.ohio.gov. Please include your full name and case number in the email.
- TIP: iPhone or iPad users can take pictures through the Notes App and easily email us your documents or upload them to the Self Service Portal.
FAX: Applications for benefits and verifications can be faxed using one of the fax number options below. All fax numbers are routed to our mail imaging processing department:

General Fax Numbers:
(216) 987-7700
(216) 961-2630
(216) 881-4416

(216) 391-5122
(216) 987-8487
(216) 635-2924

Long-Term Care Fax: (216) 348-4210
JET (Work Programs) Fax: (216) 987-8974
PRC and Child Care Fax: (216) 987-8655

Applying for Benefits

Cuyahoga Job and Family Services provides access to an interpreter at no charge to customers who are limited – English proficient and individuals with impaired vision and/or hearing.

Tips for applying online:

Visit the Online Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal: www.benefits.ohio.gov

To apply online through the Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal, you must create an OHID statewide account. See the OHID account creation guide here: Getting Started with OHID.

Already have an OHID account? If you already have an OHID account through the BMV or other statewide office, you will use this login to create your self-service portal account.
Need to create an account? If you do not currently have an OHID, follow the steps to create your account in Getting Started with OHID.

Using Your OHID account - After creating an OHID account, there are some safety tools to protect your identity within the OHID system:

REQUIRED: You will be required to set up Multi-Factor Authentication or MFA, to select a secondary source to confirm your identity. (For example, if your email address is your login/primary source of identification, we suggest you use a phone-based option (text or call). That will be sent to your phone to confirm your identity when you login. This will be required to access the Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal. See the Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) guide for more information

OPTIONAL: Your OHID also gives you the option to set up Identity Proofing, to protect your identity even further, but it is not required for using the Ohio Benefits Portal.

Having issues creating your new Self-Service Portal account? You can call us at 1-844-640-6446. After selecting your language:

Choose option 5, help with Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal Account.
Then select option 2, issues logging in or on-screen errors.

By phone: Call our Eligibility Contact Center at 1-844-640-OHIO (6446)

Tips for Applying by phone:

Virtual hold is available for all programs and will hold your place in line and call you back when it’s your turn to speak to a worker. (Note: If you call later in the day, you may receive your return call on the following business day, depending on call volume.)
Mondays tend to be higher volume days, lunch hours on any day of the week tend to be the busiest times for our Eligibility Contact Center as well. You may find wait times are lower at other times.

Ohio Self-Service Portal Toolkit

Flyers

Self-Service Portal Software Guides

How-To Videos

Ohio Benefits OHID Help Center

By paper application:

You can visit the below locations to pick up benefits applications and other CJFS forms:

Virgil E. Brown
1641 Payne Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44114

Westshore
9830 Lorain Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44102

Quincy Place
8111 Quincy Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44104

Jane Edna Hunter
3955 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115

You may fill forms and applications out on-site and deposit them in the safe and secure drop-box, or you can take the from home to fill out and return to any one of these locations. Documents are collected daily on normal business days.

Other Important Contact Numbers

PRC Information Line: (216) 987-7392
Customer Relations: (216) 802-2810
Request a state hearing: 1-866-635-3748
EBT Card Customer Service: 1-866-386-3071
EPPI Card Customer Service Line: 1-866-320-8822
Medicaid Managed Care: 1-800-324-8680

Good Cause Lines for CJFS assigned work activities:

OWF (Cash Assistance) Good Cause Line: (216) 987-8656
SNAP to Skills Good Cause Line: (216) 987-6820