DCBS determines eligibility for Medicaid program under a contract with the Department for Medicaid Services. The Medicaid program is authorized under Title XIX of the U.S. Social Security Act and KRS 205.520. Subsequent amendments to this act required federal/state funding to address medical care for persons receiving benefits for subsistence needs, those designated as categorically needy, and the medically indigent only. Currently, the categorically needy designation includes individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) administered by the Social Security Administration; participants in the State Supplementation program for aged, blind, and disabled recipients; and low-income families meeting requirements for Modified Adjusted Gross Income Medicaid Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) State Plan in effect as of July 16, 1996.
The Department provides eligibility determination services for health insurance premium assistance program via the state-based American Health Benefit Exchange (Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange) established in accordance with P.L. 111-148, as amended, and 42 U.S.C. 18031.
The State Supplementation Program, authorized by KRS 205.245 and 921 KAR 2:015, provides financial support to aged, blind, or disabled individuals who have insufficient income to meet their needs in a licensed personal care home or family care home; acquire caretaker services designed to prevent institutionalization, or reside in a community-integrated private residence as an individual with serious mental illness. To be eligible, persons must meet the criteria of the Supplemental Security Income program related to age, blindness or disability as well as additional requirements associated with citizenship, Kentucky residency, enumeration, and special needs. There is also a $2,000 per individual ($3,000 per couple) limit on resources. State supplementation payment amounts are determined by subcontracting countable income from the standard of need living arrangement costs.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, helps low-income persons purchase food for a nutritional diet. SNAP, authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act 2008 (PL 110-246) and 921 KAR 3:010 through 3:100 (SNAP), is designed to promote the general welfare and safeguard the health and well-being of the nation's population by raising nutritional levels among low-income households. SNAP benefits are a work support and serve as a stimulant to the economy. A household is defined as any individual, family, or group of people living with each other who buy and prepare food together. To qualify, each household must meet eligibility standards.
The SNAP Employment and Training Program (E&T) is designed to assist SNAP recipients obtaining employment that leads to self-sufficiency. Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWDs) must participate and comply with work requirements in order to maintain their SNAP eligibility. Participants needing assistance to comply can volunteer to be placed in an E&T component. Only ABAWDs residing in areas of the state that are waived from work requirements due to high unemployment rates can continue receiving SNAP benefits without meeting the work requirements. These designated areas are adjusted every year. ABAWDs living in counties not exempt will be required to meet work requirements and can choose to participate in the SNAP E&T program to meet the requirements. Additionally, other SNAP recipients can choose to participate in SNAP E&T in counties where services are available.
The budget includes additional General Fund in the amount of $43,500,000 in fiscal year 2027 and $58,000,000 in fiscal year 2028 to support the higher share of administrative costs of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that resulted from the U.S. Congress' passage of H.R. 1, shifting from 50 percent state share to 75 percent state share.
The base budget in each fiscal year includes General Fund for the following programs:
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