Kentucky Food Benefits Customers
to Get February Funds Early

Partial government shutdown prompts early release of assistance

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 11, 2019) – The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) is giving an update to food benefits recipients because of the partial federal government shutdown and its effect on assistance distribution.

Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, is the deadline for completion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cases for early issuance. Applicants who are approved after Jan. 15 and before Jan. 30 will receive their benefits for January and February on their EBT cards by Jan. 31.

Most customers of SNAP, which is administered nationally by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, will receive their February SNAP benefits in January because of the partial shutdown.

February assistance benefits for these customers will be loaded to customer accounts/EBT cards by Sunday, Jan. 20. Customers can use these funds immediately at any authorized retailer but they will not receive more benefits for February.

CHFS’ Department for Community Based Services administers SNAP in Kentucky. The FNS is releasing Kentucky’s February assistance money early to accommodate for client access during the shutdown. 

For information about applying for food benefits, log on to the Cabinet’s homepage: chfs.ky.gov and type SNAP into the “What can we help you find” search bar.