Introduction to The Ohio Benefit Bank™,

What is The Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB™)? The OBB is a program of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger. The OBB is implemented through a public-private partnership between the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, the State of Ohio, four federal agencies, nine state agencies, and about 1,300 faith-based and community organizations in all of Ohio’s 88 counties.

The Problem: Ohio’s Unclaimed Funds In Ohio, more than $2.24 billion in work support programs and tax credits, provided to help stabilize low- and moderate-income families, go unclaimed each year. About 95 percent of those funds are federal dollars which, if unused Ohio must return to the federal government.

An Answer: The Ohio Benefit Bank The Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB™) helps individuals and families to access these unclaimed funds, providing revenue to local economies. Here’s an example of how the OBB could help to increase household stability for a family of one adult and two children with an earned annual income of $15,600 (or $10/hour for 30 hours/week): $5,028 from the Earned Income Tax Credit $4,728 in Food Assistance $150 in Home Energy Assistance = $9,931 in potential income enhancements These benefits and credits alone would provide an increase in annual income of more than 64 percent!

How Does the OBB Work? The OBB is a free online service that is: Internet-based, available in easy-to-read English and Spanish Question-guided A tool to stimulate local economies and household incomes The OBB offers: A potential eligibility calculator that estimates eligibility for more than 20 work support programs and tax credits An application completion tool A free income tax assistance program, including free e-filing for federal and state tax returns

Programs Supported by the OBB USDA Child Nutrition Programs Food Assistance (SNAP) Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Healthcare programs for families and children Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps (BCMH) Child and Family Health Services Medicare Savings Program Extra Help for Medicare Part D Ohio Senior Community Service Employment Program Golden Buckeye Program Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Ohio Cash Assistance (OWF) Child Care Assistance Vocational Rehabilitation Services Big Brothers Big Sisters “Amachi” Veterans Education Benefits Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Free tax filing (federal and state, including e-filing and back taxes) The Ohio Youth and Young Adults in Transition Universal Plan

OBB Counselor-Assisted New sites attend a one- hour, pre-training orientation Interested sites complete site enrollment paperwork Sites send new counselors to regional training, including hands-on practice on computers Separate trainings for benefits and taxes OBB Counselor- Assisted (Original Model)

OBB Self-Serve The OBB Self-Serve edition is available from any computer with Internet access Self-Serve sites can provide access to OBB Self-Serve and receive detailed reporting just by attending a brief online training OBB Self-Serve

Tools you can use today: QuickCheck Potential eligibility calculator estimates eligibility for work supports and tax credits Based on household size, income, and expenses Uses a five-star rating to indicate the likelihood that a person is eligible for one or more benefit Go to and click “QuickCheck” Household size: Basic information for each person living in the household Household income: Earned and unearned income for the year Household expenses: Basic expenses are entered to calculate the household’s cost of living

Tools you can use today: Site Locator The Benefit Bank Site Locator is an interactive map that locates the OBB sites near an address or zip code. Go to click “Benefit Bank Locator,” enter an address or zip code, and click “Search” to find OBB sites in your area.

Helpful Resources: Mobile Express The OBB Mobile Express, powered by The Columbus Foundation, attends events that will target specific populations, including seniors, veterans, and people living with disabilities. These populations often face unique barriers to accessing and utilizing benefits, barriers the Mobile Express team helps overcome by identifying effective strategies that are then shared with the OBB network. Reserve the Mobile Express for free for your next event! Just go to ohiofoodbanks.org to submit a request today!

Getting Involved with the OBB Become an OBB site To sign up for pre-training orientation, the first step in becoming a site, visit Become a volunteer Call the OBB hotline at to be connected with a site near you where you can volunteer Spread the word Order free marketing or connect clients with OBB Self-Serve at

How We Use the OBB Insert some information on this slide about how your organization uses the OBB to serve your community and/or clients. How long have you been using the OBB? Who do you send to training to be counselors? How do you outreach to clients?