Kansas Successful Families Program

TANF, known in Kansas as the Successful Families Program, is the monthly cash assistance program for Kansas’ neediest families with children under age 18. ¹

Kansas limits the receipt of cash assistance to 24 months only ² but allows for “hardship extensions” of up to an additional 12 months for a total of 36 months.

Families receiving cash assistance are required to register for work or participate in work-related activities,³ unless otherwise exempt. This includes cooperating with child support requirement.

FAQ

Who is eligible for TANF in Kansas?

To be eligible for TANF in Kansas, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.
Be a resident of the state of Kansas.
Be unemployed or working for very low wages.
Be responsible for a child under age 19.
Meet income and resource limits.

What is the income limit for TANF in Kansas?

In Kansas, TANF eligibility is very limited, with only very low-income Kansas families eligible to receive benefits. The income limit is set at 30% of the federal poverty level, ⁴ or less than $8,196 per year for a family of three. That is equivalent to less than $683 per month.

Income limits as a percentage of the federal poverty level, by household size
Household Size	Income Limit
1	$399
2	$541
3	$683
4	$825
5	$967
6	$1,109
7	$1,251
8	$1,393

The income limits are presented as dollar amounts derived from a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for each household size in 2026.

How much is cash assistance in Kansas?

Under the Successful Families Program, 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 with little or no income may receive, varying by county population and cost of living. ⁵

Kansas TANF maximum monthly payments by household size, rural and metro counties
Household Size	Rural	Metro
1	$224	$267
2	$309	$352
3	$386	$429
4	$454	$497
5	$515	$558
6	$576	$619
7	$637	$680
8	$698	$741

The amounts shown reflect the maximum monthly cash benefits by county available to families with no countable income. Maximum benefit levels are generally higher in metropolitan or higher-population counties than in rural counties.

For example, a family of three living in a high-cost, high-population county is eligible to receive $429 per month, whereas a family of three in a rural county may be eligible to receive $386 per month.

How do I apply for TANF in Kansas?

Families can apply for the program through the DCF Self-Service Portal or by contacting their local Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) office.

Kansas Department for Children and Families
Economic and Employment Services
(888) 369-4777

What documents do I need to apply for TANF in Kansas?

When you apply for TANF cash assistance in Kansas, you may be asked to provide all or some of the following documents:

A valid photo ID
Social Security numbers for the people applying (or proof that you have applied for them)
Proof of residency (where you live), such as a lease or a utility bill
Proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status
Proof of your children’s identity and their relationship to you, such as birth certificates
Proof of earned and unearned income for everyone in your household, such as pay stubs
Proof of other resources, such as bank statements, if the state asks for them
Proof of pregnancy, if you are applying while pregnant
Information about the children’s other parent, such as a name and last known address, which states use for child support
Any additional documents needed to verify your household’s situation

Each state sets its own rules, and what you need may depend on your situation. If you are not sure what to bring, contact Kansas DCF (DCF) at (888) 369-4777 and they can tell you exactly what your application requires.

Sources & notes

Data and figures on this page come from the sources and notes below:

The Grandparents as Caregivers (GPCG) program provides cash benefits to grandparents or other relatives raising children. ↩
Kansas cut the time limit to 48 months in 2011, to 36 months in 2015, and to 24 months in 2016. ↩
If you are looking for work, you can visit KansasWorks to search or apply for jobs. ↩
Eligibility for TANF is limited to families whose income is less than 30% of the Federal Poverty Level ↩
Kansas DCF, Maximum Cash Assistance Payments ↩