Benefits Planning and Supports

Rather than describe benefits using confusing acronyms It helps to focus on benefits that are specific to what each program can do for everyday life. In addition to the two federal benefits SSDI and SSI, you may also receive Medicaid (health insurance), Food Assistance (SNAP), or Ohio Works First (OWF).

The Core Support Programs

SSI and SSDI: As discussed in Module 3.2 - Types of Benefits, these are federal benefits and act as foundational support programs that provide you with necessary cash benefits while still ensuring that choosing to work will put more money in your pocket.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): This is food assistance. It helps people with low incomes buy healthy food. If you start working and earning money, your food benefits might change, but you can often still qualify for some help

Ohio Works First (OWF): is the financial assistance portion of the state's Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. It provides cash benefits to eligible families for up to 36 months.

Ohio Medicaid: and related programs improve wellness and health outcomes by providing health care coverage for eligible individuals.

These programs can help support you while you work toward your goals. In Ohio, you can learn about and manage your benefits online through: benefits.ohio.gov

This is an online hub where you can:

• Use a self-assessment tool to quickly check what kind of help you might be eligible for.
• Apply for food, cash, medical, or childcare assistance.
• Upload your verification documents directly from your smartphone.
• Sign up for text reminders so you can easily report changes to your food assistance right from your phone.

Need Help Understanding Your Benefits?

You do not have to figure this out alone. If you want help understanding your state benefits or how work may affect them, you can contact your local County Department of Job and Family Services (CDJFS).

How Do I Know What Benefits I Receive?

You’ve now taken in a lot of information thus far!

It is helpful to know what benefit you receive - let’s take a look at a resource available in Ohio that is here to help you navigate this very question.

The website is: Disability Benefits 101, or DB101.

DB101 can help you learn more about benefits, work, and health care. Let’s start with checking out the web page titled: “What Benefits Do I Get?”

This page can help you start figuring out what benefits you may receive from Social Security or from the state of Ohio. DB101 explains that Social Security has two main disability benefits: SSDI, which is based on work history, and SSI, which is needs based - meaning in little to no income or resources. Both can provide monthly payments to people with disabilities.