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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says about 80,000 residents have lost access to SNAP benefits following federal program changes, including 24,655 children and 6,572 seniors. State data cited in the report show SNAP served nearly 547,000 people in Kentucky, down from 627,164 in October 2025.
About 80,000 Kentuckians have lost access to food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Gov. Andy Beshear said in a letter sent Wednesday to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Kentucky’s congressional delegation. The figure includes 24,655 children and 6,572 seniors, according to Beshear, who urged federal officials to respond to the loss of benefits.
State data cited in the report show 286,921 Kentucky households currently receive SNAP. Just under 547,000 people in the state are receiving assistance, according to Beshear, compared with 627,164 in October 2025. The reported decline is roughly 80,000 people, although the source does not provide a detailed accounting of each person’s case or explain how the total was calculated.
Kentucky households receiving SNAP get an average of $346 per month, according to state data. That is an average, not an individual benefit amount; the source does not specify how benefits vary by household size or circumstances. Beshear’s letter asks federal officials to act to protect people he described as vulnerable to losing food support.
The report links the changes to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a broad federal budget law passed by Congress in 2025. It says that in November, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, former foster youth and adults ages 54 to 64 were no longer exempt from SNAP work requirements. People in those groups may be subject to requirements to receive benefits for themselves and their families.
How Benefit Losses Affect Kentucky Families
The reported reduction means tens of thousands fewer Kentuckians are receiving SNAP, a program that helps eligible households pay for food. The reported inclusion of children and older adults highlights the possible reach of the change beyond adults who are able to work. The report does not establish that every person who lost benefits is now without food, but the reduction in assistance could leave affected households with less support for groceries.
Beshear also warned that children could lose access to dependable food sources beyond SNAP, including school meals and summer programs. That statement is the governor’s assessment; the source does not provide details about specific changes to those programs or confirm how many children may be affected. The difference matters because SNAP benefits and meal programs are separate forms of support, and the report does not explain whether or how the federal rule changes alter eligibility for school or summer meals.
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Federal Changes to SNAP Eligibility
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides monthly food benefits to eligible households. Kentucky’s state data put the average monthly benefit for participating households at $346. The figures in the report offer a recent comparison: Beshear said just under 547,000 people were receiving assistance, down from 627,164 in October 2025.
The changes described in the report concern work-requirement exemptions. Groups that had been exempt—including veterans, people experiencing homelessness, former foster youth and adults ages 54 to 64—were no longer exempt beginning in November, the report says. The governor attributes the reported loss of benefits to federal changes. The available material does not separately quantify how many people lost assistance because of each rule, or identify other causes that may have contributed to the change in the statewide recipient count.
“Take action to ensure our most vulnerable citizens, including children and the elderly, do not go hungry for reasons beyond their control.”
— Gov. Andy Beshear, in his letter to federal officials
Details Behind the SNAP Decline
The report attributes the loss of access to federal rule changes, but it does not include a federal response or a case-by-case breakdown of the about 80,000 people Beshear cited. It is not clear how many people lost benefits specifically because of the newly applied work requirements, how many may have lost eligibility for other reasons, or whether the figure represents people whose benefits ended during a particular period.
The source also does not say whether those who lost SNAP have appealed, regained eligibility or found other food assistance. The reported total for children and seniors comes from Beshear; the material does not include independent verification of those subgroup figures. The effect on school meals and summer programs is also not detailed, and no information is provided about any federal response to the governor’s letter.
Response to Beshear’s Federal Appeal
Beshear has asked Secretary Brooke Rollins and Kentucky’s congressional delegation to take action, but the source reports no response, decision or announced next step from those officials. Any change in federal policy, guidance or implementation would clarify whether people affected by the rules can regain benefits or qualify under other provisions.
The report may be updated as more information becomes available. Readers should look for further statements from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Kentucky officials on the recipient figures, how the work requirements are being applied, and whether food support for children is affected.
Key Questions
How many Kentuckians have lost access to SNAP?
Gov. Andy Beshear said about 80,000 people have lost access. The report does not provide a detailed case-by-case count.
How many children and seniors are included in the figure?
Beshear said the total includes 24,655 children and 6,572 seniors. The source does not provide independent verification of those subgroup figures.
What federal changes are linked to the losses?
The report links the change to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It says veterans, people experiencing homelessness, former foster youth and adults ages 54 to 64 lost exemptions from SNAP work requirements in November 2025.
How much SNAP assistance does a Kentucky household receive on average?
State data cited in the report put the average at $346 per month per participating household. Individual benefit amounts may differ; the source does not give a breakdown.
Has the federal government responded to Beshear’s request?
The report does not include a response from the Agriculture Department or Kentucky’s congressional delegation. It is not clear whether officials will take action or change how the rules are applied.
Source: rss
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