Ohio's Disability Financial Assistance Program is a 'safety net' for needy disabled individuals who do not meet all of the eligibility requirements to receive help from other federal and state benefit programs, such as Supplemental Security Income and Ohio Works First.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible Individuals include:
Individuals who are disabled as determined by the ODJFS Disability Determination section; or
Individuals who were at least 60 years of age and in receipt of DFA in June 2003.
In order to receive assistance, the individuals or family must meet all eligibility requirements including income and resource criteria. For example, regardless of its' size, a family can not have resources that exceed $1,000. The maximum cash benefit is $115 per month for one person and $159 per month for two people.
Lorain County residents may call 440-323-5726 or 440-244-4150 and ask for the Intake Screening department to request an application be mailed, or may come into the agency during regular business hours to complete an application.
An appointment will be scheduled for you to complete an interview with an eligibility worker as soon as possible, maybe even the same day.
NEW ELECTRONIC PAYMENT METHOD
Effective February 1, 2009, Cash Assistance recipients can choose to receive their benefits via the Ohio EPPICard™. The Ohio EPPICard™ is a MasterCard® debit card that can be used at MasterCard member banks, ATMs and any retailers that accept MasterCard. Clients can also choose to have their cash benefits direct deposited into their savings or checkings accounts as well.
The EPPICard™ will be mailed to the current address we have listed in your case. Should you have any questions concerning your balance, or if you lost your card and need a replacement, please call:
EPPICard™ Customer Service at 1-866-320-8822, 24 hours a day/7 days a week, or click here to access their website.
Beginning March 1, 2011 Ohio EPPICard users who call the customer service hotline will be charged a fee of $0.25 (25 cents) per call after their tenth call each month. The 25 cent charge has been mentioned in all Ohio EPPICard literature, however, the card vendor previously did not enforce it.
After their tenth call of the month, cardholders will hear a message reminding them that fees will accumulate after that call. Calls made by clients will not count towards the limit if they are made to:
Select or change their PIN (Personal Identification Number)
Report a lost, stolen or damaged card
Report a suspected PIN compromise
Question a transaction
The Ohio EPPICard is used as a debit card by Ohio Works First (OWF) and Disability Assistance (DA) cash recipients. The card vendor has noticed some cardholders call the customer service line repeatedly each month-well in excess of ten calls. Each EPPICard user received a brochure that identified the charge when they were issued the card.
For more information, recipients can contact Ohio EPPICard customer service at 1-866-320-8822.
To learn more about Disability Financial Assistance, call the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Medicaid Hotline at 1-800-324-8680 / TDD 1-800-292-3572, or view the Ohio Health Plans website at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/
Lorain County Job & Family Services
42485 North Ridge Road
Elyria, OH 44035-1057
Main Phone: (440) 323-5726
Lorain: (440) 244-4150
Fax: (440) 323-3422
TTY/TDD: (440) 284-4125
Cash/Food/Medical Call Center: (440) 284-4300
Child Support Call Center: (440) 284-4401
In order to receive assistance, the individuals or family must meet all eligibility requirements including income and resource criteria. For example, regardless of its' size, a family can not have resources that exceed $1,000. The maximum cash benefit is $115 per month for one person and $159 per month for two people. 
