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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-size:20.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Aptos Display",sans-serif;color:#156082;mso-ligatures:none'>Following Latest Federal Guidance, Ohio to Begin Distribution of Partial November SNAP Benefits<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'><b>Ohio JFS Press Release<br>November 10, 2025</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'><a name="_Hlk213223879">COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) announced today that it is taking the necessary steps to distribute partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits this week – as early as Wednesday – and continuing daily until complete. This comes after receiving new federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which oversees the federally funded program formerly known as food stamps.<o:p></o:p></a></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk213223879'>The latest FNS guidance, which was updated following federal court action over the weekend, instructs ODJFS to reduce the maximum amount each household can receive in November by 35% and to recalculate each household’s payment based on that new maximum amount. The exact amount each household will receive is based on factors such as gross and net income and allowable deductions such as housing and medical costs. Under the revised federal calculations, nearly all recipients will receive less than 65% of their normal benefit. Some recipients, particularly those whose earnings place the household near the cutoff for eligibility, may receive no benefits this week under the revised calculation. An official notice explaining each household’s specific benefit change will be issued. After the federal government shutdown ends, additional FNS guidance will be needed to determine how to handle the difference between what would ordinarily be issued for the month and what is being issued this week.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk213223879'>Prior to the shutdown, approximately 1.4 million Ohioans received about $264 million in food benefits from SNAP each month. The distribution of those benefits was staggered through the 20<sup>th</sup> of each month. All recipients who’ve not yet received their November benefit, as well as individuals who were approved for, but not paid benefits in October, will begin receiving their partial November benefit this week. Those whose normal issuance date has not yet passed will receive their reduced benefit as normally scheduled. Benefits are accessed through their Ohio Direction (EBT) card and recipients are encouraged to check their balances through their Connect EBT app, or Ohio Benefits Self Service Portal.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk213223879'>Last week, Governor Mike DeWine ordered ODJFS to distribute $7 million to eight regional foodbanks. He also ordered ODJFS to distribute up to $18 million in emergency relief benefits to more than 63,000 Ohioans – including more than 57,000 children – who are at or below 50% of the federal poverty level. This takes the form of an additional benefit to Ohio Works First (OWF) participants totaling one quarter of their monthly OWF allotment per week while SNAP benefits are unavailable. Last week, ODJFS distributed $3.7 million in emergency relief as part of this effort. ODJFS will continue to make a week-by-week evaluation of whether to continue this enhanced assistance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk213223879'>The latest information on the impact of the federal government shutdown on ODJFS programs can be found at </span><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fjfs.ohio.gov%2Fhelp-center%2F2025-federal-government-shutdown/1/0100019a6fa1a076-1a690fd0-21a0-490b-b6f6-90ba329febb6-000000/ch80SvPbMYJ4yva8QkuOV--iBsNVxP03GWUuUE9jwJg=430"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk213223879'>jfs.ohio.gov</span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk213223879'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk213223879'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:115%'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk213223879'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></span></div><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk213223879'></span><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-size:20.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Aptos Display",sans-serif;color:#156082;mso-ligatures:none'>Goodwill Easterseals launches new food truck to build skills, training<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'><b>Whio TV7<br>November 11, 2025</b><b><span style='font-size:20.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Aptos Display",sans-serif;color:#156082;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'>DAYTON — Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley has launched a new food truck, Good Connections, designed to help individuals with disabilities develop job skills and access employment opportunities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'>The Good Connections food truck is part of a broader program that includes food service, boutique, and janitorial training areas, designed to provide participants with valuable skills for the workforce.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'>“I’m ready to work on this food truck,” said Heavenleigh Thomas, who is part of the first group to work on the Good Connections food truck.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'>Allison Underwood, Director of Developmental Disabilities Services at Goodwill Easterseals, explained, “We have created our food service area, our boutique area, and our janitorial area for individuals to explore.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'>Thomas has spent the last year working at the cafe at Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley and is excited to serve food from the new truck. “Coming here, making money. Smile, greet customers. I love everything about it,” she said.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'>The Good Connections program aims to provide opportunities and job skills to individuals with developmental disabilities. “The goal for our individuals is always to move on to a job,” said Underwood.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'>Participants in the program can also learn retail and design skills in the boutique area. “They’ll learn all the pieces of retail from actually creating those items to selling those items,” Underwood noted.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'>Underwood hopes the food truck will connect with local businesses and demonstrate the potential of their participants as successful employees. “We’re really hoping that it connects with local businesses, and that we can make those connections to show other business owners,” she said.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'>The Good Connections food truck is currently in a soft launch phase and is expected to be seen at different Goodwill stores in Dayton next month.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> Suzanne M. Hartfield Turner</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Vice President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Ohio Legislative Director<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Cleveland Chapter, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>P: (216) 990-6199<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>W: NFBOhio.ORG<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ohiosblind/photos/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://www.facebook.com/ohiosblind/photos/</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>