FATL 449 (Food Assistance: providing replacement issuance to assistance groups)
Food Assistance Transmittal Letter No. 449
January 16, 2024
TO: All Food Assistance Manual Holders
FROM: Matt Damschroder, Director
SUBJECT: Food Assistance: providing replacement issuance to assistance groups
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Currently, when a supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) assistance group requests four or more SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card replacements in a rolling 12-month period, our EBT vendor, Conduent, issues a notice alerting the assistance group of the excessive card replacement requests and a warning that the assistance group may be monitored for potential, suspicious activity.

On July 4, 2023, Governor DeWine signed into law the Amended Substitute Ohio House Bill 33 of the 135th General Assembly, which established operating appropriations for Ohio for state fiscal years 2024-2025. This changed the process for the replacement requirement for SNAP EBT cards when four or more cards have been requested within a 12-month period. The House Bill now requires the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to follow the provisions outlined in 7 C.F.R 274.6(b)(5). 

The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) has completed a review of the following rule and the rule has been subject to a review by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR). The changes will become effective on 1/22/2024.

Chapter 7000

5101:4-7-11 "Food assistance: providing replacement issuance to assistance groups."

The rule describes the process for providing replacement issuance to SNAP assistance groups. Changes to the rule include:

  • The title of the rule has been updated to include replacement request of SNAP EBT cards;
  • Language in paragraph (H) was stricken and moved to new paragraph (L);
  • New language was added to paragraph (H) to explain the process when an assistance group (AG) requests a fourth EBT card within a rolling twelve-month period;
  • Paragraph (I) was added to provide the process when an AG requests a fifth or more EBT card replacement within a rolling twelve-month period;
  • Paragraph (J) was added to outline the process when the AG contacts the county agency after receiving the written notice for requesting five or more EBT card replacements;
  • Paragraph (K) was added to instruct the county agency of the process when the AG does not contact the county agency in response to the written notice for the EBT card replacement request; and
  • Minor changes were made for clarity.