FRANKFORT, KY (September 22, 2026) – The Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts is launching a new Public Benefit Error Rate Tracker. This online, public-facing tool will display monthly error rates and estimated wasted taxpayer dollars measured by the Ombudsman within the Beshear administration's processing of major public benefit programs. The displayed error rates measure how often a state agency processes a public benefit case incorrectly. “All data displayed was compiled using federally mandated calculations also implemented and approved by the Beshear administration for internal error rate tracking at CHFS," Auditor Ball said.
In the past year, Auditor Ball has found major issues in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services' (CHFS) administration of several public benefit programs, including SNAP, Medicaid, and the Medicare Savings Program. CHFS's error rates in its distribution of public benefits are far too high, harming the Kentuckians who need those benefits and the Kentucky taxpayers who pay for those benefits. Despite regular attempts by the Office of the Ombudsman to alert CHFS to their problematic error rate, CHFS remains at serious risk of exceeding the federal limit for SNAP payment errors in federal fiscal year 2026. If that happens, Kentucky will be forced to draw an estimated $60 million from its own general fund to cover the lost federal funding. Today, Auditor Ball sent a letter once again urging the Beshear administration to take this waste and potential penalty seriously.
The total estimated waste resulting from CHFS's errors is $471 million to $692 million. These errors are outlined in the Public Benefit Error Rate Tracker, including:
- In 87.3% of all SNAP cases processed by CHFS, it committed an error. Errors in the issuance of SNAP benefits likely cost taxpayers $95 million to $113 million a year and risk at least $60 million from Kentucky's general fund a year.
- In 43.24% of all Long-Term Care Medicaid cases processed by CHFS, it committed an error. Errors in the issuance of Long-Term Care Medicaid benefits likely cost taxpayers $148 million to $173 million a year.
- In 4.29% of all typical Medicaid cases processed by CHFS, it committed an error. Errors in the issuance of typical Medicaid benefits likely cost taxpayers $200 million to $370 million a year.
- In 30.10% of Medicare Savings Program cases processed by CHFS, it committed an error. Errors in the issuance of Medicare Savings Program benefits likely cost taxpayers $19 million to $23 million a year.
- In 11.85% of Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP) cases and 3.21% of Kentucky Works Program (KWP) cases processed by CHFS, it committed an error. Errors in the issuance of KTAP and KWP benefits likely cost taxpayers $7 million to $10 million a year.
- In 1.11% of Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) cases processed by CHFS, it committed an error. Errors in the issuance of CCAP benefits likely cost taxpayers $2 million to $3 million a year.
“High error rates harm both the Kentuckians who rely on these programs and the taxpayers who fund them," said Auditor Ball. “With the publication of our Public Benefit Error Rate Tracker, Kentuckians will have a clear, transparent, and regularly updated view of CHFS's processing of vital public benefits programs. Accountability isn't a burden; it's a promise we should keep to the people of our Commonwealth."
View Auditor Ball's letter here.
View Public Benefit Error Rate Tracker here.
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