EES Policy Memo

EES Policy No. 25-12-10	RE: Standard Medical Deduction
Policy Memo	Contact Persons: Elizabeth Ahumada
From: Dr. Carla Whiteside-Hicks, EES Director	KEESM Reference: 7223
Date: December 1, 2025	Other:
Primary DCF Areas Affected: Food Assistance	Where Posted on Web: http://content.dcf.ks.gov/ees/KEESM/ Policy Memo/policy_memo_list.htm

Food Assistance households containing an elderly or disabled member are entitled to a deduction for allowable medical costs incurred by the elderly or disabled household member(s) that exceed $35 per month. Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) approved Kansas Department for Children and Families to provide Food Assistance households containing an elderly or disabled member a standard medical deduction of $140 ($175-$35) for allowable medical costs incurred by the elderly or disabled household member(s) that exceed $35 per month but are less than or equal to $175 per month.

The Kansas Economic and Employment Services Manual (KEESM) will be revised to reflect that the Standard Medical Deduction is to be applied at the household level, rather than the individual level. If a household’s total allowable ongoing medical expenses are greater than $35 per month but less than or equal to $175 per month, the household will be eligible for the Standard Medical Deduction.

IMPORTANT!! This change will be implemented in the KEES eligibility system the next time EDBC is run after December 5, 2025. There is no change to how staff enter medical expenses in the KEES system. Section 7223 of the KEESM will be revised to reflect this change, effective February 1, 2026.

Examples:

Primary Applicant has ongoing medical expenses that total $100 per month, and their partner has ongoing medical expenses that total $130 per month. Since the total monthly medical expenses for the household of $230 ($100 + $130) is greater than $175, actual expenses will be used for the household.
Primary Applicant has ongoing medical expenses that total $50 per month, and their partner has ongoing medical expenses that total $75 per month. Since the total monthly medical expenses for the household of $125 (50 + 75) is greater than $35, but less than $175 per month the household is eligible for the Standard Medical Deduction.
Primary Applicant has ongoing medical expenses that total $15 per month, and their partner has ongoing medical expenses that total $25. Since the total monthly medical expenses for the household of $40 (15 + 25) is greater than $35, but less than $175 the household is eligible for the Standard Medical Deduction.