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Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

​​​​​The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, helps low-income people buy food for healthy meals at participating stores. SNAP benefits increase household food buying power when added to the household's income.

If you do not speak English or have a disability, free language assistance and other services are available up​on request. For​ assistance, call toll free (855) 306-8959 or TTY (800) 627-4720.  After the recorded message​, you will be connected to someone who can help you with an interpreter.

Eligibility

Any household meeting basic income and other requirements may be able to receive SNAP 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 SNAP 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 SNAP benefit accounts.

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

  1. A spouse 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.

What are the basic eligibility requirements?

  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 18 to 59 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 $2,250 in cash and bank account assets. If a member of the household is 60 or older, the household may have no more than $3,500 in resources. Some resources not used to calculate household assets include the dwelling, its contents and personal belongings. Vehicles are also excluded.
  4. Income - The amount of money a household can receive and still be eligible to receive SNAP benef​​​its depends on household size. Money from wages or other payments to any household member is counted as income.​
  • Effective Dec. 1, 2024, able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) in 3 counties are now subject to the ABAWD requirements to remain eligible for SNAP benefits. The following counties are now subject to the ABAWD time limit:  Fayette, Oldham, and Scott.  ​
  • ​The federal government defines ABAWDs as individuals between the ages of 18 and 54​ who have no disabilities, no children under 18 in their home​ and no other exemptions. These requirements include working an average of at least 20 hours per week (paid or unpaid), or participating in the Employment and Training Program to meet these requirements. If the ABAWD does not meet these requirements, they will only be eligible to receive SNAP for 3 months during a 36-month period unless they become exempt. 

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.

How will I know if my household is approved for SNAP benefits?

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

Can I get SNAP benefits right away?

You may qualify for SNAP benefits soon after applying under certain circumstances, 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 who are destitute migrant or seasonal farm workers.

The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

How are SNAP benefits used?

Your household's SNAP benefits will be deposited into a SNAP benefit account each month. Your household will receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card in the mail along with instructions on how to activate the card and how to choose a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in order to access your food benefit account.

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

What if a EBT card if lost, stolen or damaged?

If you need to report your card lost, stolen or damaged, call 1-888-979-9949. This number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What are my rights?

As a SNAP benefits recipient, you have the following rights:
  1. Your household may begin the process of applying for SNAP benefits the same day you visit the SNAP benefit office by completing a short form.
  2. Your household will be notified within 30 days of applying for SNAP benefits if your application is approved or denied.
  3. Your household may receive SNAP 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 SNAP, contact SNAP Call Services toll free at (855) 306-8959. TTY is available at (800) 627-4702.​

Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English.  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to:

mail:
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
1320 Braddock Place, Room 334
Alexandria, VA 22314; or

fax:  (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

email:  ​FNSCIVILRIGHTSCOMPLAINTS@usda.gov​


This institution is an equal opportunity provider.






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Documentation

Apply

We encourage you to call the DCBS Family Support toll-free number at (855) 306-8959 to start an application or applications for SNAP may be started on-line. 

Once your application is received, you will be contacted to complete an interview.  The head of your household, or an authorized representative, must be interviewed before the application can be completed.

If you print an application off the internet and mail it in, you must be interviewed by a worker before your application can be processed. The location and mailing address for each Family Support office can be found in the Local Office Directory (https://prd.webapps.chfs.ky.gov/Office_Phone/index.aspx)​.​You may also apply in person at any Family Support office. Benefits will begin from the date your application is received. If received after business hours (M-F, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time), the application will be dated for the next business day.

Your household may name someone to be your authorized representative to act on your household's behalf in completing the interview for SNAP benefits and to use your benefits to purchase food for your household.

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

Additional Information

Contact Information

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