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EBT Cards and Public Assistance Programs in Kentucky

Learn about the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards and public assistance programs in Kentucky, including SNAP, KTAP, Kinship Care, and KWP. Discover how the EBT cards are used, allowable and unallowable purchases, and efforts to combat fraud.

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EBT Cards and Public Assistance Programs in Kentucky

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  1. Electronic Benefit Transfer(EBT) Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) Division of Family Support Public Assistance Reform Task Force July 8, 2019

  2. Department for Community Based Services: Eric T. Clark, Commissioner Division of Service Regions Division of Administration and Financial Mgmt. Division of Child Care Division of Family Support Division of Program Performance Quality Control Division of Protection and Permanency

  3. Division of Family Support Nutrition Assistance Branch Program Integrity Branch Policy Development Branch Family Self Sufficiency Branch Medical Support and Benefits Branch

  4. EBT CARDS • DCBS uses Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards for: • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) • Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP) • Kinship Care • Kentucky Works Program (KWP) transportation • Work Incentive (WIN) reimbursements

  5. EBT CARDS As of 7/1/2019, there are 1,222,274 EBT cards in “Active” status in Kentucky

  6. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps people with little or no money to buy food for healthy meals at participating stores SNAP benefits increase a household’s food buying power when added to the household’s money

  7. KTAP The Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP) is the monetary assistance program established using federal funds from the TANF block grant KTAP provides financial assistance to needy dependent children in Kentucky and the parents or relatives with whom the children live

  8. KINSHIP CARE The Kinship Care program provides cash benefits for the care of a child who has been removed by Protection & Permanency (P&P) due to abuse, neglect, or the death of both parents There is currently a moratorium on Kinship Care benefits. No new Kinship Care applications were accepted after 3/31/2013

  9. Kentucky Works Program (KWP) Payments are provided to working eligible individuals for transportation and travel-related expenses such as gas, parking, tolls, and bus fares, which are determined necessary for an individual to participate or prepare to participate in Kentucky Works Program activities, including employment

  10. Work Incentive (WIN) reimbursements Employed adults of a KTAP case that was discontinued with earnings may be eligible for WIN reimbursement payments of $130 per month for up to 9 consecutive months Receipt of WIN reimbursements is limited to one eligibility time frame & cannot be waived or postponed

  11. HOW EBT CARDS ARE USED Authorized representatives may use the card Family members in the household may use the card A 4-digit PIN is required to prevent misuse of cards

  12. ALLOWABLE PURCHASES WITHSNAP BENEFITS SNAP benefits may be used to purchase any food items for home meal preparation, plus seeds for growing food

  13. UNALLOWABLE PURCHASES WITHSNAP BENEFITS SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase alcohol, tobacco, live animals, vitamin supplements, hot or prepared food for immediate consumption, cleaning items, hygiene items, pet foods, or any other non-food item

  14. ALLOWABLE PURCHASES WITHCASH ASSISTANCE BENEFITS • Cash assistance can be used for a variety of items, including: • Rent/Mortgage • Utility bills • Diapers • Soap

  15. UNALLOWABLE PURCHASES WITHCASH ASSISTANCE BENEFITS Cash assistance cannot be used to purchase alcohol and tobacco products Cash assistance cannot be used in an EBT transaction in a liquor store, gambling casino, gambling establishment, or any retail establishment that provides adult-oriented entertainment

  16. SNAP May 2019 • SNAP households 238,677 • SNAP individual 529,081 • SNAP average household benefit $251* *SNAP benefits are 100% federal funds

  17. KTAP May 2019 KTAP households 14,563 KTAP children 27,383 KTAP average household benefit $217

  18. WHO COMMITS FRAUD?

  19. EBT REPORTS OFIDENTIFY FRAUD For May 2019, 192 cases were identified for potential fraudulent activity, due to the request of four replacement EBT cards in a twelve month period An “Out-of-State Activity” report is also generated & reviewed to monitor for fraudulent activity

  20. EFFORTS TO COMBAT FRAUD Office of Inspector General hotline referrals Whistleblower tips Out of state EBT transaction report Retail store trafficking Monitoring of excessive card swipes

  21. SNAP REGULATION GUIDANCE State agencies must follow Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) guidelines: photo EBT card requirements cannot affect the household’s eligibility or certification process SNAP federal regulations give states the option to require that EBT cards contain a photo of one or more household members. Implementation must involve legal, operational, and civil rights considerations to ensure benefit access for eligible participants SNAP Federal Register, 89831-89832; 7 CFR Parts 271, 271, 273, 274, 278; 7 USC Chapter 51, Section 2013

  22. TRAFFICKING For the reporting period 7/2018-9/2018, a total of 184 individuals were disqualified from SNAP. For these 184 individuals, the amount subject to claim was $209,603 For the report period 10/2018-12/2018, a total of 230 individuals were disqualified from SNAP. For these 230 individuals, the amount subject to claim was $240,607

  23. CLAIMS COLLECTION TOTALS • From 1/1/19-5/31/19, Family Support claims collection totaled $5,530,762.01 • Monthly totals: • January 2019: $369,872.93 • February 2019: $2,437,046.02 • March 2019: $1,427,404.14 • April 2019: $794,648.44 • May 2019: $501,790.48

  24. USE OF PHOTO ID EBT CARDS IN OTHER STATES • Massachusetts has used photo ID on their benefit cards since 2013. However, Massachusetts state law exempts over 75% of SNAP & cash assistance recipients from the photo EBT rule. For example, a SNAP head of household does not need a photo EBT card if: • Age 60 or older • Disabled or blind • Under age 19 • Homeless • A victim of domestic violence • A person with a sincerely held religious belief • An authorized representative transacting SNAP on behalf of a household

  25. USE OF PHOTO ID EBT CARDS IN OTHER STATES • On April 26, 2019, the Maine Department of Health & Human Services announced the discontinuance of the use of photos on EBT cards for the SNAP program • The extra cost was a burden to the state of Maine • Reports of some SNAP recipients, including children & senior citizens, were wrongly denied grocery purchases because they were not pictured on EBT cards

  26. USE OF PHOTO ID EBT CARDS IN OTHER STATES • Kentucky DCBS received feedback from twenty-three states and the District of Columbia that stated they do not use photo ID on their benefit cards: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C., Washington state, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

  27. Questions?

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