Benefit programs in Kansas (2026)
For families in Kansas we check every federal program below, then map your state's own programs and point you to the office that runs each one.
For some of Kansas's own programs below we already have a vetted maximum from the official source. Those show "Up to $X/year". For programs without a vetted cap, we describe the program and link its official page while we finish computed-depth verification. Federal amounts are computed for every state, including yours.
Kansas families can get Medicaid help with care at home through 8 Medicaid home and community-based services waivers that pay for care in your own home instead of a nursing facility. Kansas has a confirmed property-tax relief program for seniors, the Homestead Property Tax Refund (Form K-40H), worth up to $700 a year. Kansas also runs a federally funded LIHEAP energy-assistance program that helps pay heating bills for qualifying households. Figures checked against official sources, last on 2026-08-05.
Does Kansas Medicaid pay for care at home?
Yes. Kansas runs 8 Medicaid home & community-based services waivers, including "KS Autism Waiver (0476.R03.00)" and "KS Community Support Waiver (2546.R00.00)". These pay for care in your own home instead of a nursing facility. We have no confirmed dollar figure for what they pay. Amounts depend on an assessment, and most waivers have waiting lists. Ask Kansas Medicaid, or call 1-866-468-7887.
- KS Autism Waiver (0476.R03.00)
- KS Community Support Waiver (2546.R00.00)
- KS HCBS Brain Injury Waiver (4164.R07.00)
- KS HCBS Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Waiver (0224.R07.00)
- KS Home and Community Based Services for the Frail Elderly Waiver (0303.R06.00)
- KS Physical Disability Waiver (0304.R06.00)
- KS Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) Waiver (0320.R05.00)
- KS Technology Assisted Waiver (4165.R07.00)
What property tax relief is available to seniors in Kansas?
Kansas has a confirmed property-tax relief program for seniors: the Homestead Property Tax Refund (Form K-40H). Refund of a percentage of the general property tax paid, scaled by household income: 100% of tax refunded at income up to $6,000, declining to 5% near the income ceiling. Maximum refund $700. Home appraised value must be under $350,000. (Official page: ksrevenue.gov/homesteadbook25.html; form K-40H.) That figure is confirmed against Kansas's own official page (last checked 2026-08-05). Kansas runs 4 property-tax relief programs that seniors may qualify for in total. See the full list below, or call your state's Aging and Disability Resource Center at 1-866-468-7887 and ask which apply to you.
4 programs in Kansas. Each description below is drawn from its linked source and shown in full: the tag next to each name marks its source tier (GOV/GOV PDF: the program's own official page, ANALYSIS/IND: a secondary source).
Property-tax figures last checked against official sources on 2026-08-05. See how we verify figures.
| Program | Benefit | Vetted maximum | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homestead Property Tax Refund (Form K-40H) GOV PDF VERIFIED | Refund of a percentage of the general property tax paid, scaled by household income: 100% of tax refunded at income up to $6,000, declining to 5% near the income ceiling. Maximum refund $700. Home appraised value must be under $350,000. (Official page: ksrevenue.gov/homesteadbook25.html; form K-40H.) | Up to $700/year. Income limit: Household income $43,389 or less (CY 2025). Household income counts 50% of Social Security benefits.. Tax year 2025. Kansas State Legislature → | Official source → |
| Kansas Property Tax Relief for Low Income Seniors (SAFESR / 'Safe Senior', Form K-40PT) GOV PDF VERIFIED | Refund of 75% of the general property tax actually and timely paid on the claimant's residence. No maximum refund amount. Home appraised value must be under $350,000. A claimant may file only one of K-40H, K-40PT, or K-40SVR and takes whichever gives the larger refund. (Official page: ksrevenue.gov/safesenior.html; form K-40PT.) | Official source → | |
| Kansas Property Tax Relief Claim for Seniors and Disabled Veterans (Form K-40SVR) GOV PDF VERIFIED | Property-tax FREEZE: refund equal to the difference between the current year's property tax and the claimant's base-year (first-eligible-year) property tax, effectively freezing the tax at the base-year level. No maximum. Home appraised value must be under $350,000. Disabled-veteran eligibility requires honorable/general-under-honorable discharge and a VA service-connected disability rating of 50% or greater. (Official page: ksrevenue.gov/faqs-SVR.html; form K-40SVR; program first available tax year 2022.) | Official source → | |
| Residential exemption from the statewide school-finance (20-mill) property tax levy GOV VERIFIED | The first $75,000 of appraised value of a residence is exempt from the statewide 20-mill school-finance property tax levy. Approximate savings ~$172.50/year ($75,000 x 11.5% assessment rate x 0.020 mill rate). This is a universal residential exemption (K.S.A. 79-201x), not limited to seniors/disabled/veterans, but it does reduce their tax. A 2025 bill (HB 2011) to raise it to $100,000 and cut the levy to 18.5 mills did not pass. | Official source → |
Homestead Property Tax Refund (Form K-40H) GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
Refund of a percentage of the general property tax paid, scaled by household income: 100% of tax refunded at income up to $6,000, declining to 5% near the income ceiling. Maximum refund $700. Home appraised value must be under $350,000. (Official page: ksrevenue.gov/homesteadbook25.html; form K-40H.)
- Vetted maximum
Up to $700/year. Income limit: Household income $43,389 or less (CY 2025). Household income counts 50% of Social Security benefits.. Tax year 2025. Kansas State Legislature →
- Official source
- Official source →
Kansas Property Tax Relief for Low Income Seniors (SAFESR / 'Safe Senior', Form K-40PT) GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
Refund of 75% of the general property tax actually and timely paid on the claimant's residence. No maximum refund amount. Home appraised value must be under $350,000. A claimant may file only one of K-40H, K-40PT, or K-40SVR and takes whichever gives the larger refund. (Official page: ksrevenue.gov/safesenior.html; form K-40PT.)
- Official source
- Official source →
Kansas Property Tax Relief Claim for Seniors and Disabled Veterans (Form K-40SVR) GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
Property-tax FREEZE: refund equal to the difference between the current year's property tax and the claimant's base-year (first-eligible-year) property tax, effectively freezing the tax at the base-year level. No maximum. Home appraised value must be under $350,000. Disabled-veteran eligibility requires honorable/general-under-honorable discharge and a VA service-connected disability rating of 50% or greater. (Official page: ksrevenue.gov/faqs-SVR.html; form K-40SVR; program first available tax year 2022.)
- Official source
- Official source →
Residential exemption from the statewide school-finance (20-mill) property tax levy GOV VERIFIED
- Benefit
The first $75,000 of appraised value of a residence is exempt from the statewide 20-mill school-finance property tax levy. Approximate savings ~$172.50/year ($75,000 x 11.5% assessment rate x 0.020 mill rate). This is a universal residential exemption (K.S.A. 79-201x), not limited to seniors/disabled/veterans, but it does reduce their tax. A 2025 bill (HB 2011) to raise it to $100,000 and cut the levy to 18.5 mills did not pass.
- Official source
- Official source →
How much heating bill help can I get in Kansas?
Up to $4,301 toward heating bills. That is the FY 2026 maximum Kansas's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) publishes. Most households get less. This is the ceiling, not a typical amount. A separate crisis benefit of up to $4,301 is available if your service is about to be shut off. Source: https://liheapch.acf.gov/profiles/Kansas.htm
| Program | Benefit | Published maximum | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) | Help with heating bills, plus emergency help if service is at risk. Emergency crisis help is available. | In Kansas the published heating maximum is $4,301. Crisis maximum: $4,301. | Official source → |
Retirement income tax
Social Security in Kansas: All Social Security benefits are fully exempt from Kansas income tax regardless of income level, effective tax year 2024 (enacted 2024, HB 2036). Prior to 2024, benefits were exempt only if federal adjusted gross income was $75,000 or less; above that threshold all benefits were taxed (a 'cliff'). The 2025 Kansas Schedule S, Part A subtracts all Social Security benefits received with no income cap, confirming full exemption.
Pensions, IRAs, and 401(k)s: Kansas has a two-bracket income tax (5.20% / 5.58% for 2025). Certain PUBLIC pensions are FULLY EXEMPT (subtracted on Schedule S, Part A): KPERS (Kansas Public Employees', Police & Firemen's, and Teachers' retirement), Kansas Highway Patrol pensions, Justices & Judges Retirement, Board of Public Utilities, State Board of Regents annuities; federal Civil Service/federal government retirement; U.S. military retirement pay; and U.S. Railroad Retirement benefits (Tier I and Tier II). PRIVATE retirement income is FULLY TAXABLE: private-sector/employer pensions, traditional IRA distributions, 401(k), and 403(b) distributions are all subject to Kansas income tax. Kansas has NO general age-based or income-based exclusion, and NO dollar cap/exclusion, for private retirement income (unlike some states) — the only retirement exclusions are the specific public plans listed above plus Social Security
Official source →Federal programs: checked in Kansas too
These are computed for every family, wherever they live.
VA Aid & Attendance
An extra monthly VA payment for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need daily help.
Medicare Savings Programs
State help that pays your Medicare premiums, and sometimes deductibles and copays.
Medicare Extra Help
Lowers what you pay for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D.
SNAP (food support)
Monthly money for groceries. Older adults often qualify for more than they expect.
Social Security & SSI
Checks whether the person may be missing Social Security or Supplemental Security Income.
Federal tax credits
Credits and deductions families miss, including medical expenses and the credit for the elderly or disabled.
Medicare before 65
Medicare eligibility for people under 65 through a disability.
Who do I call in Kansas for help with elder care?
Call your state's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 1-866-468-7887. They're the free, no-wrong-door starting point for home care, respite and other long-term-care options in Kansas. If someone is unsafe, neglected or being exploited, Adult Protective Services can help at 800-922-5330.
Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) / No Wrong Door
Free help understanding your options.
1-866-468-7887Which of these fits your family?
Being on this list doesn't mean your family qualifies. That depends on income, savings, care needs and service history. The free check works out which ones are worth your time, in about four minutes.
Not legal or medical advice. Benefits vary. Figures are estimates.