Report Suspected Public Assistance Fraud – Reports Remain Anonymous

To report suspected public assistance fraud, visit JFS.Ohio.gov/Fraud or call Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services at 330‑339‑7791.
Select Option 2 for Public Assistance, then Option 4 to make a report with the County Fraud Department.  Submit evidence to Mybenefits@JFS.Ohio.Gov

Fraud Awareness

General Information              

• Clients with overpayments may still apply for SNAP benefits. If approved, the overpayment may be repaid through a partial recoupment of the monthly SNAP allotment.
  • PRC (Prevention, Retention, and Contingency) applicants must be current on all repayment agreements.
  • You do not need to reapply for benefits when moving within the state of Ohio. You must report your new address so your case can be transferred to your new county of residence.
  • Our county office receives income information from state and federal sources for unreported earned and unearned income.

Income Reporting Requirements

You are required to report all income, including self‑employment income such as:
• Odd jobs
• Seasonal work
• DoorDash
• Instacart
• Spark
• Rideshare platforms

You must report income for all individuals in your household who purchase, prepare, and eat meals with you, including children.

Reporting Residency Changes

• If you move to Ohio from another state, you are required to report your move to your previous state and provide your new address so your termination notice can be mailed correctly. This must also be reported during your Ohio application process.
  • If you receive SSI in another state and move to Ohio, you must report your move to the Social Security Administration.

Eligibility Changes You Must Report

• Incarcerated individuals are not eligible for SNAP. If someone in your SNAP household becomes incarcerated, you must report this within 10 days.
  • Institutionalized individuals are not eligible for SNAP. This includes residents of nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, inpatient treatment centers, and any facility providing communal meals.
  • If you receive caretaker cash assistance and the child’s parent moves into your household, you must report this, as you are no longer eligible.
  • If a child in your care moves or is removed from your home, you must report this within 10 days.

Treasury Offset Program (TOP)

Ohio participates in the Treasury Offset Program.

Regulation

Ohio Administrative Code Rule 5101:4‑8‑30 governs the Treasury Offset Program (TOP), which allows the U.S. Department of the Treasury to offset eligible federal payments to collect legally enforceable, past‑due SNAP claims.

Eligible Federal Payments May Include:

• Federal income tax refunds
  • Certain federal benefit payments (e.g., Social Security, Railroad Retirement, Black Lung Part B)

ODJFS Refers Claims That Are:

• Legally enforceable (properly established, debtor notified of hearing rights, balance ≥ $25, not discharged in bankruptcy, no bankruptcy stay)
  • Past due (delinquent for 120 days with no response to the notice of default)
  • Not exempt for specific reasons (e.g., active state hearing, unexpired repayment period, regular payments being made, claim paid in full)

Notification Before Referral

At least 60 days before referral to TOP, one debtor on the claim must be notified in writing.

Effect of Repayment Arrangements

If a debtor makes an acceptable repayment arrangement and makes payments every 30 days, the claim will not be referred for offset.

Stopping an Offset

You may only stop an offset if:
• The claim is less than $500 — it must be paid in full, or
• The claim is more than $500 — a $500 down payment and a new repayment agreement are required.
• The claim is being recouped from ongoing SNAP benefits
• A bankruptcy action applies