“These benefits are vitally important to thousands of Montgomery County families, and this should relieve some worry about the coming weeks,” Michelle Niedermier, director of Montgomery County Department of Job and Family Services, said in a prepared statement released Tuesday afternoon.

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“We are doing everything we can to avoid confusion and communicate clearly to our citizens. Recipients will need to plan purchases carefully to ensure these additional funds meet their food needs normally covered by the February benefit issuance.”

Approximately 70,000 county residents receive food assistance.

County Job and Family Services workers will continue to accept applications for SNAP at The Job Center, will continue to determine eligibility, perform interviews and issue re-certifications per established timelines.

“We anticipate additional guidance from the Department of Agriculture or the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services should the shutdown continue beyond Feb. 1,” Niedermier said.

“We have received no notification that any other public assistance programs are affected by the shutdown at his time,” she said.