Food Benefits/EBT (Formerly Food Stamps)

The Food Benefit Program helps people with little or no money buy food for healthy meals at participating stores. Food benefits increase a household's food buying power when added to the household's money.

On this page you will find the following information:

• Who is eligible for food benefits?
• What are the basic eligibility requirements?
• How do I apply for food benefits?
• How will I know if my household is approved for food benefits?
• How are food benefits used?
• What are my rights?
• Can I get food benefits right away?
• How to get a new EBT card if lost, stolen, or damaged

Assistance With Food Benefits:

EBT/Food Benefit Information
(502) 564-7050

Any household meeting basic income and other requirements may be able to receive food benefits.

A household is any person, family or group of people who live and buy and eat food together. Adult children older than 21 who live with their parents may qualify for their own food benefit accounts if they purchase and prepare food separately from their parents. Adult siblings living together, but not with their parents, who purchase and prepare meals separately may also have separate food benefit accounts.

The following people must be included in one household account, regardless of whether they purchase and prepare meals separately:

1. A spouses of any household member.
2. Parents living with their natural, adopted or stepchildren who are age 21 or younger.
3. Children younger than 18 who are dependents of an adult household member.

1. Citizenship
   Only U.S. citizens and some legal foreign residents of the United States may receive food benefits.
2. Work Registration
   Anyone in a household who is 16 to 60 years old and can work must register for, look for and accept work. There are some exceptions to this requirement.
3. Resources
   A household may have no more than $2,000 in cash and bank account assets. If a member of the household is 60 or older, the household may have no more than $3,000 in resources. Some resources not used to calculate household assets include the dwelling, its contents and personal belongings. Vehicles also are excluded.
4. Income
   The amount of money a household can receive and still be receive food benefits depends on household size. Money from wages or other payments to any household member is counted as income.
   Your household may qualify for deductions from the household's income such as rent, utilities, legally obligated child support paid to someone outside the household and babysitting expenses. If your household includes older or disabled members, you may be able to deduct medical costs.
   Proof of income and expenses must be provided to receive deductions. Such proof can be provided with pay stubs, social security letters, rent and utility receipts or savings account statements. The amount of benefits your household will receive is based on household size and income after deductions.

The head of your household, or an authorized representative, must be interviewed by a food benefits caseworker in the Family Support office in the county where you live. Complete and turn in your household's application as soon as possible. Benefits begin the date your application is received.

Your household may name someone to be your authorized representative to act on your household's behalf in completing the interview for food benefits and to use your benefits to purchase food for your household if you are unable to do so.

If your household needs help right away, you may be able to get your food benefits within a few days after applying.

If you are 60 or older and disabled or if you live more than 30 miles from the local office and you cannot get to the food benefit office and no one can go for you, call the local office to make other arrangements for an interview.

If you must miss work to apply, call ahead and make an appointment. This will help reduce the time you must miss from work.

After filing an application, you will receive a notice within 30 days telling you whether or not your household has been approved for food benefits.

If your household is approved, you will receive a letter telling you the amount of benefits you will receive and advising you when you have to be interviewed again to continue receiving benefits.

Your household's food benefits will be deposited into a food benefit account each month. Your household will receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in the mail to use to access your food benefit account.

Sign the back of your EBT card right away. Food benefits can be used just like money to purchase almost any food item, except ready-to-eat hot foods. You may also use food benefits to buy seeds and plants to grow fruits and vegetables. The following items cannot be purchased with food benefits: tobacco, alcohol, pet food, soap and other household products, medicines and other non-food items.

As a food benefits recipient, you have the following rights:

1. Your household may begin the process of applying for food benefits the same day you visit the food benefit office by completing a short form.
2. Your household will be notified within 30 days of applying for food benefits if your application is approved or denied.
3. Your household may receive food benefits within a few days if you qualify and have little or no money, or if you meet certain income requirements.
4. If you disagree with any action taken in your case, you are entitled to a fair hearing. At this hearing your household will have a chance to tell an impartial hearing officer why you disagree with any action in your case. If it is found that an error has been made in your household's case, you will receive any benefits denied as a result of the error.

By federal law, sales tax may not be charged on food purchased with food benefits. If your household purchases food with a combination of food benefits and cash, sales tax may only be charged for taxable items paid with cash.

For more information about the Food Benefits Program call the food benefit office in the county where you live or call the Ombudsman toll free at (800) 372-2973. TTY is available at (800) 627-4702.

"In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability.'

"To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.  20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

To file a complaint of discrimination with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, write the EEO/Civil Rights Compliance Branch, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Human Resource Management, 275 E. Main St., Mail Stop 5C-D, Frankfort, KY 40621  Telephone:  (502) 564-7770, ext. 4107     FAX:  (502) 564-3129.

You may qualify for food benefits soon after applying under certain circumstances, such as if:

1. Your household's monthly rent/mortgage and utilities costs are more than its gross monthly income.
   
2. Your household's gross monthly income is less than $150 and resources, such as cash or bank accounts, total $100 or less.
   
3. Your household includes members migrant or seasonal farm workers.

The USDA is and equal opportunity provider and employer.

If you need to report your card lost, stolen, or damaged, call 1-888-979-9949.

This number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.