OHIO Many miss out on benefits

Cleveland was ranked as the nation's poorest city last year.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Low- and moderate-income Ohioans are missing out on 1.5 billion in government benefits each year, turned off by exhaustive paperwork, confusing terminology or long lines.
State officials say many Ohioans could be eligible for thousands of dollars in additional income from tax refunds, home energy assistance, child-care subsidies and medical aid.
"We don't have to look very hard to see Ohioans who are struggling," said Gov. Ted Strickland, in Cleveland on Friday for the local start of the Benefit Bank, a free, Web-based program that helps people apply for a variety of assistance programs, file tax returns and register to vote.
The city was ranked as the nation's poorest big city by the U.S. Census Bureau last year for the second time in three years with nearly one in three of Cleveland's 452,200 residents living below the poverty line.
Counselors in the eight states and the District of Columbia where the Benefit Bank now operate have identified an average of 6,450 more in yearly benefits for each client.
Strickland estimates that 80 percent of the unclaimed benefits are from federal sources. Besides helping families, that money could boost the state's economy.
Ralph Gildehaus, director of the Ohio Benefit Bank, said many people do not know they qualify for help.
Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, said about 500,000 Ohioans are eligible for the federal food stamp program, but aren't receiving the benefit.
The association of 12 food banks is working to implement Benefit Bank statewide. It already has linked people to more than 4.5 million in assistance, Gildehaus said.