Kansas DCF reviewing SNAP benefits memo
KANSAS (KSNT) - The Kansas Department for Children and Families is reviewing a memo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after the U.S. Supreme Court told states to 'undo' Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
The DCF announced that it was issuing full November benefits to Kansas SNAP recipients last week on Friday, Nov. 7. The following day, the USDA issued a memo telling states the full SNAP payments for November were unauthorized. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson previously temporarily halted an order that required the Trump Administration to fund SNAP for November.
Governor Laura Kelly said her administration is working to provide emergency aid to Kansas families who depend on food assistance, at a recent budget tour stop in Leawood on Nov. 6.
“We will, sometime very soon I hope, be able to at least get them partial SNAP payments hopefully by the weekend, and we will be letting people know about that,” Kelly said.
State Budget Director Adam Proffitt emphasized during the stop that while the state is doing what it can to soften the blow, Kansas cannot legally replace federal funds.
“Constitutionally, we cannot backfill federal deficiencies with state dollars,” Proffitt said.
On Sunday, Nov. 9 a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit ruled a judge did not abuse his discretion in finding the government’s plan for partial food stamps payments would cause unacceptable delays. The appeals court’s decision begins a 48-hour clock for Jackson’s hold to expire.
"Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025," the USDA wrote in its memo.
DCF spokeswoman Erin La Row told 27 News on Monday, Nov. 10, that her agency is reviewing a memo from the USDA. The memo was issued on Saturday, Nov. 8, concerning November SNAP funds.
States were told to take action to correct the benefits issuance and report their corrective action to the Food and Nutrition Service Regional Office. The USDA said it would hold any states liable for over issuances from the noncompliance.
The USDA told states they must follow guidance provided on Nov. 5, which allows states to issue partial benefits with a 35% reduction in the maximum allotment.
While the USDA oversees SNAP, states are tasked with administering it. It was unclear if the directive applies to states that used their own funds. Kansas' DCF said that its total distribution included 85,981 Kansas households with a total distribution of $31,618,039.
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