New data shows 21,400 Kentuckians have had Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits taken away because of new work requirements.
According to Kentucky Center For Economic Policy the state started requiring adults without dependents or a disability to report work hours or lose food assistance. Kentucky rolled out the work requirement in January.
By May 2018, all but eight counties had the requirement in effect. It is the first time since the requirement became an option for states in 1996 that it applies to almost all of Kentucky.
Policy Analyst Dustin Pugel says the number of Kentuckians who have lost food assistance roughly equals the population of Ashland.
According to the research only 138 people have had their benefits reinstated.