KY families were accidentally sent EBT cards loaded with cash. Here’s how it happened.
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- State error led to 1,462 families receiving EBT benefits without eligibility.
- Around $76,267 in benefits were spent on about 700 cards.
- Officials blame data misreporting by KDE; families received $120 per child.
An error by the Kentucky Department of Education led to 1,462 families in four school districts, including Scott County, getting food assistance cards, even though they did not qualify for the program under federal law, officials told the Herald-Leader.
At least some of those families were reportedly told they would be turned over to debt collectors if they didn’t pay the grocery money back.
Kentucky Public Radio reported that dozens of Scott County families, if not more, have gotten “letters threatening referral to debt collection if they don’t pay back the state within 30 days.”
The families, who received EBT cards worth $120 per child earlier this summer, were later told by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services that the full amount on the card must be paid back to the state, whether or not they actually used the card, Kentucky Public Radio said.
If they do not, a letter obtained by the news outlet says that “we will send your claim to other agencies or the federal government for collection. If this happens, you may be charged collection fees.”
Kendra Steele, a spokesperson for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, did not immediately confirm that families received such letters.
But, Steele said, “We’re told only approximately 700 cards issued incorrectly have been used, totaling $76,267.42 of benefits spent.”
Here’s what happened, Kentucky Department of Education spokesperson Jennifer Ginn told the Herald-Leader: “The Kentucky Department of Education created a report districts could run to help them identify students who were eligible for summer EBT cards. The districts could then send that list to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). There was an error in the report that caused more students to be identified than actually were eligible in four districts. KDE is assisting CHFS in identifying impacted families, who will be contacted by CHFS.”
Steele told the Herald-Leader: “Students were enrolled in the 2025 Summer EBT program based on inaccurate information provided by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). The Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) does not have independent access to this data, and therefore relies on KDE to produce the list. The information incorrectly included 1,462 families who did not qualify for the program under federal law.”
The federal Summer EBT program is intended to help families whose children get free meals at school with those meals during the summer.
Steele said the cabinet is “committed to working with families affected as we continue to coordinate with federal partners to resolve this issue.
“Should any further action be needed, CHFS will reach out to families directly. Families involved should avoid using the $120 if they haven’t already and they should reference the most recent letter dated Aug. 22, 2025.”
Kentucky Public Radio reported that nearly 40 people in a Facebook group for parents in Georgetown said their children’s schools had asked them to fill out forms reporting their income, which they did. Afterward, the EBT cards showed up unsolicited in their mailboxes this summer.
Some of them said they had checked to make sure they were eligible and were told they were, and some people with multiple children received $120 for each child, Kentucky Public Radio reported.
The families said they got the letters telling them they had to repay the money last week.
Herald-Leader staff writer Karla Ward contributed to this report.