Special SNAP Services in Kentucky

Kentucky offers special SNAP services for residents facing specific hardships like financial crises or natural disasters. These include expedited processing, disaster assistance, and waivers for hot food purchases or spoiled food.

Expedited SNAP (Emergency Processing)

Kentucky provides expedited SNAP so households in a financial crisis can get food benefits within seven days. This rapid assistance is designed to prevent hunger when a household's income and resources are almost gone.

Eligibility is met by households with less than $150 in gross monthly income and $100 or less in liquid resources. This includes migrant or seasonal farm-worker households. A household also qualifies if its combined income and resources are less than its rent and utility costs.

To apply, you must indicate that you need emergency service. You can apply online via kynect benefits, by phone at 1-855-306-8959, or at a DCBS office. Verification is limited to identity so benefits can be issued within seven days, as detailed on the official program page.

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)

D-SNAP offers temporary food aid to people who live or work in a county under a Presidential disaster declaration and have disaster-related losses. It helps families who might not normally qualify for SNAP or current recipients who need more help to buy food while recovering.

To be eligible, you must live or work in the approved disaster area, provide a photo ID, and have disaster-related expenses like home repairs or evacuation costs. Applicants must also meet D-SNAP income limits and not already be receiving regular SNAP benefits.

Applications are only accepted during a state-announced D-SNAP period. You can apply by phone at 1-855-306-8959 or in person at designated DCBS sites. The process requires a short interview and ID, as explained on the D-SNAP page.

Hot Foods Purchase Waiver

Following severe storms, Kentucky may receive a USDA waiver allowing SNAP households to buy prepared hot foods from authorized retailers. This waiver exists because storm-related power outages can make it impossible to store or cook groceries safely at home.

Eligibility is automatic for any SNAP household in the counties and dates specified in the waiver notice. No separate application is necessary to use this temporary benefit. During the waiver period, you can use your EBT card to buy ready-to-eat hot meals at participating stores.

Normal SNAP restrictions return once the waiver expires. Specific details and county lists are posted on the USDA disaster page for Kentucky.

Replacement SNAP For Disaster-Related Food Loss

When storms cause widespread power outages, Kentucky can request a USDA waiver to extend the standard 10-day reporting deadline. This gives SNAP households more time to request replacement benefits for food that spoiled. The service helps families restore lost groceries without financial strain.

Any SNAP household that lost food purchased with benefits due to the disaster is eligible, provided they live in a county covered by the waiver. To apply, call 1-855-306-8959 or visit a DCBS office within the extended timeframe, which is often 30 days.

You must complete a simple replacement request form. Once approved, an equivalent amount is added to your EBT account. Waiver notices are posted on the same USDA disaster page.

How to Use Your SNAP Benefits in Kentucky

Once you are approved for SNAP, it's time to learn how to use your benefits, including what you can buy and where.

What is an EBT Card and How to Use it?

An Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card is how you receive and spend your SNAP benefits. It's a plastic payment card that holds your food assistance funds electronically. Each month, your benefits are automatically loaded onto the card, ready for you to use.

Using your EBT card is similar to using a debit card. You swipe or insert it at the checkout counter of authorized stores. You will then enter a private four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) to authorize the purchase and complete the transaction.

What Can You Buy with SNAP Benefits?

Your benefits are intended for purchasing household staples that you can prepare at home. This generally covers most grocery items that form the foundation of a healthy diet, allowing you to stock your kitchen with a variety of foods.

• Fruits and vegetables

• Meat, poultry, and fish

• Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt

• Breads and cereals

• Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages

However, SNAP benefits cannot be used for certain items. These restrictions focus on non-food goods, alcohol, and most prepared hot meals, ensuring the funds are used for their intended purpose of providing food for home consumption.

• Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco

• Vitamins, medicines, and supplements

• Hot foods ready to be eaten

• Non-food items like pet food, cleaning supplies, paper products, and cosmetics

Where Can You Use Your EBT Card?

Your EBT card is accepted at most major grocery stores, supermarkets, and many corner stores. You can also use your benefits at participating farmers’ markets to purchase fresh, local foods. Look for the Quest or SNAP logo at store entrances or checkout lanes to confirm they accept EBT.

Online shopping is another option. In Kentucky, you can use your EBT card to buy groceries from approved online retailers like Amazon and Walmart. This lets you order eligible food items for home delivery or curbside pickup, adding convenience to your shopping.

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