Kentucky State Kicked Single Mother Off Food Stamps for Buying Food at Her Own Store

Single Mother Wins Lawsuit Against Kentucky for Kicking Her Off Food Stamps In a landmark decision, a single mother from Salyersville, Kentucky, has won her lawsuit against the state after being kicked off the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to allegedly suspicious shopping patterns. The woman, who worked at a local store where she would occasionally buy food and groceries for herself and her child, claimed that the state's decision was draconian and based on incomplete evidence. According to court documents, the mother had been receiving SNAP benefits since 2018 but was terminated in 2020 after Kentucky investigators concluded that she had committed fraud. The state alleged that she had made multiple same-day purchases, tried to overdraw her account a few times, entered invalid PINs, and made whole-dollar purchases that were unlikely during typical grocery runs. However, the mother explained that she would often buy lunch at the store where she worked and then purchase groceries after her shift. Her child would also occasionally use her card to make purchases. Despite this explanation, an administrative hearing officer kicked her off the SNAP program based solely on the allegedly suspicious shopping pattern. "I was shocked when I received the letter saying I had been terminated from the program," said the mother in a statement. "I knew that I had done nothing wrong and that my shopping patterns were perfectly normal given my circumstances." The lawsuit, filed by the mother's attorney, argued that the state's decision to terminate her benefits without clear and convincing evidence was unconstitutional. The court ultimately ruled in favor of the mother, finding that the state had not provided sufficient proof of fraud. "This is a victory for all SNAP recipients who have been unfairly targeted by the state," said the mother's attorney. "We will continue to fight for the rights of low-income families who rely on these programs to make ends meet." The decision has significant implications for the thousands of Kentuckians who rely on SNAP benefits each month. According to data from the USDA, 1 in 8 Kentuckians benefited from SNAP in the last fiscal year. "This case highlights the need for more transparency and accountability in the way that states administer SNAP programs," said a spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Community Based Services. "We will review our procedures to ensure that we are providing fair and accurate determinations." The mother's lawsuit has sparked renewed debate about the use of technology to monitor SNAP recipients' shopping patterns. While some argue that such measures are necessary to prevent fraud, others contend that they can be overly broad and unfairly target low-income families. As the case continues to unfold, advocates for low-income families are calling for greater protections against unfair terminations from SNAP programs. "This decision is a step in the right direction, but we still have much work to do to ensure that all Kentuckians have access to the food assistance they need," said a spokesperson for the Kentucky Coalition Against Hunger. "We will continue to push for policy changes that prioritize fairness and equity in our state's SNAP programs." *Reporting by Fortune.*