Rep. Brennan Applauds ODJFS Adoption of More Compassionate SNAP Policy for Older Ohioans
COLUMBUS – State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D–Parma) today welcomed new guidance issued by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) that aligns Ohio’s implementation of SNAP work requirements with updated federal guidance protecting vulnerable Ohioans ages 60 to 64.
The new guidance follows clarification issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Administration on June 11, 2026, regarding implementation of SNAP time-limit provisions enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. Under the federal guidance, individuals ages 60 through 64 who qualify for an exemption from general work requirements, such as serving as a caregiver for an incapacitated person, are also exempt from SNAP time limits.
During the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) process, Rep. Brennan repeatedly raised concerns that Ohio’s previous interpretation risked denying food assistance to older adults who Congress intended to protect.
“I am very pleased that Ohio has revised its guidance to reflect a more compassionate interpretation of federal law,” said Rep. Brennan. “From the beginning, I believed Ohio should follow an approach similar to states like North Carolina that recognized these exemptions for older adults. No Ohioan who is caring for a loved one or facing difficult circumstances should lose access to food assistance because of an unnecessarily restrictive interpretation of the law.”
Rep. Brennan noted that the updated guidance appears consistent with concerns he raised publicly during JCARR proceedings regarding the treatment of Ohioans between the ages of 60 and 64.
“Public policy should always err on the side of ensuring people have enough to eat,” continued Rep. Brennan. “Food insecurity among older adults is a growing challenge, and many individuals in this age group are caregivers, unemployed, or living on limited incomes while approaching retirement. This change moves Ohio toward a more humane and common-sense approach.”
While praising ODJFS for its revised guidance, Rep. Brennan said important questions remain regarding the impact of the previous interpretation.
“I appreciate that ODJFS has changed course, but we also have a responsibility to determine whether eligible Ohioans lost benefits under the earlier interpretation and to make those individuals whole if necessary,” added Rep. Brennan. “If vulnerable residents were improperly denied food assistance, Ohio should proactively identify them, notify them, and ensure they receive every benefit to which they are entitled.”
Rep. Brennan has requested additional data from ODJFS regarding how many Ohioans ages 60 to 64 may have experienced a reduction, suspension, denial, or termination of SNAP benefits under the prior interpretation and what steps the department plans to take to review affected cases.
“As policymakers, our duty is not only to follow the law, but to implement it with fairness, compassion, and dignity,” concluded Rep. Brennan. “I commend ODJFS for adopting guidance that better reflects those values.”