Wayne official warns SNAP changes can be confusing, leading residents to lose benefits
By Miranda McGrath / July 22, 2025
Nearly 20,000 Wayne County residents could face new hurdles to keep health coverage as federal Medicaid changes take effect, including work requirements and funding cuts.
The law, signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, slashes Medicaid spending by $1 trillion and imposes work mandates starting in 2026.
Wayne County officials warn the changes could disrupt coverage for thousands, especially among the 4,492 residents in the Medicaid expansion group − adults without dependent children − who are most likely to be affected.
Under the law, adults under age 65 who are enrolled in Medicaid will need to work, volunteer or attend school for at least 80 hours per month starting in October 2026. Ohio, which has more than 3 million residents in the program, is preparing for the change, though many of the details remain unclear.
In Wayne County, nearly 10,000 residents rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Richard Owens, director of Wayne County Job and Family Services, said the agency is focused on understanding how new Medicaid rules will be structured and what staffing or technological adjustments may be required.
“The Ohio Department of Medicaid is expected to release updated guidance by October,” Owens said. “Until then, we are evaluating our internal capacity and preparing to respond once the state finalizes its plans.”
Current numbers and demographics
As of June, 19,649 people in Wayne County were enrolled in Medicaid, representing about 17 % of the county’s population. Of those, 8,841 are male and 10,807 are female, according to Job and Family Services.
The largest group of Medicaid enrollees is adults ages 21-44, with 5,505 people in that range. Children ages 1-13 account for more than 5,600 enrollees, and nearly 1,900 residents over age 65 are enrolled. The expansion group, primarily made up of adults without dependent children, includes 4,492 residents, the group that may be most impacted by the new work requirements.
SNAP serves 4,723 households in Wayne County, with 8,527 people receiving benefits. Among them are 5,453 adults and 3,074 children, according to Wayne JFS.
About 120 SNAP recipients in the county are subject to work requirements. That number is expected to grow under the federal changes, which modify exemption rules. Previously, parents with children under 18 and adults age 55 and older often were exempt. Now, the exemption applies only to adults over 64 and parents of children 13 or younger.
County prepares for administrative and financial impact
Local officials are monitoring the evolving federal and state landscape, preparing for administrative shifts even as key implementation details remain pending.
Owens said JFS is identifying which divisions may have the resources to absorb new responsibilities, such as verifying employment hours or managing revised eligibility criteria. In particular, he said departments focused on workforce development may be best suited to handle incoming work requirement verifications.
He said financial impacts already are being felt.
The federal match for SNAP administrative costs has been reduced from 50% to 25%, requiring state and local governments to make up the difference.
“We're trending in the right direction,” Owens said, referring to improvements in Ohio’s SNAP error rate.
Under the new federal rules, states with high error rates will be responsible for a greater share of benefit costs. Because Ohio’s rate is around 8%, the state may be required to cover up to 10% of SNAP benefits distributed unless the number drops below the 6% threshold, Owens said.
Fairlure to meet deadlines, do paperwork could result in loss of services
A concern among county officials is the policy shift could lead to fewer people staying enrolled, not necessarily because they are ineligible, but because of confusion or failure to complete required paperwork.
“If somebody fails to submit the proper paperwork or they didn’t pay attention and just took the envelope and threw it out, that’s who would fall through the cracks,” Owens said.
Food insecurity, he added, may remain steady regardless of changes to SNAP eligibility.
“Food insecurity and the SNAP numbers don’t go hand in hand,” he said. “Somebody who is one dollar over the eligibility limit may be just as food insecure as someone who is one dollar under.”
Strain on local systems
The potential increase in uninsured individuals could place added pressure on hospitals and community health centers.
“There was some money put in specifically for hospitals because they understood that the amount of Medicaid support that they would be getting would be dropping,” Owens said.
A provision in the federal law allocates $50 billion to support rural hospitals. Meanwhile, Ohio’s new two-year budget includes a separate funding stream to help hospitals in the state’s southern counties.
Local providers, including doctors and dentists who accept Medicaid, are expected to feel the impact of reduced reimbursements.
Outreach and resources
The JFS agency has moved much of its operations online, but staff are aware not everyone can navigate digital systems easily. A toll-free number has been established to assist residents applying for Medicaid, SNAP and cash assistance − 1-844-640-6466.
Outreach will continue through social media, websites and community partners, including People to People Ministries and the Viola Startzman Clinic. However, the effectiveness of that outreach may hinge on clear direction from the state.
“We need people to be reading everything that we send out,” Owens said. “Whether it’s the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Ohio Department of Medicaid or our office here in Wayne County. These changes may affect their individual case.”