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.

Food Assistance - FNS issued guidance explaining how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 changes Food Assistance eligibility rules for non-citizens, particularly those who have adjusted status to Lawful Permanent Resident.

DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE, AND DETAILS OF POLICY CHANGE

1. Child Care
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      None
      
      
      
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. The Child Care Plan – KEESM 7600 has been modified to provide clarity that short-term conditions requiring an enhanced rate should be time-limited and reviewed within 90 days.
         
         
      2. Processing Changes Reported by Change Reporting Households – KEESM 9121.1 has been modified to clarify reasons child care benefits may decrease. In addition, this section has been reformatted for increased readability.
         
         
      3. Enhanced Rate for Special Care – KEESM 10260.4 has been modified to clarify that, in addition to being checked at review, the 1627a will also be reviewed at times when the Guaranteed Eligibility period is extended.
         
         
         
2. Food Assistance
   

1. Changes
   
   
   1. Non-Citizens Immediately Eligible – The list of immediately eligible non-citizens in KEESM 2143.1 has been updated to include individuals who have adjusted their status to lawful permanent resident under certain circumstances.
      
      
      1. Non-citizens who were granted a status from this list and later adjusted their status to lawful permanent resident are not subject to the five-year waiting period.
         
         
2. Clarifications
   
   
   1. Reporting Requirements – KEESM 9122.1 has been updated to clarify reporting requirements for categorically eligible households eligible for a benefit even when exceeding the 130% income threshold.
      
      
   2. Determining the 130% Income Reporting Threshold – KEESM 9122.5 has been updated to link to the correct document in the appendix.
      
      
   3. Verification of Questionable Information – KEESM 1322.3 has been updated to clarify that number seven, Crime Attestation, applies only to the Food Assistance program.
      
      
   4. ABAWD – KEESM 2527 has been corrected with the updated age limit for ABAWDs, as well as the dependent age. Language was also added to clarify that ABAWDs and Work Registrants must be provided with and read the Consolidated Work Requirements.
      
      
   5. Verification of SSN – Language was added to KEESM 2131(1) to clarify the process of verifying an individual’s social security number through the Social Security Administration.
      
      
      

Appendix

All Programs

A-10, SAVE User Reference Guide, has been updated from a PDF to a link to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

A-11, INS Class of Admission Codes, has been removed.

Forms

Whole Family Services

ES-4101 has been updated for 2026.

ES-6075 and ES-6075S have been removed.

EFFECTIVE DATE

All policies in this revision are effective January 1, 2026.

Effect on Local Staff

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
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