Lorain County Department of Job and Family Services Call Center
(844) 640-6446 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Interview Appointments:
- Phone hours to apply or renew benefits WITHOUT a scheduled appointment are 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Phone hours to apply or renew benefits WITH a scheduled appointment are between 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Note, higher than normal call voumes may be experienced on Mondays and any day after a Federal Holiday.
- To avoid the long wait, when given the option for a CALL BACK, please take advantage of it. You will be called back when it is your turn. When calling at the end of the day, the call back may carry over to the next morning starting at 8:00 a.m.
TIPS when Calling JFS:
- Listen to the recording and select the appropriate option.
- Use the Virtual Call Back option.
- You will not lose your place in line.
- You will get a call back when it is your turn.
- No need to call multiple times once you're in line.
- If you choose to physically wait on hold instead of receiving a call back, you will be in line behind someone else who chose the call back option and could have a long wait time.
- If you missed your scheduled appointment. You can call back at any time.
- Our lobby is open M-F 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m to drop off verificaions.
If you have applied for or are currently receiving public assistance, our Customer Service Specialists are trained to assist you in the following areas:
- Case status and general case information
- Ongoing benefit information
- Date of benefit approval and issuance
- Medicaid billing number and begin date of coverage
- Rescheduling appointments
- Appointment date/time information
- Referrals to other agencies for additional assistance
- Contact information for the Cash Assistance EPPICard, Food Assistance EBT Card, and Medicaid HMO providers
In addition, the following changes can be reported to the agency through the Call Center:
- Addition of a household member or newborn
- Address/residence changes
- Case transfer to another county
- Case termination
- Child care expense increase or decrease
- Child Support changes
- Income and employment changes
- Medical expense changes
- Phone number changes
- Rent, mortgage, property tax, homeowners' insurance, and utility responsibility changes
- Removal of a household member
- Resource/asset changes
There have been some changes to our automated phone service. Please use the following prompts to ensure your call is routed to the correct area.
- If you are calling about unemployment benefits, please call 877-644-6562.
- For help with Medicaid, Food, Cash Assistance benefits or Child Care, press 2.
- For help with Managed Care plans or questions about Medicaid Covered Services, press 3.
- For help with EBT or EPPIC Cards, press 4.
- For help with your Self Service Portal Account, press 5.
- To report suspected fraud, please visit our website at www.jfs.ohio.gov/fraud or Press 6 to report suspected fraud over the phone.
Guide to our Automated Phone Service
