Ohio Works First Child-Only Grant for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Your Income Doesn't Count — That's the Whole Point

The single most important thing a grandparent in Ohio needs to know about Ohio Works First is this: your pension, your Social Security, your savings, and your paycheck are completely excluded from the eligibility calculation when you apply for a child-only grant.

OWF child-only is a monthly cash benefit paid on behalf of the child in your care. The County Department of Job and Family Services looks only at the child's income — typically child support or Social Security survivor benefits the child receives directly. If the child has no income of their own, and most don't, the full payment standard applies.

As of January 2026, the monthly OWF child-only payment is $382 for one child, $507 for two children, and $623 for three. The money arrives on an Ohio Direction EBT card or by direct deposit.

Who Qualifies

You can apply as a "non-needy caretaker relative" if:

• You're a grandparent, aunt, uncle, adult sibling, or other specified relative of the child
• The child lives with you in Ohio
• The child is under 18 (or age 18 and enrolled full-time in secondary school or equivalent vocational training)

You do not need a court order. Informal care counts. A Caretaker Authorization Affidavit or Grandparent Power of Attorney helps establish residence, but neither is required for OWF eligibility.

One thing to watch: fictive kin — a close family friend with no blood or legal relationship — cannot get child-only OWF unless they've been awarded legal custody or guardianship through a court.

How the Calculation Works

Only the child's unearned income counts against the grant. A quick example: if the child receives $100 a month in court-ordered child support, that $100 is subtracted from the $382 standard, giving a monthly grant of $282. If the child receives nothing, the full $382 is paid.

Your retirement, wages, home equity, and bank balance are not part of the equation. The county caseworker should process your application as a "child-only" assistance group consisting only of the eligible child.

If a caseworker asks for your pay stubs or bank statements when you're applying for child-only OWF, push back. The rules under OAC 5101:1-23 specifically exclude the non-needy relative's income and assets. You can point to the regulation by name.

How to Apply

Submit Form JFS 07200 to your local county CDJFS. You can do this:

• Online at the Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal (ssp.benefits.ohio.gov)
• By phone at 1-844-640-6446
• In person at your county JFS office

Bring the child's birth certificate, Social Security card, and proof that the child lives with you — school enrollment records, a medical record showing your address, or a landlord's letter all work. If the child receives any income (child support, survivor benefits), bring documentation of the amount.

The county has 30 calendar days to process an OWF application. Benefits are prorated from your application date, so there's no advantage to waiting.

What You Won't Have to Do

Child-only OWF cases are exempt from Ohio's 36-month TANF time limit. You won't be subject to work requirements, self-sufficiency contracts, or activity assignments. The grant continues as long as the child lives with you and remains eligible.

One obligation does apply: cooperation with child support enforcement. The county will attempt to establish paternity and collect support from the biological parents. If pursuing that support would put you or the child in danger, you can file a Good Cause Waiver with your caseworker — bring a police report, protection order, or similar documentation.

Stacking OWF with Other Benefits

The child-only grant is just one piece. You can simultaneously receive SNAP food benefits, Healthy Start Medicaid for the child, and WIC if the child is under five. The OWF cash does count as unearned income for SNAP purposes, but you're still likely to qualify if your household income is under 200% of the federal poverty level.

If you're raising a relative's child in Ohio and you haven't applied yet, the complete Ohio kinship financial help guide walks through every program, the documents you need, and what to do if a benefit is denied.

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