by Che Gadison

   (Plain Press October 2026) If you are a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipient, or an adult on Medicaid, beginning January 1 you are REQUIRED to meet work requirements to maintain your benefits. Both applicants and recipients MUST meet eligibility requirements through a combination of at least 20 hours per week (80 hours/month) of work activity, qualified training programs, and community service. 

   For more information on qualified work and community service activities, please visit Greater Cleveland Works (https://greaterclevelandworks.org) and Greater Cleveland Volunteers (https://greaterclevelandvolunteers.org) for approved work activities.

   Some Ohioans may be exempt from work requirements and are eligible for Medicaid & SNAP benefits. If one or more of the following apply to you, then you ARE NOT work required: pregnant; assistance group contains a child under the age of 14; Indian, Urban native American, or California Indian; physically or mentally unfit for employment; caring for an incapacitated person; applying for or receiving Unemployment Compensation; participating in a drug/alcohol treatment program; enrolled in school/training halftime or more; working 30 hours/week (or equivalent pay).

   If you do not fall into one or more of the categories above, then you ARE work-required and must provide documented verification of fulfillment of work requirements to Cuyahoga Job and Family Services.