Food Stamp Benefits to be cut back

The Chillicothe Gazette Reports

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Ohioans who get food stamp benefits could see that aid shrink by about $50 a month next year, partly because of a change in how the government calculates utility expenses for recipients. The Blade in Toledo (http://bit.ly/SWbAZG ) reports 869,000 households are enrolled in the program for the state’s poorest residents. A spokesman for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says it will send letters this month to notify those affected by the change. Ohio tried to appeal the change, but the request was denied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Organizations that provide food assistance to those in need say the loss of $50 in aid could have a big effect on some families, and they’re bracing for higher demand for help as a result of the change. ——— Information from: The Blade, http://www.toledoblade.com/