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

To:	Regional Directors Economic and Employment Services Program Administrators Economic and Employment Services Staff Prevention and Protection Services Administrators Other Staff
Re:	Summary of Changes for Kansas Economic and Employment Services Manual (KEESM) Revision No. 85 effective Oct. 01, 2017

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.

Food Assistance – This revision incorporates the annual adjustments to the Food Assistance program that are effective October 1 of each year. These changes were processed with rollover in August, effective for October 1, 2017. Information about these changes was provided prior to rollover in August.

The minimum benefit amount decreased to $15.

The resource limit for households with elderly or disabled members increased to $3,500, but no resource change for regular households.

DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE, AND DETAILS OF POLICY CHANGE

1. Food Assistance
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. Annual Adjustments to the Food Assistance Program Standards – Effective October 1, 2017, the following documents are being updated to incorporate the annual federal adjustments to the Food Assistance program. The changes for October 1, 2017, 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 2017. Documents being changed are:
         
         Appendix Item F-2, Food Assistance Program Standards
         
         Appendix Item F-3, Food Assistance Program Benefit Tables
         
         Form ES-1510.1, Computation of Food Assistance Benefit
         
         
      2. Standard Deduction – Section 7222 is being modified to increase the standard deduction amounts. The new amounts effective October 1, 2017, are:
         
         Household size 1-3 = $160
         
         Household size 4 = $170
         
         Household size 5 = $199
         
         Household size 6 or more = $228
         
         
      3. Shelter Costs – Section 7226 is being modified to change the excess shelter deduction to $535. The SUA is increasing to $391, and the LUA is increasing to $246. The telephone standard increased to $39.
         
         
      4. Food Assistance Standards – KEESM section 7420 is being updated to reflect the minimum benefit amount decrease to $15.
         
         
      5. Food Assistance Resources – KEESM section 5120 is being updated with the resource limit increase from $3,250 to $3,500 for households with elderly or disabled members. There is no resource change for regular households.
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      None
      

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

All Programs

ES-3100, Application for Benefits. The application is being rearranged to follow the KEES processing order. Also, in order to comply with a SNAP Civil Rights finding, the Race and Ethnicity item is being modified for each person for whom assistance is being requested.

Food Assistance

ES-1510.1, Computation of Food Assistance Benefit

ES-2007E, Insert. The income amounts are being updated with the October 1, 2017, changes.

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

All Programs

A-1, KEES Non-Citizenship Documents and Eligibility. This item is being updated to KEES language. The title is being changed to reflect the content of the document.

Food Assistance

F-2, Food Assistance Program Standards

F-3, Food Assistance Program Benefit Tables

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

EFFECTIVE DATE

All changes are effective Oct. 01, 2017, unless specified otherwise in the implementation memo.

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

MATERIALS OBSOLETED BY THIS REVISION

F-11, 130% Income Reporting Chart. It has been determined that this Appendix item is no longer needed.

COORDINATION EFFORTS

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

Sincerely,
Sandra Kimmons, EES Director
Economic and Employment Services
SK:am