STATE DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN                9/26/14
AND FAMILIES                                             
Family Services
Docking State Office Building
Room 581 - West
Topeka, Kansas 66612

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 in KEESM as needed.

All Programs – Clarification has been added to the policy regarding time frames for establishing claims.

Child Care – Clarification has been added to the policy regarding eligibility requirements for post-secondary students.

Food Assistance – This revision incorporates the annual adjustments to the Food Assistance Program that are effective October 1 of each year. The gross and net income limits have increased this year in addition to increases to the standard deductions. The Standard Deduction for household sizes of 1-3 is increasing to $155, household size of 4, $165, household size of 5, $193, and household sizes of 6 or more, $221. In addition, the maximum excess shelter deduction is changing from $478 to $490. The SUA is decreasing to $369 and the LUA is increasing to $238. The maximum allotment amounts increased to $649 for household of 4. The minimum allotment amount increased to $16 for household of 1-2. These changes were processed with rollover in August, effective for October 1, 2014. Information about these changes was provided prior to rollover in August.

Food Assistance and Successful Families – The maximum allowable nonexempt resource limit increases to $2,250 effective October1, 2014.

DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE, AND DETAILS OF POLICY CHANGE

1. All Programs
   1. Changes
      
      None
      
      
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. Time Frames and Limits for Establishing Claims – KEESM 11123 has been modified to clarify that failure to establish a claim within the time frames identified does not negate the agency’s responsibility to establish or collect on the claim, or of the client to repay any benefits they received but were not entitled to.
2. Child Care
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      None
      
      
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. EM (Non-TANF) Child Care – KEESM 2835, item 2 is being revised to clarify that the EM reason code should only be used for post-secondary students in situations where child care is only needed for the student’s employment hours. It should not be used for post- secondary students who are approved for child care for the student’s school hours. The ET reason code should be used for those plans.
         
         
3. Food Assistance
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. Annual Adjustments to the Food Assistance Program Standards – Effective October 1, 2014, the following documents are being updated to incorporate the annual federal adjustments to the Food Assistance Program. The changes for 10/1/14 include an increase in the standard deduction amounts for all household sizes, an increase in the gross and net income limits, and an increase in the maximum excess shelter deduction. Households were notified of any changes to their benefits with the mass change notice issued after rollover in August 2014.
         
         Documents being changed are: Appendix Item F-2,
         
         Food Assistance Program Standards
         
         Appendix Item F-3, Food Assistance Program Benefit Tables
         
         Appendix Item F-11, 130% Income Reporting Chart
         
         Form ES-1510.1, Computation of Food Assistance Benefit
         
         Form ES-3116, Simplified Reporting for Food Assistance Households
         
         
      2. Standard Deduction – Section 7222 is being modified to increase the standard deduction amounts. The new amounts effective 10-01-14 are: Household size 1-3 = $155 Household size 4 = $165 Household size 5 = $193 Household size 6 or more = $221 3.
         
         
      3. Shelter Costs – Section 7226 is being modified to change the excess shelter deduction to $490. The SUA is decreasing to $369 and the LUA is increasing to $238. The telephone standard is increasing to $36. These amounts were entered into the KAECSES-AE system prior to rollover in August 2014 and were processed automatically with rollover. Information about the implementation of the annual adjustments was provided separately.
         
         
      4. Minimum Benefit – Section 7420 is being modified to change the minimum allotment to $16.
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. Interim Report – A formatting change was made to KEESM 9122.6. Bullets were added to clearly designate the exceptions to the interim reporting requirement.
         
         
4. Food Assistance and Successful Families
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. Resource Limit – The maximum allowable nonexempt resource limit for cash and food assistance is being increased to $2,250
         
         Sections 5110 and 5120 are being modified to reflect this increase.
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      None
      
      
5. Low Income Energy Assistance Program
   
   

   1. Changes

      1. Income Guidelines – The chart in KEESM 13362 is being updated with the 2015 LIEAP season gross income amounts.

   2. Clarifications
      
      None
      
      
6. Successful Families
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. Appointment and Dismissal of Substitute Payee (Cash Only) – KEESM section 1521 is being updated to reflect the correct process for managing protected payees in the EBT system.
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      None

FORMS (Explanation provided if not mentioned previously in this summary.)

Food Assistance

ES-1510.1, Computation of Food Assistance Benefit

ES-2007, Food Assistance Brochure: This is in the process of being modified. It will be linked as soon as it is finalized.

ES-2007E, Insert: This is being designated as ES-2007E for identification purposes. The income amounts are being updated with the October 1, 2014, increases.

ES-3116, Simplified Reporting for Food Assistance Households

APPENDIX (Explanation provided if not mentioned previously in this summary.)

1. Child Care
   
   E-11, Education/Training Assistance Desk Aid – This desk aid is being modified to clarify the new criteria for approving child care for post-secondary education.

2. Food Assistance
   
   F-2, Food Assistance Program Standards
   
   F-3, Food Assistance Program Benefit Tables
   
   F-11, 130% Income Reporting Chart

MISCELLANEOUS FORMS (Explanation provided if not mentioned previously in this summary.)

None

EFFECTIVE DATE

Polices for this revision are effective October 1, 2014.

EFFECT ON LOCAL STAFF (No significant effect if not explained below.)

MATERIALS OBSOLETED BY THIS REVISION

None

COORDINATION EFFORTS

This change was coordinated with staff in Economic and Employment Services, Executive Leadership, and the EES Program Administrators.

Sincerely,
Jaime Rogers, EES Director
Economic and Employment Services
JR:am