LIEAP Now Open—Energy Help, Homelessness Prevention, Benefit Accuracy & More

With winter temperatures falling and energy bills rising, LIEAP can help qualifying Kansans manage heating costs. LIEAP provides a one-time annual benefit to help eligible Kansas households pay a portion of their home energy costs, including electricity, propane gas and other home heating fuels. The benefit is paid directly to the household’s energy provider. 

Need help completing your LIEAP application? 
DCF is hosting application assistance events statewide through mid-March for those who need help completing their application. To learn more and find an application event, visit LIEAP.dcf.ks.gov. 

Applications must be received by DCF by 5 p.m. on March 31, 2026. Kansans can check eligibility requirements and submit applications online at LIEAP.dcf.ks.gov. 

Helping families find and keep safe, stable homes across all 105 counties 

DCF has awarded a $10 million grant to the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) to support low-income families in every Kansas county who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The program will provide $5 million a year for two years from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding.  

“Affordable housing is not a luxury; it is a fundamental necessity,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “Access to a stable home provides not only security and comfort, but also the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.”

The grant period begins July 1, 2026. KHRC's participating agencies will start by hiring staff and building capacity, with full program operations expected by October 1, 2026. Until then, Kansans seeking help can use the existing network of service providers on KHRC’s website.

The DCF Self-Service Portal is designed to make managing your benefits simple and efficient at every step, whether you receive SNAP Food Assistance, TANF Cash Assistance or Child Care Assistance. From submitting an application to reporting changes, the portal is a valuable resource to help keep your case up to date. 

A shared responsibility: Accuracy matters for DCF benefits 
Accurate and up-to-date information is necessary to correctly calculate and deliver DCF program benefits to eligible Kansans. If you apply for or participate in benefit programs, DCF relies on information that can only be provided by you to determine eligibility. This helps reduce mistakes and prevents issues such as benefit repayment or fraud investigations.  

Applying for benefits 
Anyone who applies for DCF benefit programs should provide complete and accurate information when submitting a new application. Missing or incorrect information may require additional follow-up and may delay your application. 

Not sure if you qualify? The DCF self-assessment tool can help you find out which services you may qualify for. 

Since the 2026 legislative session began Jan. 12, DCF has worked with lawmakers to help shape new laws, share information about our services and participate in key conversations about how we serve Kansans. 

The session has moved quickly, with an initial focus on the agency’s budget. The agency is also carrying two legislative proposals through the process: 

House Bill 2557 – Adoption of Revised Interstate Compact for Placement of Children

The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) was created in 1960 and adopted in Kansas in 1976. In 2007, new ICPC language was adopted for implementation, and over the past three years, eight additional states have adopted the new language, bringing the total to 20 states, including neighboring Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri and Colorado.  

To better serve both in-state and out-of-state youth, DCF will ask the 2026 Legislature to pass the 2007 ICPC language into Kansas law. These ICPC revisions will impact not only foster care children and placements, but also guide and clarify language and processes for independent adoptions and parental placements, including for individuals and those in congregate care facilities across state borders. 

Senate Bill 414 – Expanding Eligible Facilities for Juvenile Crisis Intervention Service Funds

Since the passage of the 2018 Kansas Juvenile Crisis Intervention Centers (JCIC) law, additional facility-based crisis intervention service program models have been developed and implemented. To build capacity of facility in communities across Kansas, the agency hopes to pass legislation that would allow additional crisis intervention facilities to access the $2 million in evidence-based funds, expanding access to these services across the state.   

Throughout the session, DCF’s government affairs team, agency leadership and key stakeholders remain actively engaged in agency issues. DCF follows the progress of bills and provides testimony, reports and presentations to inform the work of the Kansas Legislature in a variety of ways. 

Curious about the 2025-26 Kansas legislative session? You can stay informed and get involved with just a few clicks. 

• Watch legislative proceedings, live or recorded, on the Kansas Legislature's official YouTube channel. 
• Read DCF testimony and presentations on DCF's website. 
• Learn more on the Kansas Legislature’s website. You can find session bills, locate your legislator, track deadlines, view current events and search state statutes. 

SOUL Family Legal Permanency gives older youth in foster care the power to build lasting relationships and create their own path to adulthood. Designed by young people, this legal pathway helps them form supportive families and long-term connections. 

In 2024, Gov. Laura Kelly signed HB 2536, making Kansas the first state in the country to pilot the SOUL Family Legal Permanency option for young people in foster care.  

SOUL Family Legal Permanency gives youth age 16 and older in foster care the chance to form lasting caregiving relationships with trusted adults while keeping family ties and access to important benefits. The court can also recognize a network of caring adults for additional support. 

Youth who choose SOUL Family Legal Permanency keep Medicaid, can get financial help for education and, if eligible, may receive Independent Living benefits and support from DCF. These benefits help youth develop life skills, build connections and prepare for a successful transition to adulthood. 

Learn more about SOUL Family Legal Permanency on the DCF website and on the Children’s Alliance of Kansas website. 

DCF learned in early Jan. 2026 that a possible skimming device was used in the Kansas City metro area, resulting in the theft of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits from more than 300 Kansas households. A similar event was reported in Wichita which impacted 46 additional households. 

Beware of skimming devices and safeguard benefits 
Before swiping an EBT card, individuals should check the point-of-sale machine for anything loose, crooked, damaged, scratched or suspicious. These signs may mean a skimmer is attached. 

If unauthorized purchases appear, the card’s PIN should be changed right away and a new EBT card should be requested using the ebtEDGE app, at ebtedge.com or by calling 1-800-997-6666. 

Phishing attempts 
Cardholders should never share their card information or PIN over the phone or by text. DCF and FIS will never call or text cardholders to ask for a card number or PIN. 

Reminder: Federally funded replacement for stolen SNAP and TANF benefits ended December 2024. There is no state money available for reimbursement. Stolen SNAP and TANF benefits cannot be replaced. 

Visit the DCF website to read the Wichita EBT card skimming event and Kansas City EBT card skimming event news releases. 

Service center closure announcements 

Sometimes DCF must close service center locations due to winter weather to protect the safety of DCF employees and those we serve. Closures also occur on Kansas State Government recognized holidays and when statewide closures affect our service locations. 

We post the latest updates about service center locations on DCF's social media pages whenever possible.  

Stay informed: Subscribe to all DCF social media accounts and access the latest news releases on DCF’s Newsroom page. 

Work, Believe, Thrive with us! 

Join us in creating positive change in our communities by collaborating with compassionate and caring individuals to protect children, strengthen families and promote self-sufficiency for all Kansans. Let a recruiter help you find your role!