Ohio Food Stamp elegibility?

I was laid off in October and am receiving 2 a week on my unemployment. My husband was laid off over 3 years ago from a union painting job and his unemployment ran out two years ago, so he brings in no money at all. We own our own home, mortgage payment about 5 plus the regular utility bills. No credit card or car debt (thank God). Using a gov’t calculator tool it seems we may qualify for food stamps but there’s just one question. I have a SEP retirement fund set up at the place I was laid off from…….no contributions from my company. I have invested about ,000 over the course of time, but with the bad economy, the account is worth less than ,000 now. Also there is the penalty for early withdrawal (I’m 57) which would be a double hit. The food stamp guidelines say that a person of my age can have no more than 00 in saving. Does that include my retirement plan?