Beshear announces $9.1 Million reallocation to support senior meals program amid federal shutdown

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

FRANKFORT, Ky., (KBSI) — Gov. Andy Beshear announced Monday that his administration has reallocated $9.1 million to the Aging and Independent Living appropriation to support the Senior Meals program after Area Development Districts (ADDs) exhausted their previously budgeted funds.

The Governor also provided updates on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and outlined plans for the state to temporarily fund the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program through November as the ongoing federal shutdown reaches its 20th day.

“No Kentuckian should ever face hunger, which is why my administration has directed more dollars toward funding senior meals than any other administration in the commonwealth’s history,” Beshear said. “While I’m glad we’ve found a temporary solution, our state faces real challenges with a potential $305 million budget shortfall, the loss of one-time federal ARPA funds, and additional expenses tied to the federal shutdown.”

Senior Meals Program

Under House Bill 6, the Governor has authority to transfer funds and will draw $9.1 million from the $25 million General Fund appropriation originally designated for Medicaid reimbursement rebasing efforts in fiscal year 2026. Because the General Assembly did not approve that proposal, the funding became available for reallocation.

The Governor requested retroactive approval from legislative leaders, who agreed to the transfer. Beshear also asked the Finance Cabinet to review the Senior Meals program to assess long-term funding needs and ensure consistency across ADDs.

“To ensure we remain fiscally responsible while adequately funding the Senior Meals program, we must understand the cost per meal, eligibility, and procedures across all ADDs,” Beshear said.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Beshear announced that Kentucky will temporarily fund TANF through November to prevent disruptions for families relying on federal assistance. The program, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides short-term financial support to struggling families.

“The federal shutdown is having real impacts across our country and our commonwealth,” Beshear said. “As a state, we’re doing what we can to help cover the support our Kentucky families rely on. While we can cover this for November, we cannot make that assurance for December.”

Recipients will continue receiving assistance without interruption and should monitor updates through the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) website, the Self-Service Portal (SSP), and official DCBS communications.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The shutdown is also affecting SNAP benefits for more than 600,000 Kentuckians after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) halted November funding.

“One in eight Kentuckians rely on SNAP, many of them children and our most vulnerable,” Beshear said. “We are committed to processing benefits the moment federal funding resumes.”

Current benefits remain active, and recipients are encouraged to check the DCBS website or their SSP account for updates.