Potential adjustments to federal food aid may have severe impacts in Kentucky
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, recently passed by Congress, may bring about significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Kentucky. This legislation includes expanded work requirements and a new mandate that states assume financial responsibility for a portion of benefits that were issued in error.
As of June 2025, approximately 600,000 Kentuckians received assistance to buy food through SNAP. Of these, 39.28% were under the age of 18, amounting to 220,000 children. The majority of benefits in that month went to children younger than 18.
The changes could have a substantial impact on food assistance for Kentuckians, according to Robin Kunkel, the outreach coordinator at the Kentucky Equal Justice Center. Meanwhile, Melissa McDonald, executive director of Feeding Kentucky, estimates that Kentucky would need to spend an additional $250 million annually to compensate for the gaps created by the changes approved in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The Act also cuts federal funding for SNAP-Ed, a program that provides education on cooking and budgeting, administered through the University of Kentucky. However, it's not clear what could replace this program, as the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has not provided guidance on winding down the SNAP-Ed program.
Kentucky currently splits the cost of administering SNAP 50-50 with the federal government. But starting October 1, 2026, 75% of the cost will be shouldered by states. This shift will cost Kentucky $66 million, according to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS).
It's not yet clear what appetite the Republican-controlled General Assembly will have to provide funding for the increased cost of SNAP. Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, is closely examining recent changes to SNAP at the federal level to understand their potential impact on Kentucky's SNAP recipients and the agencies responsible for administering these benefits.
In June 2025, Kentuckians received about $96 million in SNAP benefits, all of which came from the federal government. The average SNAP household in Kentucky receives $343 a month. Moreover, 16% of Kentuckians receiving SNAP are 60 and older, equating to 91,000 individuals in June.
As the implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act approaches, it remains to be seen how these changes will affect the food security of hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians.
