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.

DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE, AND DETAILS OF POLICY CHANGE

1. Child Care
   

1. Changes
   
   None
   
   
2. Clarifications
   
   
   1. Personal Need – Language has been added to KEESM 2820 to clarify that personal need is an eligibility requirement at initial application and review, and guidance linked on how to act when a change is reported to the personal need. Additionally, a child’s school hours have been further clarified for times the agency may determine there is no personal need.
      
      
2. Food Assistance
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. Mandatory Verification That Affects Eligibility for Program Benefits – KEESM 1322.1
         
         
         1. Resources - Item number 9, resources, is being updated to reflect that checking, savings, and cryptocurrency accounts must be verified. Additional language is being added to show that a parcel search must be conducted for all household members.
            
            
         2. Age – Item number 15, age, is being added to the list of items that must be verified for Food Assistance.
            
            
      2. Processing Changes Not Required to be Reported or Reported for Cash or Child Care – KEESM 9122.7 has been updated to include instructions on what is required when a change in address is verified.
         
         
      3. Verification at the Time a Change is Reported – KEESM 9121.2 has been updated to align with federal regulations.
         
         
      4. Cryptocurrency – Language is being added to KEESM 5800 to reflect that cryptocurrency accounts must be verified for Food Assistance.
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. Reporting Requirements – KEESM 9122.1 has been updated to remove language about specific reporting requirements for categorically eligible households. These households are subject to the same simplified reporting requirements as regular Food Assistance households.
         
         
3. All Programs
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. Whereabouts of Recipient Unknown – KEESM 9124 has been updated to align with federal regulations and clarify what is required for each program.
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. Sources of Verification – KEESM 1321.1
         
         
         1. Documentary Evidence - Language is being added to clarify that visual verification of EATTS is allowed, but should not be printed to the case file.
            
            
         2. Discrepancies – Language is being added to clarify that staff should follow standard operating procedures.
            

Appendix

Food Assistance

T-10, Food Assistance Shelter Changes Chart, has been updated to align with the new address change policy.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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

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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