Ohio grants
& benefits: Medicaid, cash aid and Golden Buckeye.

A trigger law now hangs over the Medicaid expansion Ohio began on January 1, 2014. KFF reports that the budget Governor Mike DeWine signed in July 2025 would end expansion coverage immediately if the enhanced federal matching rate falls below 90%.

ODM publishes separate income examples for children, families and adults, and for people who are aged, blind or disabled. It tells Ohioans to apply even if they are not sure they qualify.

Ohio Works First is the state's TANF cash program, paying up to 36 months of cash benefits to eligible families. The Prevention, Retention and Contingency program is a separate ODJFS program with its own directory on the cash assistance page.

The Department of Aging's Golden Buckeye Card brings discounts from participating businesses. Ohioans 60 or older qualify, as do residents 18 to 59 with a disability as defined by Social Security. Nearly 2.5 million Ohioans are eligible.

Only the person named on the card can use it. The program says it does not track shopping habits or sell or share personal information with marketers.

Ohio's utility help comes in three pieces: PIPP Plus, which sizes a monthly payment to income, a once-a-year HEAP payment, and seasonal crisis help. All three run through ODJFS and local Energy Assistance Providers.

Income charts, crisis dates and provider contacts are in our Ohio HEAP and PIPP guide.

Ohio calls SNAP food assistance. ODJFS runs it, and benefits load onto the Ohio Direction Card.

Income limits, load dates and the phone application line are in our Ohio food stamps guide.