LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Karen Clay of Lexington and her three children are among the 600,000 Kentuckians facing uncertainty over their SNAP benefits as the federal government shutdown continues.
Clay receives more than $900 per month on her EBT card. Two weeks ago, she spent about $470 on groceries to feed her three children — Kamesha, Michael, and Antwyn — enough food to last just two weeks.
“It’ll be gone today… maybe… cause my kids don’t eat too much chili… they get hungry they’ll eat it,” Clay said, referring to the leftover chili planned for dinner.
She said she’s had to cut back on grocery spending. “And it’s not everything that I normally put in… I had to limit what I spent,” she added.
Family adjusts eating habits
Clay’s 16-year-old son, Michael, said they’ve changed the way they eat to make food last longer.
“Don’t take big portions, you know — leave enough for everybody else to eat,” he said.
Karen Clay worries about how long her benefits will last. “Yes, where am I going to get the next meal?” she said, adding that the uncertainty has caused sleepless nights and early mornings.
Waiting for government action
Clay said she constantly follows the news, hoping to hear updates about the release of SNAP funds.
“Go on and press that button and say it’s on — everybody’s going to be getting their food stamps,” she said.
Some of her cupboards now sit empty. “This one I normally have stuff in there… empty,” she said.
Michael, who is homeschooled, said the experience has shown him how government decisions directly affect families like theirs.
“I think they got too much power in their hands for it to be for everybody… I feel like they are entitled to too much power,” he said.
The family still has some hamburger meat in the freezer and a small balance left on their card. Clay, who is also enrolled in an Affordable Care Act plan, said she’s uncertain how her health insurance will change financially in 2026.
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