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 -

Annual Poverty Level Adjustments:

This revision incorporates the annual adjustments to the Food Assistance program that are effective October 1 of each year. These changes will be processed in KEES. This batch will run before negative action in September.

The minimum allotment increased to $25. The maximum gross resource limits increased to $4750 for households with at least one member who is 60 or older or disabled and remains at $3000 for all other households.

In Kansas, there is an increase in the maximum benefit. The increase is based on the re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan. The Thrifty Food Plan is based on current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance.

DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE, AND DETAILS OF POLICY CHANGE

1. Food Assistance
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. Annual Adjustments to the Food Assistance Program Standards – Effective October 1, 2026 the standard deduction for household size 1-3 has increased to $217. The standard deduction for a household size of 4 has increased to $229 and household size of 5 has increased to $268. There is an increase in the gross and net income limits, and an increase in the maximum excess shelter deduction to $769.
         
         
      2. Standard Deduction – Section 7222 is being modified to increase the standard deduction amounts. The new amounts effective October 1, 2026 are:
         
         Household size 1-3 = $217
         Household size 4 = $229
         Household size 5 = $268
         Household size 6 or more = $308
         
         
      3. Shelter Costs – Sections 7226, 7226.3 and 7226.6 are being modified to change the excess shelter deduction to $769. The SUA is increasing to $485, and the LUA is increasing to $357. The telephone standard is increasing to $46.The Homeless Shelter Expense is increasing to $205.66.
         
         
      4. Interim Report and 12-Month Report Form – Section 9122.6(c)(vi) and Section 9122.6(d)(iv) are being modified to reflect federal adjustment to resource limits.
         
         
      5. Maximum Allowable Resource Limits – Section 5120 is being modified to reflect federal adjustment to resource limits.
         
         
      6. Food Assistance Standards – Section 7420 is being modified to reflect a federal adjustment to minimum benefit.
         
         
      7. Reporting Requirements – Section 9122.1 is being modified to reflect a change to lottery or gambling winnings amount that must be reported.
         
         
      8. Persons Exempt from the ABAWD Provision – KEESM 2521(1) is being updated to reflect that this exemption applies to all ABAWDs, including those who are not subject to work registrant requirements.
         
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. None
         
         

2. Food Assistance E&T
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. Work-Related Requirements – KEESM 2515 is being updated to reflect that ABAWDs without children under 14 in the household are mandatory participants in the Food Assistance E&T program.
         
         
      2. Definitions – KEESM 2527 is being updated to clarify that ABAWDs aged 60-64 are exempt from mandatory Food Assistance E&T.
         
         
      3. Work Requirements for Applicants – KEESM 3100.1(2)(b) is being updated to reflect that Food Assistance applicants without children under 14 in the household must be screened to determine appropriateness for the Food Assistance E&T program.
         
         
      4. Work Requirements for Recipients – KEESM 3100.2(2)(a) is being updated to reflect that Food Assistance recipients without children under 14 in the household who are not exempt must participate in the Food Assistance E&T program.
         
         
      5. Food Assistance Mandatory Employment and Training Participation Rate Requirements – KEESM 3110.2 is being updated to reflect that work registrants without children under 14 in the household who are not exempt must participate in the Food Assistance E&T program.
         
         
      6. Loss of Exempt Status for Food Assistance E&T – KEESM 3230.2 is being updated to reflect that an ABAWD will be considered exempt when there is a child under 14 in the household.
         
         
      7. Provisions Specific to SNAP Employment and Training – KEESM 3430 is being updated to reflect that ABAWDs 18-59 without a child under 14 in the household are mandatory participants in the Food Assistance E&T program.
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. None
         
         
3. LIEAP
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. KEESM 13362 is being updated with the new federal guidelines for LIEAP.
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. None
         

Appendix

Food Assistance

F-2, Food Assistance Program Standards

F-3, Food Benefit Table

B-4, FA Alltoment Motion to Dismiss

Forms

Food Assistance

ES-2007, Food Assistance Brochure and Insert

ES-1512, Change Report Form

Whole Family Services

ES-4412, SRCC EES Referral, Report and Turn-Around Document has been updated.

EFFECTIVE DATE

All policies in this revision are effective October 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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