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.

Child Care – New poverty-level guidelines have been published by the Department of Health and Human Services. These guidelines affect the eligibility standards in the Child Care program. State median income figures and family share deductions are also being adjusted.

Food Assistance - Updates were made to federal regulations regarding the SNAP purpose statement, definitions of certain ABAWD exemptions, and screening requirements for the E&T program. To ensure the state’s compliance with new regulations, policy has been updated.

DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE, AND DETAILS OF POLICY CHANGE

1. All Programs
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. None
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. Scheduling of Hearing – KEESM 11250.8 is being modified to clarify that hearings can be scheduled to take place in-person or virtually.
         
         
      2. Averaging Child Support/Alimony – KEESM 7124.1 #1 is being modified to add language regarding the month for which child support/alimony income is budgeted.
         
         
2. Food Assistance
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. Income Exempt as Income Only and Income Exempt as Income and a Resource – KEESM 6410 is being updated to add Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits to the list of income and resources considered exempt.
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – KEESM 1112 is being modified to add language to the SNAP purpose statement.
         
         
      2. Persons Exempt from the ABAWD Provision
         
         
         1. KEESM 2521 #10 – Language is being added to clarify that individuals who are imminently homeless are to be included in the definition of homeless.
            
            
         2. KEESM 2521 #11 – Language is being added to clarify that individuals who served as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Scientific Services Administration, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are to be included in the definition of a veteran.
            
            
         3. KEESM 2521 #12 – The Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program is being added to the list of recognized foster care programs.
            
            
      3. Work Requirements for Applicants – KEESM 3100.1 #2 (b) is being updated to specify that screening for appropriateness for mandatory E&T is required at application, recertification, or when a change in status occurs.
         
         
      4. Status Changes – KEESM 2528 is being updated to add language specifying that screening for ABAWD exemptions must occur when there is a change in status during the certification period.
         
         
3. SUN Bucks
   
   
   1. Changes
      
      
      1. SUN Bucks - Section 12000 is being updated throughout, changing the program title from Summer EBT to SUN Bucks. Additional title changes have been made to KEESM 6410 #59, 1116, and 1731.
         
         
   2. Clarifications
      
      
      1. None
         

Appendix

All Programs

W-2 has been updated with minor wording changes and made fillable.

W-7, Self Employment Worksheet, has been removed.

Child Care

F-1, Monthly Family Income and Family Share Deduction Schedule, is being updated with the information related to the new poverty levels, state median income levels.

Food Assistance

X-6, Definitions of Common Terms, has been updated to include individuals who are imminently homeless in the definition of homeless.

Forms

Food Assistance

ES-3140 has been removed. The last day to request replacement of benefits stolen by 12.20.2024 was 02.02.2025.

EFFECTIVE DATE

All policies in this revision are effective April 1, 2025.

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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