ATHENS, Ohio — SNAP changes that took effect Oct. 1 are reshaping how food assistance is paid for in Ohio, and few places feel the stakes more than Athens County, where more than 8,000 residents — 13.27% of the county population — receive benefits, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Statewide, about 1.4 million Ohioans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps low-income families supplement grocery budgets and access nutritious food.
The changes come from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also affect Medicaid, and are not the last expected this year, The Post at Ohio University reported. Historically, federal and state governments split SNAP administrative costs evenly, while benefits were fully federally funded. Now the federal share of administrative costs drops to 25%, leaving states responsible for 75%.
Federal calculations estimate the change reduces funding by $16.9 billion from fiscal 2027 through 2031, an average of $3.4 billion a year, and ODJFS estimates an immediate $67 million loss for Ohio. In October 2027, states must also cover a share of benefit costs based on their payment error rate, drawn from a random sampling of 1,020 cases and measuring system errors — such as income or household information reported incorrectly — rather than fraud.
An error rate of 6% to 7.99% means covering 5% of benefits, 8% to 9.99% means 10%, and 10% or higher means 15%. Ohio’s rate was 6.76% in federal fiscal year 2025, down from 9.13% the year before and below the national 10.62%, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Had the new structure applied in fiscal 2025, ODJFS says Ohio would have needed $160 million.
Brian O’Rourke, senior policy analyst for the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, told The Post the requirements burden states and recipients, warning underfunded systems may struggle to process applications and work reporting on time. Earlier this year, separate work requirement changes affected about 80,000 Ohioans, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities and ODJFS: the upper age limit rose from 54 to 64, automatic exemptions ended for people aging out of foster care, veterans and individuals facing homelessness, and recipients must report 80 hours a month of work or a work program, or lose benefits after three months.
Karin Bright, a Rural Action board member and former Athens County Food Pantry director, told The Post food insecurity has long been an issue in southeast Ohio, rising prices are not helping, and cuts to federal programs have worsened food security and access. Added pressure on states, she said, passes down to people in the program. “I think it’s going to be very, very difficult for people to continue to feed their families,” Bright said. O’Rourke added that simultaneous Medicaid and SNAP changes could be especially concerning for families needing help affording both health care and healthy food, as Ohio now absorbs the new costs ahead of the October 2027 benefit-sharing shift.
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