COLUMBUS, Ohio - Approximately 1.4 million Ohioans are anxiously waiting to learn when the state will continue supplying food assistance, and how much help will be provided.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services announced it has received and is reviewing new federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service regarding partial November payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The new guidance directs states to reduce maximum benefit allotments by 50% and to recalculate the monthly benefit amount for each household using this updated framework. The new instruction comes after SNAP benefits were paused on Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown, which is the longest in U.S. history.

ODJFS says it is working with its vendors to determine the updated benefit amounts and the timeline for when the partial November benefits will be made available to current SNAP recipients. Once that review is complete, the department said it will notify recipients of the recalculated amount and the distribution date.

Before the federal shutdown, approximately 1.4 million Ohioans received about $264 million in food benefits through SNAP each month. The benefits are distributed through the Ohio Direction, or Electronic Benefit Transfer, card on a staggered schedule throughout the first 20 days of the month.

The federal shutdown, which began nearly a month ago, initially suspended all new November SNAP benefit allotments.

The USDA had previously confirmed that recipients would still be able to access any existing benefits remaining on their EBT cards from prior months.

The suspension applies only to the November 2025 allotment and does not affect the use of previous benefits at SNAP-authorized retailers.

In addition to the partial federal funding, the state of Ohio has taken steps to assist residents during the disruption.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services issued $7 million to the state's eight Regional Foodbanks to provide support. Ohio Works First, or OWF, benefits, which are state-funded, are still being issued for November.

For those who applied for SNAP in November, county JFS agencies will process the applications normally. If an applicant is deemed eligible, they will receive an approval notice, but the November benefit allotment remains suspended until sufficient federal funding is provided or further direction is issued by the federal government.

Similarly, for applications that were pending before November, the county agency will process them normally, but the agency is awaiting direction regarding whether benefits eligible before November can be issued before the shutdown concludes.

Recipients are also advised that they are required to maintain all program requirements throughout November to remain eligible for any retroactive benefits that may be issued at the conclusion of the federal shutdown. The federal government has stated that there are no fair hearing rights regarding the suspension of benefits due to the shutdown.

County JFS offices across the state are remaining open. Ohio residents in need of food assistance are being advised to find local resources, such as food banks or pantries, by visiting t