PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
Darke County Financial and Medical Department is committed to serving Darke County residents with respect and dignity offering different programs of assistance to assist in a time of need. Applications for all of the programs can be located at the agency’s front lobby desk. Applications for SNAP, OWF and Medicaid can also be found at benefits.ohio.gov.
Food Assistance/SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a program designed to raise nutritional levels and raise the well-being of individuals in low-income households. To qualify for the SNAP program a household’s gross income (income before expenses and taxes) needs to meet the standard of 130% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Cash Assistance/Ohio Works First
The Ohio Works First (OWF) program was established to provide a time-limited cash assistance program through Ohio’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program. The program focuses on the strive to gain self-sufficiency through employment and personal responsibility. To qualify for the OWF program, a household must include:
> A minor child or a pregnant woman in the third trimester
> A child residing with a parent, specified relative, legal guardian or legal custodian
> Unmarried minor parents and pregnant minors must be in an approved adult-supervised household
Long-Term Care
Long-Term Care (LTC) Medicaid will pay for care in a nursing home, in a certified assisted living facility and in the recipient’s home or other settings through either Nursing Home Medicaid or Home and Community Based Waiver Programs. An applicant must meet certain financial requirement and functional (medical) requirements to qualify for these programs. The financial requirements vary by the applicant’s marital status and what type of LTC Medicaid they are applying for.
Nursing Home Medicaid – Covers the cost of care in a nursing home for an individual that meets the necessary level of care, income, and resource requirements.
Coverage includes payment for room and board as well as all necessary medical and non-medical goods and services. It does not include coverage for a private room, comfort items not considered routine, and any care not considered medically necessary. Recipients of this type of Medicaid are generally required to pay most of their monthly income to the facility for their care except for a personal needs allowance ($50), medical insurance premiums, and Medicaid-approved community spousal and/or family allowance payments.
Home and Community-Based Services Waivers. – Provides in-home and community care for the elderly and/or disabled individuals who meet the necessary level of care. Coverage includes payment for such services as nursing, personal care and homemaking, respite care, home adaptations, and home-delivered meals. It does not pay for room and board. For more information on these programs, you can call the Ohio Benefits Long-Term Services and Supports at 1-844-644-6582 The following waiver programs are available:
Passport Waiver – Provides in-home services to individuals age 60 and older who need help with daily living activities and would otherwise need to reside in a nursing facility. For more information, you can contact Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley at (937) 658-4593.
Ohio Home Care Waiver – Provides in-home services to disabled individuals age 59 or under who need help with daily living activities and would otherwise need to reside in a nursing facility.
Assisted Living Waiver – Provides long-term care benefits to persons who require a nursing facility level of care but instead live in a certified assisted living facility. Services will be provided based on each individual needs and circumstances.
Individual Option and Level One Waivers – Provides support services for persons of any age with developmental disabilities. For more information, please call the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Board at (877) 464-6733.
Medical Assistance/Medicaid
Medicaid is a state and federally funded program aiding qualifying individuals and families with their medical needs. The Medicaid program has a wide range of eligibility guidelines designed to help individuals with low income, pregnant women, infants and children, older adults as well as individuals with disabilities. To find additional information regarding the Ohio Medicaid program please visit Medicaid.ohio.gov
PRC
PRC is the acronym for Prevention, Retention and Contingency. The services provided allow an employed individual to maintain employment and enable him/her to maintain and achieve self-sufficiency. It also allows emergent need which threatens the health or well-being for one or more person living in the household.
PRC services are a one-time or short-term assistance program which is limited to the amount required to meet the presenting need up to 1 per 12 consecutive month during the eligibility period. Eligibility for PRC is dependent upon the household’s demonstration and verification of the need for financial assistance and/or services, and whether the county determines the provision of PRC will satisfy the need presented. In order to qualify, the PRC household’s income must be at or below the 200% Federal Poverty Guideline.
Non-Emergency Transportation
Darke County Job and Family Services contracts with Greenville Transit and Spirit Medical Transport to provide transportation to only Medicaid-covered services to those in need. Individuals must be eligible for Medicaid and submit a Medicaid Transportation Application.
Transportation applications can be obtained at Darke County Job and Family Services or by calling 937-548-4132 Option 7.