SNAP benefits restart for nearly 600,000 Kentuckians. But more changes are coming

Beth Musgrave, Lexington Herald-Leader on Nov 12, 2025

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — After a week of unknowns and conflicting court opinions, Kentucky officials said Wednesday nearly 600,000 residents who rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to buy groceries should see partial benefits restored this week.

“Partial benefits are now flowing to eligible Kentuckians who receive SNAP benefits. Due to the ruling by the (U.S.) Supreme Court, Kentucky has not processed full benefits,” said Kendra Steele, a spokesperson for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which oversees the program in the commonwealth.

Steele did not say how much those monthly benefits were cut or decreased.

The fate of the country’s largest food assistance program, which 42 million Americans rely on to help buy groceries, has been up in the air since the federal government shutdown started Oct. 1. In late October, President Donald Trump’s administration told states it would not fund the program, increasing demand on Kentucky food banks when funds lapsed Nov. 1.

But several states, including Kentucky, as well as multiple cities and nonprofits sued the Trump administration, arguing there was more than $5 billion in a contingency fund the government could use to fund the program. To pay for the benefits, however, the Trump administration said it needed more than $8 billion.

The cases were appealed by the Trump administration, resulting in a U.S. Supreme Court decision late Friday which stayed a federal Rhode Island judge’s Thursday order to fully fund SNAP benefits. That Supreme Court order is in effect until the Trump administration’s case before a U.S. Court of Appeals case on an injunction is heard before the court.

Some states, including Washington, Oregon, New York, New Jersey and Hawaii, had already issued full SNAP benefits for November before the U.S. Supreme Court decision Friday. Kentucky did not, Steele said. It only released partial SNAP benefits.

In the run up to Nov. 1, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear ordered $5 million in state money to go to food banks to help with the dramatic surge in demand for feeding programs and free pantry items.

In a Saturday letter, the U.S. Department of Agriculture told states to immediately undo any steps taken to fund SNAP benefits.

Meanwhile, the House is expected to vote later Wednesday on several measures to reopen the government, which includes full funding for SNAP benefits until September 2026. If approved, the longest-ever federal government shutdown will be over.

Steele said it’s not clear when full SNAP benefits will resume.

“If and when the federal government reopens, timing of full SNAP benefits depends on how quickly the federal government sends the necessary information to states,” Steele said.

More cuts, changes looming to SNAP benefits

Even with full federal funding, many people in Kentucky will lose SNAP benefits due to changes enacted as part of the Big, Beautiful Bill July 4.

People between the ages of 18 and 64 must show they are working, volunteering or in school to receive benefits as of Nov. 1. Prior to November, 117 of Kentucky’s 120 counties had a federal waiver that allowed SNAP recipients to get benefits without reporting how many hours a week they worked. The waiver was based on unemployment rates.

That waiver has been dropped under provisions of the new spending bill.

The new work requirement will likely mean as many as 114,000 people in Kentucky will lose the benefit, according to an analysis by the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

SNAP reaches 595,200 Kentucky residents, which translates to 13% of the state’s population, or as many as 1 in 8 Kentuckians, according to data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Kentucky will also have to find more money to fund the program. SNAP’s administrative costs are split 50-50 between the federal government and states. Next year, Kentucky and all states will have to pay 75% of those costs. That will be an increase of about $60 million for Kentucky, according to a Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis.

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