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Benefits in Kentucky
2026 income limits and how to apply for SNAP, WIC, Medicaid and other help in Kentucky. A family of four can earn up to $3,575 a month before taxes and still meet the SNAP gross income test.
- People below poverty
- 708,321
- 16.1% of residents (ACS 2020-2024)
- Median household income
- $63,726
- ACS 2020-2024
- Medicaid expansion
- Yes
- Adults up to 138% qualify
- Poverty guideline, 4 people
- $33,000
- 2026, 48 states and D.C.
Food assistance income limits in Kentucky
SNAP limits apply 10/01/2026 to 09/30/2027. WIC limits apply 07/01/2026 to 06/30/2027.
| Household size | Poverty guideline (2026, yearly) | SNAP gross (monthly) | SNAP net (monthly) | WIC (yearly) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 | $1,729 | $1,330 | $29,526 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $2,345 | $1,804 | $40,034 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $2,960 | $2,277 | $50,542 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $3,575 | $2,750 | $61,050 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $4,191 | $3,224 | $71,558 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $4,806 | $3,697 | $82,066 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $5,421 | $4,170 | $92,574 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $6,037 | $4,644 | $103,082 |
For each additional person, add $5,680 to the yearly poverty guideline. Figures are rounded up to the next dollar, as agencies do. Source: HHS 2026 poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.
Health, energy and phone income limits in Kentucky
Medicaid adult limit is 138%. LIHEAP shows the federal maximum; Kentucky may use a different limit.
| Household size | Medicaid adults (yearly) | Lifeline (yearly) | LIHEAP max (yearly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $22,025 | $21,546 | $23,940 |
| 2 people | $29,864 | $29,214 | $32,460 |
| 3 people | $37,702 | $36,882 | $40,980 |
| 4 people | $45,540 | $44,550 | $49,500 |
| 5 people | $53,379 | $52,218 | $58,020 |
| 6 people | $61,217 | $59,886 | $66,540 |
| 7 people | $69,056 | $67,554 | $75,060 |
| 8 people | $76,894 | $75,222 | $83,580 |
For each additional person, add $5,680 to the yearly poverty guideline. Figures are rounded up to the next dollar, as agencies do. Source: HHS 2026 poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.
Where to apply in Kentucky
Official finders that list the agency for your state
- State agencies
- Kentucky on USA.gov
- Medicaid
- Apply through HealthCare.gov
- SSDI
- Apply at SSA.gov
- LIHEAP
- Find your LIHEAP office
- Unemployment
- Find your state unemployment office
- Pell Grant
- Start the FAFSA
- Section 8
- Find your public housing agency
Food
- SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramSNAP, once called food stamps, gives monthly benefits on an EBT card to buy groceries at authorized stores.
- WIC: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and ChildrenWIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals for pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children under 5.
Health care
- MedicaidMedicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to people with low incomes, including children, pregnant women, parents, seniors and people with disabilities.
- CHIP: Children's Health Insurance ProgramCHIP gives low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. Some states also cover pregnant women.
Income
- SSI: Supplemental Security IncomeSSI pays monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are 65 or older, blind or disabled, including children with disabilities.
- SSDI: Social Security Disability InsuranceSSDI pays monthly benefits to people who cannot work because of a disability expected to last at least a year or result in death, and who have worked long enough in jobs covered by Social Security.
Utilities and phone
Housing
School and work
- Unemployment: Unemployment InsuranceUnemployment insurance replaces part of your wages for a limited time if you lose your job through no fault of your own.
- Pell Grant: Federal Pell GrantsPell Grants help undergraduate students with financial need pay for college. Unlike loans, they usually do not need to be repaid.
Households getting benefits by county in Kentucky
Share of households that received each benefit in the last 12 months (ACS 2020-2024). Select a county for details.
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| County | Households getting SNAP | SSI | Social Security | Cash assistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | 16.9% | 9.1% | 42.8% | 2.8% |
| Allen County | 14.1% | 5.1% | 41.2% | 1.0% |
| Anderson County | 7.5% | 5.8% | 36.3% | 1.8% |
| Ballard County | 11.9% | 6.0% | 40.3% | 1.3% |
| Barren County | 16.3% | 9.0% | 37.8% | 1.4% |
| Bath County | 19.6% | 8.5% | 35.5% | 2.7% |
| Bell County | 24.5% | 12.4% | 44.7% | 4.7% |
| Boone County | 6.5% | 3.8% | 30.1% | 1.9% |
| Bourbon County | 14.9% | 7.7% | 36.7% | 1.7% |
| Boyd County | 17.3% | 9.2% | 41.0% | 2.6% |
| Boyle County | 11.9% | 7.0% | 37.3% | 1.1% |
| Bracken County | 17.4% | 6.4% | 43.2% | 3.0% |
| Breathitt County | 34.5% | 20.9% | 44.7% | 3.2% |
| Breckinridge County | 16.3% | 14.1% | 40.4% | 1.3% |
| Bullitt County | 7.3% | 5.6% | 35.7% | 1.6% |
| Butler County | 17.6% | 6.0% | 42.9% | 1.4% |
| Caldwell County | 14.0% | 6.5% | 37.8% | 0.3% |
| Calloway County | 9.4% | 4.6% | 33.6% | 1.6% |
| Campbell County | 6.2% | 4.5% | 29.9% | 1.6% |
| Carlisle County | 12.4% | 7.6% | 43.9% | 0.4% |
| Carroll County | 16.9% | 8.2% | 33.3% | 1.1% |
| Carter County | 19.6% | 8.3% | 43.3% | 2.1% |
| Casey County | 14.8% | 9.4% | 41.0% | 1.6% |
| Christian County | 12.7% | 6.6% | 27.1% | 2.5% |
| Clark County | 13.5% | 6.7% | 37.6% | 1.1% |
| Clay County | 34.7% | 16.4% | 41.3% | 3.0% |
| Clinton County | 25.0% | 12.7% | 41.1% | 1.5% |
| Crittenden County | 10.6% | 4.7% | 44.8% | 1.6% |
| Cumberland County | 27.6% | 12.5% | 38.8% | 4.2% |
| Daviess County | 11.4% | 5.7% | 34.1% | 1.8% |
| Edmonson County | 13.1% | 8.7% | 44.6% | 0.4% |
| Elliott County | 26.1% | 13.4% | 43.5% | 1.2% |
| Estill County | 25.8% | 14.4% | 42.0% | 2.7% |
| Fayette County | 8.5% | 3.6% | 24.7% | 1.7% |
| Fleming County | 20.3% | 9.3% | 37.4% | 2.4% |
| Floyd County | 24.1% | 14.1% | 47.9% | 2.5% |
| Franklin County | 13.2% | 6.1% | 35.5% | 1.4% |
| Fulton County | 22.9% | 15.2% | 41.8% | 2.4% |
| Gallatin County | 12.4% | 3.8% | 33.8% | 1.1% |
| Garrard County | 12.4% | 8.2% | 36.1% | 1.0% |
| Grant County | 12.2% | 7.7% | 31.7% | 1.8% |
| Graves County | 14.8% | 6.8% | 36.0% | 2.4% |
| Grayson County | 12.8% | 10.0% | 38.6% | 2.1% |
| Green County | 19.7% | 11.0% | 44.9% | 3.1% |
| Greenup County | 13.9% | 8.4% | 43.4% | 2.1% |
| Hancock County | 14.8% | 5.9% | 34.9% | 2.3% |
| Hardin County | 9.8% | 5.8% | 33.3% | 1.2% |
| Harlan County | 26.5% | 13.9% | 45.4% | 4.1% |
| Harrison County | 15.9% | 7.8% | 43.8% | 1.4% |
| Hart County | 18.7% | 9.7% | 39.7% | 2.4% |
| Henderson County | 15.4% | 8.4% | 36.6% | 0.9% |
| Henry County | 11.7% | 6.1% | 36.0% | 0.7% |
| Hickman County | 19.1% | 5.9% | 45.5% | 2.4% |
| Hopkins County | 13.8% | 7.9% | 37.2% | 2.2% |
| Jackson County | 30.6% | 13.3% | 44.5% | 1.1% |
| Jefferson County | 11.0% | 5.4% | 31.4% | 2.1% |
| Jessamine County | 9.3% | 5.6% | 35.3% | 1.7% |
| Johnson County | 25.3% | 12.0% | 42.2% | 1.8% |
| Kenton County | 7.2% | 4.7% | 29.7% | 1.6% |
| Knott County | 23.3% | 16.2% | 49.0% | 1.7% |
| Knox County | 31.9% | 18.7% | 40.6% | 2.3% |
| Larue County | 13.2% | 6.2% | 37.1% | 1.5% |
| Laurel County | 17.7% | 8.4% | 36.6% | 2.2% |
| Lawrence County | 25.6% | 12.6% | 47.0% | 2.1% |
| Lee County | 28.7% | 13.2% | 43.9% | 1.1% |
| Leslie County | 29.1% | 10.1% | 49.3% | 1.9% |
| Letcher County | 27.5% | 14.0% | 46.2% | 1.5% |
| Lewis County | 22.8% | 8.9% | 42.1% | 1.5% |
| Lincoln County | 18.3% | 11.4% | 39.7% | 1.6% |
| Livingston County | 12.5% | 5.5% | 44.5% | 1.2% |
| Logan County | 13.7% | 7.0% | 41.3% | 0.8% |
| Lyon County | 11.8% | 5.5% | 47.4% | 1.3% |
| Madison County | 13.4% | 5.7% | 31.3% | 1.6% |
| Magoffin County | 37.2% | 17.0% | 45.7% | 2.2% |
| Marion County | 15.3% | 6.7% | 36.0% | 2.4% |
| Marshall County | 9.3% | 5.2% | 38.5% | 1.2% |
| Martin County | 29.2% | 17.5% | 44.9% | 4.6% |
| Mason County | 20.6% | 7.0% | 38.8% | 3.9% |
| McCracken County | 10.0% | 5.9% | 37.1% | 1.6% |
| McCreary County | 33.3% | 17.3% | 39.4% | 1.8% |
| McLean County | 10.3% | 6.7% | 40.9% | 1.0% |
| Meade County | 11.5% | 5.0% | 35.9% | 1.4% |
| Menifee County | 23.3% | 14.8% | 42.8% | 3.4% |
| Mercer County | 10.9% | 6.3% | 33.2% | 0.9% |
| Metcalfe County | 19.5% | 11.7% | 41.9% | 2.4% |
| Monroe County | 15.5% | 7.7% | 38.1% | 3.0% |
| Montgomery County | 16.5% | 9.4% | 32.1% | 1.6% |
| Morgan County | 18.6% | 8.8% | 44.2% | 1.0% |
| Muhlenberg County | 16.1% | 9.0% | 40.9% | 2.1% |
| Nelson County | 9.7% | 5.8% | 35.1% | 1.8% |
| Nicholas County | 15.5% | 6.9% | 39.2% | 2.3% |
| Ohio County | 13.4% | 7.4% | 40.7% | 2.5% |
| Oldham County | 3.4% | 2.9% | 29.3% | 1.8% |
| Owen County | 11.7% | 8.7% | 37.4% | 1.2% |
| Owsley County | 37.8% | 26.0% | 53.5% | 1.1% |
| Pendleton County | 15.4% | 6.0% | 39.5% | 1.1% |
| Perry County | 28.6% | 14.0% | 40.1% | 1.2% |
| Pike County | 20.4% | 11.7% | 45.2% | 1.5% |
| Powell County | 23.0% | 11.5% | 40.6% | 1.8% |
| Pulaski County | 15.2% | 10.3% | 42.2% | 2.2% |
| Robertson County | 18.3% | 4.9% | 38.5% | 2.3% |
| Rockcastle County | 21.9% | 13.0% | 40.4% | 2.9% |
| Rowan County | 16.8% | 8.4% | 34.0% | 2.7% |
| Russell County | 17.7% | 10.4% | 39.2% | 1.1% |
| Scott County | 8.6% | 4.0% | 26.2% | 1.4% |
| Shelby County | 8.5% | 5.0% | 33.1% | 1.2% |
| Simpson County | 11.9% | 5.0% | 30.7% | 1.7% |
| Spencer County | 6.6% | 5.4% | 32.9% | 2.5% |
| Taylor County | 15.1% | 4.9% | 36.9% | 2.0% |
| Todd County | 13.2% | 5.0% | 33.4% | 2.1% |
| Trigg County | 10.9% | 4.0% | 39.1% | 2.3% |
| Trimble County | 10.8% | 9.9% | 44.6% | 1.3% |
| Union County | 10.1% | 6.1% | 37.0% | 0.7% |
| Warren County | 12.8% | 4.4% | 27.8% | 2.0% |
| Washington County | 16.2% | 9.2% | 39.8% | 2.3% |
| Wayne County | 20.3% | 13.3% | 44.8% | 2.6% |
| Webster County | 10.9% | 8.5% | 37.2% | 2.4% |
| Whitley County | 19.7% | 11.6% | 37.9% | 2.8% |
| Wolfe County | 36.5% | 29.1% | 41.6% | 5.9% |
| Woodford County | 8.5% | 3.0% | 34.9% | 2.3% |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the SNAP income limit in Kentucky?
- For 10/01/2026 to 09/30/2027, a household of one in Kentucky can have gross monthly income up to $1,729, and a household of four up to $3,575. Net income after deductions must be at or below $1,330 and $2,750. Households with an elderly or disabled member only need to meet the net limit.
- Did Kentucky expand Medicaid?
- Yes. Kentucky covers adults ages 19 to 64 with incomes up to 138% of the poverty guidelines, or $22,025 a year for one person in 2026.
- What is the WIC income limit in Kentucky?
- A household of four in Kentucky can earn up to $61,050 a year (185% of the 2026 poverty guidelines) to qualify for WIC. A pregnant woman counts as two or more people.
- How many people in Kentucky live below the poverty line?
- About 708,321 people in Kentucky, or 16.1% of residents, had incomes below the poverty level in the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates.