Food Assistance Program

The Food Assistance Program is administered through the United States Department of Agriculture. It is designed to provide a monthly supplemental food budget for qualifying low income households and to promote better health and nutrition. It is speculated that in the United States many families who are eligible for food assistance do not utilize the program. In Muskingum County it is our goal for the Food Assistance Program to provide food assistance to eligible individuals and families and to coordinate our resources with other local agencies who are providers of food assistance to insure hunger is not a problem in our community. Food Assistance Program dollars are issued through the Electronic Benefit Transfer System (EBT). Benefits may be loaded at local food retailers. Income and resource guidelines are an eligibility factor for the program. Able bodied adults who receive food assistance benefits are assigned to an agency Employment Services Counselor to develop a plan for employability to assist in moving the household toward becoming self-sufficient.

For Questions and Answers Concerning EBT Call 1.866.386.3071

For other inquiries regarding the Food Assistance Program you may contact the Muskingum County Job and Family Services Call Center by dialing 740.454.0161 and select Option 2.  When you hear the next prompt, select Option 3.  You will be transfered to a live Customer Service Agent.

Out of town callers may dial 1.800.242.0029, select Option 2 and at the prompt select Option 3.  You will be transfered to a live Customer Service Agent.

If you wish to apply for benefits you may complete an ONLINE APPLICATION.  This application is good for Medicaid, Ohio Works First, and the Food Assistance Program.  Once you have completed filling out the application; follow the instructions to submit the application and it will be sent electronically to our office for processing.