COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services announced it will begin distributing full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for November, following updated federal guidance. The payments are expected to begin reaching recipients by the week of Nov. 10, according to a news release from Governor Mike DeWine’s office.

The new guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service allows for the full benefit distribution. FNS had previously directed states to delay and then reduce the amount of November SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown.

Once ODJFS receives confirmation to proceed, it will authorize the payments, and its vendor will load the full benefits onto recipients' Ohio Direction cards. Distribution of the monthly benefits is typically staggered through the 20th of each month.

Early next week, all recipients who have not yet received their November payment will begin receiving the full amount, as will individuals who were approved for benefits in October but were not yet paid. Those whose normal issuance date has not yet passed will receive their payment on the regular schedule.

Approximately 1.4 million Ohioans receive about $264 million in food benefits from SNAP each month.

In response to the initial federal delays, the state coordinated the distribution of $7 million to eight regional food banks, which they will be allowed to keep. Additionally, the state distributed $3.7 million as the first of weekly emergency relief payments to more than 63,000 Ohioans—including more than 57,000 children—who are at or below 50% of the federal poverty level. With the distribution of full SNAP benefits confirmed, the additional emergency relief payments