KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES
Family Services
DCF Administration Building
555 S. Kansas Ave., 6th Floor
Topeka, KS 66603

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 into 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’; Gender identification such as ‘he or she’ changed to ‘they’; and grammatical corrections. The rules for determining if a two-parent household is required to meet the two-parent work participation requirement have been corrected and the Two-Parent Child Care Activity has been updated.

Food Assistance - KEESM 3540 and 1434.1 have been reviewed and had the language updated.

Low Income Energy Assistance Program - Policy changes at the direction of Leadership to optimize the processing of applications and minimize variances with other programs.

All Programs - KEESM 5410, 1322.1, 5800, 6220, 6300, 6400 have been updated to address cryptocurrency. 6410 has been reviewed and updated to address interest and dividends.

DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE, AND DETAILS OF POLICY CHANGE

1. Employment Services
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. TANF Participation Rate Requirements (KEESM 3110.1) – This has been corrected to show the two-parent work participation requirement applies to TANF households in which a child with an Active status has both parents (biological or adoptive) in the home and neither of the parents is prevented from employment.
         
         
      2. Two-Parent Child Care Activity (KEESM 3330.7) - This activity can no longer be used if the participating parent is participating in the Job Search/Job Readiness activity. Hours for the participating parent have been increased to 35 hrs/wk.
         
         
2. Food Assistance
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. Potential Employment (KEESM 3540) - KEESM 3540 "disqualification" is being changed to "potential employment violation disqualification" to match the current language.
         
         
      2. Special Provisions for Matches Obtained Via the eDRS (Food Assistance Only) (KEESM 1434.1) - KEESM 1434.1 is being changed to remove language regarding checking eDRS at review.
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. Interim Report and 12 Month Report Form (KEESM
         9122.6) – These modifications are being made in KEESM 9122.6.
         
         
         1. KEESM 9122.6 (1)(c)(ii) reference to Work Number is being modified from TALX to Work Number.
            
            
         2. KEESM 9122.6 (1)(d)(xi) reference to Work Number is being modified from TALX to Work Number.
            
            
         3. KEESM 9122.6 (1)(e) reference to Work Number is being modified from TALX to Work Number.
            
            
      2. Food Assistance Standards (KEESM 7420) - These modifications are being made in KEESM 7420.
         
         
         1. KEESM 7420 is being modified to remove language regarding categorical eligibility.
            
            
            1. Households that include at least one member who is elderly or disabled do not have to meet the gross income test. These households, also qualify for the uncapped shelter deduction and excess medical deduction. These households are considered special households but are not always categorically eligible. The statement regarding categorical eligibility is being removed as it is inaccurate.
               
               
      3. Qualfified Non-Citizen Status for Food Assistance (KEESM 2143.1) - Removed reference to Appendix A-13.
         
         
3. LIEAP
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. Self Payment Requirement (KEESM 13350) - Self Payment Requirement is being eliminated and this section will be held in reserve for future need. Removal is intended to reduce the burden on households.
         
         
      2. Income Eligibility (KEESM 13360) - Added "Deemed Income Eligible" criteria for use in determining countable income when an individual is known to KEES with a current SNAP/TANF case at the time of application. Allows for use of income verified in either SNAP/TANF in the past six months.
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. Program Summary (KEESM 13100) -
         
         
         1. Clarified program designation of "Heating Only" based on Federal program definitions.
            
            
         2. Removed reference to self-payment in KEESM 13100 (3).
            
            
         3. Clarified that a separate LIEAP specific application is required.
            
            
         4. Clarified that the season end date is the last business day of March.
            
            
         5. Detailed beginning of season outreach.
            
            
      2. DCF Regional Office Responsibility (KEESM 13110) - Clarified application period.
         
         
      3. Agency Outreach Procedures (KEESM 13120) - Clarified outreach, program benefit, and application period.
         
         
      4. Date of Application (KEESM 13210) - Clarified that submission of the LIEAP application form is only considered to be an application once signed (paper) or confirmation number issued (SSP). Also details handling of unsigned applications and timelines for all submission media.
         
         
      5. Priorities in Processing Applications (KEESM 13220) - KEESM 13220 (1) Priority Applications updated to clarify priority windows and that all factors related to fuel are specific to the primary heating fuel system.
         
         
      6. General Eligibility Requirements (KEESM 13310) - Clarified requirement of a lease being submitted when the application reflects that utility costs are included in the rent. Also, provides clarification that the homeless definition is not limited to only shelters.
         
         
      7. Self-Payment Requirement (KEESM 13350) - Policy removed.
         
         
      8. Income Eligibility (KEESM 13360) - Added provision that allows for individuals to be "Deemed Income Eligible" if they have an active SNAP/TANF case at the time of their LIEAP application. Also, details using verified income from those cases if verified within the past 6 months.
         
         
      9. Payment Methods (KEESM 13421) - KEESM 13421 (1) has been modified to detail the handling of payment based on the response on the application of "Pay all to my primary heating vendor."
         
         
4. TANF
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. Cash Assistance and Employment Services (KEESM 1111) - KEESM 1111.1 (b) and (c) is being modified by replacing "Work Program" with "Employment Services".
         
         
      2. Failure to Provide Required Information/Cooperation (KEESM 1414.2) - Note: TANF Only - Protective Payee is being removed from 1414.2 (3).
         
         
      3. Maximum Allowable Resources (KEESM 5110) - KEESM 5110 is being modified by removing "including Funeral Assistance" in the navigation pane and replacing the title "Cash Assistance" with "TANF".
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. Mandatory Verification that Affects Eligibility for Program Benefits (1322.1 (1)(d)) - Clarification provided that grandparents as caregivers and other caretakers as defined in 2220 are only required to provide verification of non-exempt income resources for the children receiving TANF if they are not requesting assistance for themselves.
         
         
      2. Cash, Child Care and Work Programs (KEESM 1611.1) - Clarification provided that a request for a fair hearing shall be in writing and postmarked or received by the agency within 30 days from the date the notice of action is mailed.
         
         
      3. Cooperation (KEESM 2161) and Good Cause for Failure to Cooperate (KEESM 2162) - Titles updated to clarify that these references are specific to Child Support Services.
         
         
5. All Programs
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. Types of Personal Property (KEESM 5410) - KEESM 5410 is being changed to include cryptocurrency assets.
         
         
      2. Mandatory Verification That Affects Eligibility for Program Benefits (KEESM 1322.1) - KEESM 1322.1 (9)(b) is being changed to include cryptocurrency.
         
         
      3. Cryptocurrency (KEESM 5800)- KEESM 5800 is being added for cryptocurrency information.
         
         
      4. Exempt Income (KEESM 6400) - KEESM 6410 (38) is being changed to include cryptocurrency loans.
         
         
      5. Types of Countable Unearned Income (KEESM 6220) - These changes are being made in KEESM 6220.
         
         
         1. KEESM 6220 is being changed to add KEESM 6220 (12) to address cryptocurrency withdrawals.
            
            
         2. KEESM 6220 (11) is being changed to add additional information on exempt interest and dividends and where to find that info.
            
            
      6. Exempt Income (KEESM 6300) - KEESM 6300 is being changed to include a NOTE regarding cryptocurrency.
         
         
      7. Income Exempt as Income Only and Income Exempt as Income and a Resource (KEESM 6410) - These changes are being made to KEESM 6410.
         
         
         1. KEESM 6410 (53) NOTE is being changed to remove language regarding interest exceeding $50. Interest accrued is not protected and would be countable unearned income unless otherwise exempt.
            
            
         2. KEESM 6410 (35) is being changed to include information on exempt interest and dividends. If interest and dividends are received irregularly, are unpredictable and are less than $30 in a quarter, they are exempt.
            
            
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. Mandatory Verification That Affects Eligibility for Program Benefits (KEESM 1322.1) - KEESM 1322.1 (1)(e) reference to Work Number is being modified from TALX to Work Number.
         
         
      2. Information/Verification (KEESM 9333) - KEESM 9333 reference to Work Number is being modified from TALX to Work Number.
         

Appendix

Child Care

C-11, C-11S The Parent-Provider Partnership Handbook is being updated with new information about provider responsibilities, and updating information about change reporting requirements to match current policy. In addition, references to the Kansas Quality Network website are being updated to the new site for Child Care in Kansas.

All Programs

W-8 has been removed.

Forms

TANF

ES-4101 has been updated with dates through 2025.

ES-4416 has been updated.

All Programs

A-13 has been removed. A desk aid is available to staff in Training by Topic.

EFFECTIVE DATE

All policies in this revision are effective February 1, 2024.

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
Economic and Employment Services Director
CWH:cw