M E M O R A N D U M

TO: EES Program Administrators

FROM: Sandra Kimmons

DATE: 10/1/19

SUBJECT: Implementation Instructions - KEESM Revision #96

This memo provides implementation instructions and information for the following October 1, 2019, policy changes in the Kansas Economic and Employment Services Manual (KEESM).

1. Food Assistance
   
   
   1. Ineligibility for certain convicted felons – See Summary of Changes section V, A, 7, and KEESM 2553 and 1322.3.
      
      Starting October 1, 2019, all Food Assistance clients must be asked if they have been convicted of crimes listed in KEESM 2553 and if they are following the terms of their sentence. These questions have been added to the interview template and must be asked at initial Application and Review for all adults in the Food Assistance household.

   Examples:

   1. Jackson applies for Food Assistance on October 30, 2019. During the interview he reports that he was convicted of murder in March 2015. Jackson verbally confirms that he is in compliance with his sentencing. Unless questionable, client statement is acceptable. Jackson is eligible for Food Assistance if all other eligibility requirements are met. If Jackson reported that he is not in compliance with his sentencing his application would be denied, negative action the case, not eligible – other reasons.
      
      
   2. Mary applies for Food Assistance on January 15, 2020. During the interview she reports that she was convicted of child abuse in December 2018. She says that she has not seen her parole officer in 6 months but thinks she is in compliance with her sentencing. This information is questionable, and verification is needed. Request verification but do not pend the case. If verification is received take appropriate action on the case. If verification is not received no further action is needed.
      
      
   3. Billy completes his Review for Food Assistance and reports that he was convicted of sexual assault in January 2016. He states that he refuses to see his parole officer because he thinks he was wrongfully convicted. Billy is not eligible for Food Assistance and his case is discontinued. A new application is required if Billy comes into compliance with his sentencing.
      
      
   4. Mike applies for Food Assistance and during his interview reports he was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse in May 2013. Mike does not have to confirm that he is in compliance with his sentencing since the conviction was before February 7, 2014. He may be eligible for Food Assistance if all other eligibility requirements are met.
      
      
   5. Jerry has a conviction of child abuse from May 2015. Since then he reports that he has been dismissed from his sentencing requirements and has no obligations to the court. Unless questionable, client statement is acceptable.
      

   2. Lottery or Gambling Winnings – See Summary of Changes section V, A, 7, and KEESM 9122.1.
      
      Lottery or Gambling Winnings are being added to the Food Assistance simplified reporting requirements and are part of the Rights and Responsibilities on the Food Assistance Interview Template. Whenever a member of the household wins substantial lottery or gambling winnings which is equal to or greater than $3,500 before taxes or other amounts are withheld the entire household shall lose eligibility allowing timely and adequate notice. The household must report the winnings within the first 10 calendar days of the month following the month in which these substantial winning was received. The household remains ineligible until they meet the allowable resource and income eligibility requirements and a new application is required. This rule applies to all households. Lottery or Gambling Winnings may be address at IR/12 month report if resource information (question 6) received on the report form is questionable.
      
      A new standard copy and paste text has been created for Food Assistance approval notices to meet the new simplified reporting requirement.
      
      
2. TANF
   
   
   1. Reopening Cases with SSI Adults – See Summary of Changes section VII, B, 2, and KEESM 2240.
      
      KEESM 2240 allows for reopening cases that have closed because one or more adults received 24 or more months of assistance, but all adults now receive SSI. At application, the time limit counter for these cases will need to be adjusted to allow the case to be reopened. Staff will need to manually remove TANF months until the TANF Months Used reaches 22 months. At that time the application can be processed. See the KEES User Manual “Removing TANF Months for SSI Households.”

   Examples:

   1. Case has been closed and both adults had received 27 months of assistance. Application received and one of the adults is receiving SSI. The spouse is claiming hardship number 1 – Caretaker of Disabled Household Member. Remove 5 months of assistance for the SSI adult (TANF Months Used field shows 22 months). Once verification is received the spouse is needed in the home to care for a household member, reduce the spouse's months to 22 months. Open the TANF case. Add the hardship to the Time Limit page and add back the TANF months removed. (See ‘Extending TANF Time Limit Months past 24 Months’). This case may remain open as long as meeting a hardship until the 36^th month of assistance is reached.
      
      
   2. Same example as above; however, DCF is notified in month 29 the spouse is no longer needed in the home to care for a disabled household member. At this time, review the case to determine if the household can meet another hardship, including Executive Review.
      
      
   3. When both adults have received over 24 months of TANF prior to SSI approval remove months down to 22 months on the Time Limit page. The application can then be processed. Do not add months back after the case is reopened.

   2. TANF Hardship Review and Time-Limited Assistance Clarifications– See Summary of Changes section VII, B, 3, and KEESM 2240, 2242, and 2243.
      
      TANF cases are allowed to be reviewed for a hardship. ES staff will review these cases to determine an appropriate hardship and enter those hardships allowing the case to remain open past 24 months.
      
      In addition, cases meeting a hardship may be reopened if meeting a hardship as identified in 2243, 1 through 4. Hardship may also be allowed for those non-mandatory household members. See the KEES User Manual “Extending TANF Time Limits Past 24 Months.” Eligibility staff will need to verify the hardship prior to reopening the TANF case. (see examples above if there is an SSI adult in the home)
      

   Examples:

   1. Application received for a family with 27 months of TANF assistance. Case had previously closed due to income. Once the household has been determined to meet a hardship in 2243, 1 - 4, staff will need to manually remove TANF months from the Cash Aid Time Limit Summary page until the TANF Months Used field reaches 22 months. Add the appropriate TANF hardship and Process the application through the come-up month. Manually add the TANF months back as instructed in the “Extending Time Limits Past 24 Months” found in the KEES User Manual.
      
      
   2. Application received for a family with 25 months of assistance. Case had previously closed due to child support non-cooperation. Once the household has been determined to meet a hardship in 2243, 1 - 4, and the penalty period has expired, staff will need to manually remove TANF months from the Cash Aid Time Limit Summary page until the TANF Months Used field reaches 22 months. Add the appropriate TANF hardship and Process the application through the come-up month. Manually add the TANF months back as instructed in the “Extending Time Limits Past 24 Months” found in the KEES User Manual.

Attachments:

Removing TANF Months for SSI Households

Updating TANF Months for SSI Households Screenshots

Extending TANF Time Limit Months past 24 Months

Extending TANF Time Limits Past 24 Months - Eligibility Staff Screenshots

TANF Extension Notice Standard Copy and Paste Text