​​The role of the Program Integrity Branch (PIB) is to ensure families of Kentucky receive the benefits for which they are eligible, are aware of the rules about public assistance programs, and use the respective benefits in accordance with the respective Kentucky and USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) regulations. PIB was designed to support Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) field staff in the interpretation of Claims policy and to increase program integrity across all public assistance programs. PIB consists of the Claims Management Section and the Integrity & Analysis Section.

Claims Management Section

Responsible for overseeing the investigation of fraud and collections of overpayments across various public assistance programs administered by DCBS which includes but is not limited to: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Simplified Assistance for the Elderly (SAFE), Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP), Kinship Care, Child Care, Medicaid, and more.

Who is responsible for paying a claim?

Claims may be collected from any adult in your household during the time you received more benefits than you should have. This also includes authorized representatives, the designated representative in a Drug and Alcohol Abuse treatment center, caretaker relative, court ordered individual, etc.

Claim Repayment Methods

Claims can be repaid using one of the following options:

• Benefit Reduction. If a household has a claim type that is considered Agency Error or Inadvertent Household Error, and any liable member is actively receiving SNAP or KTAP program benefits, federal law requires us to automatically take $10.00 or 10% from your monthly benefits, whichever is more. If a household has a claim type that is considered an Intentional Program Violation, federal law requires us to automatically take $20.00 or 20% from your monthly benefits, whichever is more. A household has the option to request an additional amount to be applied along with the existing automatic benefit reduction.
• Online payments. To make a claim payment online, access https://kynect.ky.gov​. Create an account or sign into your existing Kentucky Online Gateway (KOG) account, then navigate to “Claims & Payments” on the left-hand menu.
• Check or money order. This payment should be made out to the Kentucky State Treasurer, and you should include your printed name and claim number(s) on this payment type. Mail your payment to the following address: Claims Management Section 275 E Main St, 3E-I Frankfort, KY 40621
• State Tax Offsets (RIC). If you do not make payments or default on your repayment agreement, your claim will be sent to other agencies for collection. If this happens, you may be charged collection fees. The Kentucky Department of Revenue, Division of Collections, may take all or part of a Kentucky income tax refund until a delinquent overpayment is paid in full.
• Treasury Offset Program (TOP). If you do not make payments or default on your repayment agreement, your SNAP claim will be sent to other agencies for collection. If this happens, you may be charged collection fees. TOP is a federally mandated collection program which allows for the interception of federal payments (called offset), such as federal income tax refunds, federal payroll, and social security payments. SNAP debts are referred to TOP after the debt has been delinquent for at least 120 days or a repayment agreement has been made but not followed. ​

Additional questions regarding claims?

Please contact the Claims Management Section at 502-564-3440 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET, Monday through Friday, or submit an email at chfscms@ky.gov​. Be sure to include and/or have your claim number(s) ready.

Do you have a question about eligibility or your current public assistance benefits?

If you are currently receiving public assistance our would like to receive public assistance and have questions regarding those benefits, please contact DCBS Family Support using one of the following options:

• Contact the Call Service Center toll free at 855-306-8959 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET Monday through Friday and between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM ET on Saturday;
• Access https://kynect.ky.gov​ to create an account or sign into your existing KOG account and apply online; or
• Go to your local Family Support Office. Find the office closest to you at https://prd.webapps.chfs.ky.gov/Office_Phone/​​.

Medical Assistance

If you have questions or concerns about your insurance premium and payments, please contact 855-4kynect (1-855-459-6328) or you may access your enrollment information by selecting Health Plans on the left side navigation.

Child Care Claims

If you have any questions regarding your Child Care claim(s), please contact the Division of Child Care Claims Section at 844-209-2657. ​

Integrity & Analysis Section

Responsible for overseeing the investigation of public assistance fraud across various public assistance programs including but not limited to SNAP and KTAP.

EBT Trafficking & Misuse

Trafficking is:

• The act or attempt of buying, selling, or exchanging SNAP benefits, EBT cards, EBT card numbers, or Personal Identification Number (PIN) for cash or consideration other than eligible food items.
• Exchanging SNAP benefits, EBT cards, EBT card numbers, or PIN(s) to buy ineligible items like alcoholic drinks, soap, tobacco products, firearms, ammunition or explosives, or a controlled substance.
• Reselling or exchanging food purchased with SNAP benefits.
• Using food purchased with SNAP benefits to prepare food items with the intent of selling.

Misuse is:​​

• Using SNAP benefits to pay on a credit account, even if it is for SNAP eligible food.
• Allowing someone access to your EBT card and PIN to use who is not a member of your benefit group or an authorized representative.
• Purchasing food with EBT benefits intended for your SNAP household but giving the food to another person or household.
• Using benefits incorrectly, but not in a way which meets the definition of trafficking.​

Who are my benefits to be used for?

EBT benefits are to be used for anyone within your benefit group. Do not purchase items with your EBT benefits for anyone outside of your benefit group, nor should you allow someone outside of your benefit group who is not an authorized member access to your EBT card and PIN.

What is electronic benefit theft? 

Skimming & Cloning:

• Skimming occurs when fraudsters attach an illegal device to an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), Point of Sale (POS) machine, or PIN pad to steal card numbers and other card information from EBT cards, credit cards, or debit cards. These devices can be placed in seconds and can be hard to identify as they are designed to look like part of the ATM, POS machine, or PIN pad.
• Fraudsters can use the stolen data to make fake cards utilizing blank magnetic strip cards, or even gift cards from various retailers. These cloned cards are used to steal the individual’s money or monthly benefit assistance to complete purchases either in-person or online.
Phishing & Spoofing:
• These attacks are delivered through electronic means such as e-mail, text message, or a phone call wherein fraudsters try to lure individuals into giving out their EBT account information by impersonating a trusted source like DCBS.​

What can I do to help prevent electronic benefit theft?

There are many things that an individual can do to help prevent electronic benefit theft. These include:

Are you a victim of electronic benefit theft?

• Order a new EBT card immediately by contacting the EBT vendor, Fidelity Information Services (FIS), at 1-888-979-9949.
• Report the theft to DCBS by contacting the Call Service Center toll free at 855-306-8959 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET Monday through Friday and between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM ET on Saturday, or go to your local Family Support Office. Find the office closest to you at https://prd.webapps.chfs.ky.gov/Office_Phone/.

I got a notification that my benefits were compromised.

How do I report fraud?

To report public assistance fraud or abuse, you may contact the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) toll free at 800-372-2970 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET.

Contact Information

Claims Management Section

Integrity & Analysis Section