Apply For Kansas TANF Benefits

Learn how to apply for Kansas TANF. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, called Kansas Successful Families Program, may help you become self-supportive while receiving monthly cash benefits to meet your everyday needs such as rent, utilities, clothes, transportation, or additional expenses.

Sometimes you may not be eligible to receive TANF for yourself, but a child or children in your household may. The TANF program is administered by the Department of Children and Families. In most cases, in order to qualify for TANF you must meet both types of eligibility, categorical and financial.

Additionally, to qualify for TANF there are work requirements. The KS TANF program requires most adults be employed or participate in certain work-related activities, which you will be assigned for a certain number of hours on a weekly basis in order to continue receiving TANF benefits.

The total number of hours needed to fulfill your work activity requirement depends on your family composition. Qualified state residents are required to produce information including household income, age, citizenship and resources.

Only household members who are eligible for Kansas TANF can receive welfare benefits. For more information about applying for KS TANF benefits, view the information below. If you still have questions or issues, then contact TANF Kansas.

The Kansas Successful Families Program offers employment services and support services to low-income families. This may also include financial assistance. The family is defined as including a child who may be living with a parent, relative, or person named by a court to take care of the child, such as a guardian, conservator, or custodian.

Kansas TANF eligibility

To receive help from the Successful Families Program, a family must have the following:

• Families must have at least one child in the home under the age of 18 (including an unborn baby)
• Families must meet income requirements. Your worker will tell you what types of income you are required to report
• Families must meet limited resource requirements. Your worker will review what assets you have. Some resources are not counted, such as the home in which the family lives, assets valued at less than $2,250, furniture, personal items, and some tools

Apply for Kansas TANF

To apply for TANF benefits online, go to cssp.kees.ks.gov. They also provide a pre-screening tool to see if you qualify for TANF Kansas. If you prefer, you can apply in person at a DCF Service Center. First, click here to download the TANF application. You can then fill it out and bring it to one of the locations. To view a list of locations, find a DCF Service Center near you.

How long will it be before my application is processed?

Applications for TANF should not take longer than 45 days to process. In most cases you should hear from them much sooner than that.

How do I find out the status of my application?

You can check the current status of your TANF application by going to cssp.kees.ks.gov. You will be notified, either through the message center or by mail, telling you if your request was approved or denied. If you have not heard from them within 30 days please contact them.

Kansas EBT Card

If your application for Kansas TANF is approved you will be mailed an EBT (Electronic benefit transfer) card, which you can use to access your TANF benefits. Once you receive your card in the mail, follow the instructions that are included with the card to select a PIN number and activate your card.

Since all Kansas EBT cards are mailed, it is important to promptly report address changes to the agency. If you do not receive your EBT card within a few days, need a replacement card, or want to check to see your available balance, you can contact EBT Customer Service at 800-997-6666. Please note, do not use, or have in your possession, a Kansas EBT Card that is not yours. Never trade or sell the Kansas EBT card.

Kansas cash assistance

The amount of cash benefit provided depends upon the family's income and the county where the family lives. The chart below shows the highest cash benefit a family may receive, based on family size:

Families may get cash assistance while they look for work as long as they meet program requirements. The requirements include cooperating with DCF Child Support Services Division. Families who get TANF may also get medical benefits and child care.

Adults must work or participate in work activities in order to receive cash assistance for their family, unless they are needed to do one of the following:

• Taking care of a child under 2 months of age
• Taking care of a disabled household member

Please note, families can only get Kansas TANF benefits for 24 months in a lifetime. You may not use your cash benefits to purchase alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco products, lottery tickets, concert tickets, professional or collegiate sporting event tickets or tickets for other entertainment events intended for the general public or sexually oriented adult materials.

Kansas TANF employment and support services

Families can receive support services to help them prepare for and/or obtain employment. Persons receiving TANF Kansas who are not required to get a job or be in work activities may also apply for these services. They include:

• Help in obtaining and maintaining employment
• Job training
• Help in obtaining a GED or in learning English
• Transportation assistance
• Clothing
• Moving costs related to a job
• Help with parenting skills
• Physical or mental health services
• Services for learning disabilities (such as help with reading and/or math)
• Drug or alcohol problems, or domestic violence

Maximum cash assistance payments

I was denied TANF benefits. What can I do?

State and local agencies are responsible for establishing the eligibility criteria and procedures that apply in their programs, not the Federal government. If you disagree with a decision regarding welfare benefits, you have the right to file an appeal. For more information about your state's appeals procedures, contact the KS TANF office.