Is Family Services Open During Government Shutdown

UPDATE. The federal government partial shutdown has ended. This information is no longer current.

Cincinnati (Jan. 14, 2019) County residents who receive re-occurring food assistance benefits will see their nutrient cards loaded with February benefits on Wednesday, January. xvi, due to the government shutdown. The benefits, even so, must last them until their normal March load date, which could be as much as two and a half months away.

Moira Weir, director of Hamilton County Chore and Family unit Services, will run into with the Board of County Commissioners tomorrow to discuss the early issuance of food aid, which has not been done before, to her knowledge.

She said it is important the county'southward 100,000 nutrient assistance recipients realize these should exist treated equally a normal February issuance and made to last until March. She said her office will do as much as possible to brainwash the public, including website and social media posts, press releases, media interviews, recordings on the bureau phone lines, robo calls to clients, and sharing information with community partners.

"We know how important this benefit is to some Hamilton County families and nosotros are extremely happy it is available," she said. "But in that location is some worry that people volition come across the extra benefit and be confused, perhaps using it without realizing it needs to last until the normal March date when their food cards would be loaded."

In addition to the re-occurring cases, those consumers who are applying for a new case or are re-applying and are in pending status, must go their verification data in and authorized past January. thirty to receive their February benefits.

Weir said the agency has not received whatsoever find that Temporary Help to Needy Families (Ohio Works Beginning), Medicaid or Child Intendance funding will be affected by the shutdown. She as well noted that flexible Prevention, Retentiveness and Contingency funding is available should the shutdown keep to the point people lose benefits and aid with issues that ascend.

"The flexible funding could be available in emergencies to those who qualify," she said. "We realize how scary this time is for some members of our community and we want everyone to know we are going to assist in any way possible."