13,000 Ohioans Lose Food Assistance Under New Federal Work Requirements
Nearly 13,000 more Ohioans lost food assistance last month after failing to meet new federal work requirements, bringing total losses to nearly 93,000 since Trump’s sweeping welfare law took effect.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services notified 12,988 people on April 30 that their federal nutrition assistance will end because they failed to comply with new requirements under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The law was passed last summer by congressional Republicans and signed by President Donald Trump.
The latest terminations follow 80,000 Ohioans who lost benefits between July when the law passed and January of this year. Advocacy groups said older Ohioans are likely the hardest hit by the latest cuts.
Sweeping Federal Changes
The new requirements were imposed as part of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cut federal nutrition and healthcare benefits by more than $1 trillion over 10 years while cutting taxes on the richest 1% of Americans by a similar amount. The legislation also added more than $4 trillion to the federal deficit.
A large portion of the cuts to programs for the poor are being implemented through new work requirements. While similar requirements for Medicaid don’t take effect until after the November midterm elections, the requirements to receive benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, began on February 1.
Expanded Work Requirements
Under the new law, adults ages 55 to 64 and parents with children 14-18, as well as veterans, homeless individuals, and individuals with disabilities now face work requirements to maintain their SNAP benefits. Previously, work requirements primarily applied to able-bodied adults without dependents between ages 18 and 49.
Recipients must work at least 20 hours per week or participate in approved education or training programs to continue receiving assistance. Those who cannot meet these requirements face benefit termination after a three-month grace period.
Statewide Impact
Ohio has now seen nearly 93,000 residents lose nutrition assistance since the federal law took effect. The state’s Department of Job and Family Services has been processing cases and sending notifications to affected recipients throughout the implementation period.
Food banks and community organizations across Ohio report increased demand as families lose federal assistance. The changes have particularly affected rural communities where job opportunities and transportation to work or training programs can be limited.
The benefit cuts are part of broader changes to federal assistance programs under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which restructured multiple safety net programs while providing tax relief to high-income earners. Congressional Republicans promoted the legislation as a way to encourage workforce participation and reduce federal spending on social programs.
