Family support staff changes times for face-to-face benefit interviews
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) is implementing new office procedures for walk-in customer benefit interviews at its family support offices. The new office procedures have been tested in 28 counties with great success. The change starts Monday, April 21, 2014 at all county DCBS offices.
Face-to-face interviews with staff will be available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Customers who arrive at an office by 2 p.m. will be seen that day. Customers who arrive after 2 p.m. and request a benefit interview will be given instructions for completing their applications through alternative methods on the same day.
Customers can obtain information, report a change, and leave paperwork -- such as verifications or information updates -- at DCBS offices at any time during regular office hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
DCBS is part of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Staff of DCBS’ family support offices meet with customers and accept applications for benefits such as food benefits, Medicaid and health insurance benefits through kynect, the state’s health insurance marketplace.
DCBS Commissioner Teresa James said the goal of this change is to improve customer service.
“The well-being of our customers is our first priority,” she said. “ This new approach is intended to improve the timeliness and accuracy of public assistance benefits, while ensuring that needy Kentuckians have improved access to services.”
The change will allow DCBS to process pending food benefit, Medicaid, and qualified health plan applications more quickly.
“We all know there has been an overwhelming response to the new affordable health options made available through kynect,” said Carrie Banahan, executive director of the Office of the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange. “DCBS is making this change to ensure that applications are processed as quickly as possible for Kentuckians seeking coverage.”
Customers applying for health care benefits through kynect can log on to http://kynect.ky.gov or call (855) 4kynect – (855) 459-6328 – or (855) 326-4654 (TTY).
Customers seeking food benefits can initiate the application on-line at https://snapfoodbenefits.chfs.ky.gov or call (855) 306-8959. A family support worker will contact the customer to complete the interview and eligibility determination.
For help with other DCBS applications or annual benefit renewals, customers may call (855) 306-8959
To learn more about services administered by DCBS family support staff, log on to http://chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dfs/.
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services is home to most of the state’s human services and health care programs, including Medicaid, the Department for Community Based Services and the Department for Public Health. CHFS is one of the largest agencies in state government, with nearly 8,000 full and part-time employees throughout the Commonwealth focused on improving the lives and health of Kentuckians.
