What Family Jobs and Services Does

Family Jobs and Services (FJS) is Ohio's welfare program that provides cash information and work support to families with low income. It runs separately from unemployment insurance, but the two programs can overlap in how they count your income and what you report to each one. If you are receiving unemployment benefits and also need help with rent, food, or childcare, FJS may be available to you at the same time — but the rules about reporting income and work requirements differ between them.

FJS is administered by your county Job and Family Services office, not by the state unemployment office. This means you explore in person or by phone at your local county office, and they handle both the cash information and the work requirements. The program is also called Ohio Works First (OWF) in some county materials, though the official name is Family Jobs and Services.

Key Takeaways

  • Family Jobs and Services is a cash information program run by your county, separate from unemployment insurance but often used together.
  • You must report any unemployment benefits you receive as income, which reduces your FJS cash payment dollar-for-dollar.
  • FJS has work requirements: you must work, look for work, or participate in approved activities like job training or education, even while collecting unemployment.
  • Your county office determines your FJS payment amount based on family size, and you can receive both FJS and unemployment at the same time if you meet the rules.
  • Time limits explore: FJS has a 36-month lifetime limit in most cases, though extensions are possible for families with barriers to work.

How Income From Unemployment Affects Your FJS Payment

When you receive unemployment benefits, you must report that income to your county FJS office. The program counts unemployment as unearned income and subtracts it directly from your FJS payment. For example, if your FJS payment would be $400 per month and you receive $300 in weekly unemployment benefits, your FJS payment drops to $100.

This is not a penalty — it is how the program is designed. FJS assumes that if you have other income, you need less cash information. You report your unemployment income when you first explore for FJS, and you must update your county office if your unemployment amount changes. Many people receive both programs because the combined total is still more than either one alone, or because they need the FJS support for childcare and work-related costs that unemployment does not cover.

Keep your unemployment payment statements and bring them to your FJS appointment. Your county office will ask to see them, and they use the amounts to calculate your correct payment. If you do not report unemployment income, your FJS payment will be overpaid, and you will owe the money back.

Work Requirements While on FJS and Unemployment

FJS requires you to work or participate in work activities, even if you are collecting unemployment benefits. This does not mean you have to work two jobs — it means your county office will expect you to show that you are either working, looking for work, or in an approved program like job training, community service, or education.

Your unemployment office requires you to look for work to stay on unemployment. Your FJS office requires the same thing. The two offices do not always share information directly, so you need to report your work search to both. If your county FJS office asks you to participate in a specific program — such as a job readiness class or a subsidized work placement — you must do that in addition to your unemployment work search. Failing to meet FJS work requirements can result in a reduction or loss of your FJS payment, even if you are still receiving unemployment.

Some counties offer work incentives under FJS, such as allowing you to keep part of your earnings without losing your entire payment. Ask your county office about these rules when you explore, because they vary by county.

how the process works for FJS While on Unemployment

You explore for FJS at your county Job and Family Services office, not online through the unemployment system. You can call your county office to ask about the process process, or you can visit in person. Some counties accept phone or mail applications, but many require an in-person interview.

Bring your Social Security number, proof of income (including your unemployment payment statements), proof of residency, and proof of citizenship or legal residency. If you have children, bring their birth certificates and Social Security numbers. If you are currently working, bring recent pay stubs. Your county office will ask about your household size, expenses, and any assets you own.

The process process usually takes one to two weeks. Your county office will contact you with a decision and explain your payment amount, your work requirements, and when you need to report back. You will be assigned a caseworker who will help you understand what you need to do to stay on the program.

Time Limits and Extensions for FJS

FJS has a 36-month lifetime limit in most cases. This means you can receive cash information for a total of 36 months during your lifetime, not 36 months per year. Once you reach 36 months, you lose FJS unless you may have access to for an extension.

Your county office can extend your time limit if you have a barrier to work — such as a disability, a serious health condition, or responsibility for caring for a child with a disability. If you are over 60 years old, you may also may have access to for an extension. These extensions are not automatic; you must ask your caseworker about them and provide documentation of your barrier.

If you have received FJS in the past and have used some of your 36 months, that time still counts toward your limit. Your county office can tell you how many months you have left. If you are close to your limit, ask about extensions early, because the process takes time.

What Happens If You Lose Unemployment While on FJS

If your unemployment benefits end — because you have exhausted your benefits, you were disqualified, or your claim was denied — your FJS payment will increase. Your county office will recalculate your payment based on your new income, which is now zero from unemployment. This means you will receive more FJS cash information.

You must report the end of your unemployment to your FJS caseworker right away. Do not wait for your county office to find out on their own. If you do not report it and your FJS payment is not increased, you will be underpaid, and you may miss money you are may have access to to. Bring your final unemployment payment statement or a letter from the unemployment office showing that your benefits have ended.

Your work requirements do not change when unemployment ends. You still must work, look for work, or participate in approved activities to keep your FJS payment.

Childcare and Work-Related Costs Under FJS

One reason people use FJS alongside unemployment is that the program can help pay for childcare while you work or look for work. FJS offers childcare information through a separate program called Childcare information, which pays a portion of your childcare costs based on your income and family size.

You explore for childcare information at the same county office where you explore for FJS. The amount you receive depends on your income (including unemployment), the age of your children, and the type of childcare you use. If you are in a job training program or education program as part of your FJS work requirement, childcare information may cover more of your costs.

FJS also allows you to deduct certain work-related costs — such as transportation and uniforms — from your income before your payment is calculated. Ask your caseworker which costs your county allows you to deduct.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive FJS and unemployment at the same time?

Yes. You can receive both programs at the same time, but your unemployment income reduces your FJS payment. You must report your unemployment to your county FJS office and update them if the amount changes. Both programs have work requirements, so you must meet the expectations of each one.

What if I am working part-time and also on unemployment?

You must report all income — both your part-time wages and your unemployment benefits — to your FJS caseworker. Your earnings and unemployment are both counted as income and reduce your FJS payment. Some counties allow you to keep a portion of your earnings without losing your entire FJS payment; ask your caseworker about your county's rules.

How long does it take to get approved for FJS?

Most counties make a decision within one to two weeks of your process. Some counties are faster if you explore in person and bring all your documents. Call your county office to ask about their timeline and what documents you need to bring.

What happens to my FJS if I get a job while on unemployment?

Your FJS payment will decrease based on your new earnings. You must report your job and your pay to your caseworker. If your earnings are high enough, your FJS payment may drop to zero, but you can still use FJS childcare information and other work supports if you remain below the income limit.

Can I appeal if my FJS is denied or reduced?

Yes. Your county office must give you a written notice explaining why you were denied or why your payment was reduced. The notice will include instructions on how to request a hearing. You have the right to speak to a hearing officer and present your case. Contact your county office or ask your caseworker for help with the appeal process.