Ohio Works First (OWF)

Ohio Works First (OWF) is the financial assistance portion of Ohio's Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program.  OWF was established to provide time-limited assistance to eligible families. OWF provides cash benefits to eligible, needy families for up to 36 months. After 36 months, a family cannot receive additional cash assistance unless the County Department of Job and Family Services (CDJFS) approves an extension of benefits. There are two kinds of extensions, hardship; and good cause. A family can receive a hardship extension any time after the 36-month time limit has ended. A family can only receive a good cause extension after a 24-month waiting period following the 36-month limit. Each CDJFS sets its own policies for hardship

and good cause extensions. The emphasis of OWF is self-sufficiency, personal responsibility and employment.

General Program Requirements

In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of Ohio, either pregnant or responsible for a child under 19 years of age, a US national, citizen, legal alien, or permanent resident, have low or very low income, and be either under-employed (working for very low wages), unemployed or about to become unemployed.

If you would like further information, please contact the Muskingum County Job and Family Services Call Center at 740.454.0161, select Option 2.  When  you hear the next prompt, select Option 3.  You will be transferred  to a live Customer Service Agent.

Out of town callers may dial 1-800.242.0029 , select Option 2 and at the prompt select Option 3.  You will be transferred to a live Customer Service Agent.

If you wish to apply for benefits you may complete an ONLINE APPLICATION.  This application is good for Medicaid, Ohio Works First, and the Food Assistance Program.  Once you have completed filling out the application; follow the instructions to submit the application and it will be sent electronically to our office for processing.