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▪ Child Care. All persons who receive cash assistance may receive child care assistance if needed for employment, education or training. ▪ Work Incentive Payments: Effective Jan. 1, 2009, incentive payments are given to participants, who would otherwise become ineligible for TANF due to excess earned income, during the first five months of their employment. For the Work Incentive Payment, the gross income limit is set at the Kansas Family Median Income of $64,521 (2021). The Work Incentive Payment will continue to count towards the time limit.

Transitional Services. TANF offers persons leaving cash assistance the following transitional services for up to 12 months: ▪ Transportation assistance if employed ▪ Special Services Allowance (to purchase goods and services necessary for employment) ▪ Case management services ▪ Contracted employment services (job retention services necessary to help an individual retain employment) ▪ All persons who receive cash assistance or who meet the income-eligibility guidelines of the child care assistance program may receive child care assistance if needed for employment, education or training. For those not receiving cash assistance, the amount of child care assistance is determined based on income. In addition, if a client who lost TANF eligibility submits a new application for child care within the first two months, the minimum hours of employment would not apply, and if financially eligible (income less than 250% of the federal poverty level), a 12-month period of eligibility with no family share deductions is established.

Failure to Meet Program Requirements. If a parent refuses to comply with the work activities outlined in their self-sufficiency plan or with child support enforcement requirements without good cause, the entire family loses all TANF assistance. Penalties are applied in a tiered manner. The first non-cooperation renders the household ineligible for three months; the second penalty, six months; the third penalty, one year; and the fourth and subsequent penalty, 10 years. To regain TANF eligibility (first, second and third penalties), the adult must serve the minimum penalty period, reapply for benefits, and complete both the self-assessment and the on-line tutorial. To regain eligibility when benefits are terminated due to noncooperation with child support enforcement requirements, the adult must serve the minimum penalty period and cooperate with Child Support Services prior to submitting a new application for benefits. If the adult has served the minimum penalty period, but has not established cooperation with Child Support Services, the agency will allow 10 days for the adult to comply.

To ensure that sanctions and determinations of ineligibility are applied uniformly and appropriately, the following guidelines are applied in all instances of work program and child support enforcement noncooperation: