Kansas benefits for college students

Food assistance: Food Assistance

Kansas's name for SNAP, run by Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF). If you are enrolled at least half-time, you need a student exemption to qualify, such as working 20 hours a week, work-study or caring for a young child. If you are enrolled less than half-time, the student rule does not apply and only the regular SNAP rules do. See every exemption →

Kansas's manual says the Kansas Health Profession Opportunity Project (KHPOP) counts as a state or local employment and training program, so students in it meet the student rule. Students working with Kansas Vocational Rehabilitation while attending college are treated as exempt from the student rule (they can get Food Assistance if otherwise eligible), and students attending through WIOA do not have to meet a student exemption. Other students enrolled at least half-time must meet one of the federal exemptions (for example, 20 paid work hours a week, approved work study, TANF, or caring for a young child).

Apply for Food Assistance · Kansas's page for students

Health coverage: KanCare

Kansas has not adopted the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion, so coverage for adults without children is limited. A HealthCare.gov plan may be the better route; check the state's rules below. All your health coverage options →

Apply for KanCare

Child care help: Child Care Assistance

Going to college or training can count, with limits. Non-TANF parents can get child care for post-secondary education only if they also work at least 15 paid hours a week (unpaid for-credit internship hours over 15 can count toward this). The program must lead to a degree or certificate with the goal of a job in that field, and the job must have at least an average outlook (or a job offer / supervisor approval). Keep a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Not allowed for a second associate's or bachelor's degree or anything beyond a bachelor's. Lifetime limit of 24 months per adult (need not be consecutive). Care covers class hours plus 1 hour of study time a week per class. In a two-parent home, only one parent can use the student reason at a time.

Apply for Child Care Assistance · Help on campus (CCAMPIS) →

Phone and internet: Lifeline

Kansas Lifeline Service Program (state discount): Kansas adds a state discount of $7.77 a month on top of the federal $9.25, for a total of up to $17.02 a month. The Kansas portion can only be used on phone service. Who qualifies →

Apply for Lifeline (Kansas Lifeline Service Program (state discount))

Taxes

Kansas residents who claimed the federal earned income credit can claim a Kansas credit equal to 17% of the federal credit; part-year residents and nonresidents cannot. KS WebFile is the Kansas Department of Revenue's free online application for filing Kansas individual income tax returns, with direct deposit of refunds.

Kansas earned income tax credit · Free state filing · Federal education tax credits → · Free federal filing →

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