KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES
Family Services
DCF Administration Building
555 S. Kansas Ave., 6th Floor
Topeka, KS 66603
| To: |
Regional Directors
Economic and Employment Services Program Administrators
Economic and Employment Services Staff
Prevention and Protection Services Administrators
Other Staff |
Re: |
Summary of Changes for Kansas Economic and Employment Services Manual (KEESM) Revision No. 112 effective October 1, 2023 |
OVERVIEW OF CHANGES
A brief overview of the major changes is described below. Other clarifications and technical corrections are also included and described in the next section. Additional technical corrections not mentioned here are being incorporated in KEESM, as needed.
Employment Services- KEESM 3000 has been reviewed and had the language updated to include the following: ‘case manager’ changed to ‘career navigator’; ‘Work Programs’ changed to ‘Employment Services’; ‘SASSI’ changed to ‘substance use screening’; ‘supervisor’ changed to ‘Employment Services Program Administrator’; ‘TABE’ changed to ‘Adult Basic Education Testing’; ‘Component’ changed to ‘Activity’; Gender identification such as ‘he or she’ changed to ‘they’; and grammatical corrections.
Food Assistance –
Annual Poverty Level Adjustments:
This revision incorporates the annual adjustments to the Food Assistance program that are effective October 1 of each year. These changes were processed in KEES August 19-20.
The minimum allotment remains the same at $23. The maximum gross resource limits remain the same at $4250 for households with at least one member who is 60 or older or disabled and $2750 for all other households.
In Kansas, there is an approximate 3.5% increase in the maximum benefit. The increase is based on the re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan. The Thrifty Food Plan is based on current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance.
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023:
On June 3, 2023, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA) was signed into law. The FRA increases the age of those subject to ABAWD time limit rules and adds new exemptions for those subject to the ABAWD time limit rules.
DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE, AND DETAILS OF POLICY CHANGE
I. Employment Services
- A. Changes
- Work Related Requirements (KEESM 2515)-The statement ‘and work registrants 52-59 without children on the food assistance case’ has been added to include the new mandatory E&T participants.
- TANF Participation Rate Requirements (KEESM 3110.1) - Satisfactory attendance in a GED program has been defined as ‘participation for the hours offered by the GED program unless the client has other limiting factors that hinder participation.’
- Satisfactory Attendance at Secondary School or in a GED Program (KEESM 3320.3) - The statement ‘for a minimum of one hour per week’ has been removed and the definition of satisfactory attendance found in KEESM 3110.1 has been added.
- Assessment (KEESM 3330.2) - ‘During the 90-day assessment period the client should also be engaged in other employment focused activities’ has been removed.
- Mental Health Care (KEESM 3330.6) - This activity has been redefined and is now a Referral activity to be used when a client has been referred to another agency to participate in a work program activity but has not been accepted yet. This includes the Physical Health Care activity while the client is in the process of getting the medical statement completed.
- Two-Parent Child Care Activity (KEESM 3330.7) - This activity has been redefined as: 1 parent in a 2 parent or 2 adult household stays home with the children when the other parent or adult is working at least 25 hrs/wk and there is a child under 6. This activity cannot be used by a teen parent, if the parent is in another activity, or if there is an open child care plan.
- Mentoring (KEESM 3330.8) - This activity has been removed as it is no longer being used by TANF or GOALS.
- Physical Health Care (KEESM 3330.10) - This activity has been redefined to be used for clients whose mental health issue or physical health care limit or prevent full participation.
- Refugee Employment Services (KEESM 3330.11) - This activity is now used to track clients identified as an Iraqi or Afghan Special Immigrant, a Refugee, an Asylee, or a Parolee.
- Kansas Health Profession Opportunity Program (KEESM 3330.14) - This activity has been removed as it is no longer being used by TANF or GOALS.
- E&T Activities (KEESM 3340) - This section has been added to list and define the activities used in the E&T program.
- Assessment (KEESM 3340.1) - This activity corresponds to the USDA Activity of Assessment & Case Management. It should be used to track hours for a client participating in the assessment process and for ongoing case management hours.
- Early Head Start (KEESM 3340.2) - This activity corresponds to the USDA Activity of English Language Acquisition. It should be used to track hours for regular attendance in an ESL class.
- Education Directly Related to Employment (KEESM 3340.3) - This activity corresponds to the USDA Activity of On-the-Job Training. It should be used to track hours for clients participating in the Workforce Area One Youth OJT Pilot Project.
- Job Search/Job Readiness (KEESM 3340.4) - This activity corresponds to the USDA Activity of Supervised Job Search. This activity should be used to track hours for clients participating in individual or group Supervised Job Search.
- Job Skills Training (KEESM 3340.5) - This activity corresponds to the USDA Activity of Job Search Training. It should be used to track hours for clients participating in training to help improve job search skills.
- Mentoring (KEESM 3340.6) - This activity corresponds to the USDA Activity of Retention. Retention services are limited to 90 days after employment begins. It can only be used if the client has obtained employment or a promotion after the assessment has been completed and the client has already participated in another E&T activity.
- Refugee Employment Services (KEESM 3340.7) - This activity is not a USDA Activity and is used for tracking purposes only. The client must be participating in another activity.
- Satisfactory Attendance at a Secondary School or in a GED Program (KEESM 3340.8) - This activity corresponds to the USDA Activity of Basic/Foundational Skills Instruction. It should be used to track hours for clients participating in regular attendance at a Secondary School or in a course of study leading to a high school diploma or a certificate of General Equivalence (GED).
- Subsidized Private Employment (KEESM 3340.9) - This activity corresponds to the USDA Activity of Transitional Jobs Subsidized by E&T. It should be used to track hours for clients participating in the New Beginnings Subsidized Employment Program in Hutchinson.
- Supervised Community Service (KEESM 3340.10) - This activity is not a USDA Activity. It is used to track In-Kind or Volunteer Work and can be counted towards the 30-hour participation requirement.
- Unsubsidized Employment (KEESM 3340.11) - This activity is not a USDA Activity. It is used to track Full or Part-time Employment (including self-employment) and can be counted towards the 30-hour participation requirement.
- Vocational Education (KEESM 3340.12) - This activity corresponds to the USDA Activity of Career/Technical Education Programs. It should be used to track hours for clients participating in an organized educational program that is directly related to the client’s preparation for current or emerging jobs.
- Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (KEESM 3340.13) - This activity corresponds to the USDA Activity of Education Program Details Other. It should be used to track hours for clients participating in WorkReady Certificate Preparation and Testing.
- Work Experience (KEESM 3340.14) - This activity corresponds to the USDA Activity of Work Experience: Apprenticeship. It should be used to track hours for clients participating in the Apprenticeship Program through the Workforce Center.
- Effect on TANF Eligibility for Recipients (KEESM 3512.1) - The TANF section has been updated to allow clients 10 days to provide good cause.
- Good Cause for Failure to Cooperate (TANF and Food Assistance E&T) (KEESM 3530) - Item 10 has been updated to include Sexual harassment and stalking as examples of domestic violence
B. Clarifications
- Employment Services Initial Appointment (KEESM 3120) has been renamed for clarification.
- Clarification has been added to show all ‘mandatory TANF’ participants must have an initial appointment with Employment Services.
- Clarification has been added to show Clients disqualified due to a drug felony are to be referred for a substance use screening only if they agree to participate in Employment Services activities.
- Primary Employment Service Activities for TANF & GOALS (KEESM 3310) - This section has been clarified to show these activity definitions are for TANF & GOALS. “Federal’ has been removed to show the work requirements are for Employment Services participation.
- Secondary Work Activities for TANF & GOALS (KEESM 3320) - This section has been clarified to show these activity definitions are for TANF & GOALS. “Federal’ has been removed to clarify the work requirements are to meet Employment Services participation.
- Activities Not Countable for Federal Work Participation for TANF & GOALS (KEESM 3330) - This section has been clarified to show these activity definitions are for TANF & GOALS. The reference to activities involving community partners for TANF samples has been removed.
- Assessment (KEESM 3330.2) - Clarification on when a face-to-face meeting is required has been added.
- Disability Employment Services (KEESM 3330.4) - Clarification has been provided to show ES will work with VR staff to ensure the client is placed in an appropriate ES activity. The list of what will be sent to VR with the referral has been updated.
- Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (KEESM 3330.13) - This activity has been clarified to show the activity will be opened after the client has been accepted into the WIOA program.
- Child Care Services for TANF (KEESM 3410.4) - This has been clarified to show CNs must follow all child care rules when authorizing child care plans.
II. Food Assistance
A. Changes
- Annual Adjustments to the Food Assistance Program Standards – Effective October 1, 2023 the following documents are being updated to incorporate the annual federal adjustments to the Food Assistance program. The standard deduction for households’ size 1-3 has increased to $198. The standard deduction for household size of 4 has increased to $208 and household size of 5 has increased to $244. There was an increase in the gross and net income limits, and an increase in the maximum excess shelter deduction to $672. The Food Assistance mass change process will run all Food Assistance cases through EDBC for October 2023, with information currently in KEES, which can cause benefits to change or cases to be discontinued. Examples include, income changes, verification date of death, etc. Households will be notified of any changes to their benefits with the mass change notice.
Documents being changed are:
Appendix Item F-2, Food Assistance Program Standards
Appendix Item F-3, Food Assistance Benefit Tables
Form ES-1510.1, Computation of Food Assistance Benefit.
- Standard Deduction – Section 7222 is being modified to increase the standard deduction amounts. The new amounts effective October 1, 2023 are:
Household size 1-3 = $198
Household size 4 = $208
Household size 5 = $244
Household size 6 or more = $279
- Shelter Costs – Section 7226, 7226.3 and 7226.6 are being modified to change the excess shelter deduction to $672. The SUA is increasing to $462, and the LUA is increasing to $327. The telephone standard is increasing to $42.The Homeless Shelter Expense is increasing to $179.66.
- Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs)-FRA changes to ABAWD time limit rules.
- Section 2520 is being modified to reflect changes in age to 18 through 52.
- Section 2521 is being modified to reflect changes in exemption for persons under age 18 or age 53 or over.
- Section 2521 (10) is being added to reflect new homeless exemption for ABAWDs.
- Section 2521 (11) is being added to reflect new veteran exemption for ABAWDs.
- Section 2521 (12) is being added to reflect new foster care exemption for ABAWDs.
III. TANF Suspicion Based Drug Testing Program
A. Changes
DCF has procured a new vendor for Suspicion Based Drug Testing initiating a new contract with Comprehensive Drug Testing (CDT). CDT started receiving SBDT referrals and completing drug testing effective July 17, 2023. The SBDT referral process will not change.
FORMS
Employment Services
ES-4305, TANF Sample Cases Review Guide
IS-4316, VR Monthly Progress Report
Food Assistance
1510.1, Computation of Food Assistance Benefit
TANF Suspicion Based Drug Testing Program
ES-4412 SRCC EES Referral, Report and Turn-Around Form
ES-4108 Collection Site Passport
SBDT Comprehensive Drug Testing Approved Collection Site List
APPENDIX
Employment Services
E-11, Education/Training Assistance Desk Aid
R-5, EES/RS Change Report
R-12, EES Screening Tool for Referral to Rehabilitation Services
T-1, Activities to Meet TANF Work Requirements/Participation
Food Assistance
F-2, Food Assistance Program Standards
F-3, Food Benefit Table
EFFECTIVE DATE
All policies in this revision are effective October 1, 2023. Additional information is being included in the Implementation Memo.
EFFECT ON LOCAL STAFF
MATERIALS OBSOLETED BY THIS REVISION
COORDINATION EFFORTS
The material in this letter and manual revision has been coordinated with staff in Economic and Employment Services, Executive leadership, the EES Program Administrators, and the Implementation Planning Team.
Sincerely,
Carla Whiteside-Hicks, PhD
Interim Economic and Employment Services Director
CWH:cw |