Kentucky K-TAP (Cash Assistance)
Last updated August 2026
K-TAP, the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program, is the state's TANF cash program. It gives monthly financial and medical assistance to needy dependent children and the parents or relatives they live with, and helps families find work. Apply in person at any DCBS office, by phone at 855-306-8959, or online at kynect.ky.gov, and one application can start K-TAP and other programs together.
Know the clock: there is a 60-month lifetime limit on K-TAP. Every month you receive counts, and you can use the months in separate stretches, for example 24 months now and 36 later. Treat the check as a bridge, not a floor.
The rules are family-focused. You must have low income, be a Kentucky resident, and be a U.S. citizen or qualified immigrant, and you must be a parent or caretaker relative responsible for a child up to age 18, or 19 if the child meets school-attendance rules. The monthly payment is set by family size and income, so the amount varies by household.
Going to work does not automatically stop the check, which is the part people fear most. Your earnings may go uncounted for the first six months, and deductions apply when they are counted, so a working family may keep getting help while it gets on its feet.
The support goes beyond cash. Recipients may qualify for childcare, transportation help, relocation assistance, an educational bonus, and a work-incentive bonus tied to the Kentucky Works Program. Ask your worker which apply.
There is a soft landing when work ends K-TAP. Families may still qualify for Medicaid and SNAP, get work-incentive reimbursements for up to 12 months, and keep Child Care Assistance if they meet the guidelines. The application form is the PA-77; call 855-306-8959 for help completing it.
Phone 1-855-306-8959
Hours Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm ET
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Kentucky families with a child up to age 18, or 19 if the child is still in school, who meet an income and resource test
- Most adults take part in Kentucky Works, and a family can receive K-TAP for 60 months, five years, in a lifetime
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Apply at kynect.ky.gov, by phone at 855-306-8959, or at any DCBS office.
- 2
Provide proof of income, your children's information, and residency.
- 3
Set up your Kentucky Works plan and ask about childcare and transportation supports.
- 4
If you find work, ask how the six-month earnings disregard affects your check.
What to have ready
- ID and Social Security numbers for the adults applying
- Proof of income and resources
- Proof that a child lives with you. DCBS confirms the full list.
What the application looks like
Common questions
Who can get K-TAP?
Low-income Kentucky families with a parent or caretaker relative responsible for a child up to 18, or 19 if the child meets school rules. The family must meet income and resource tests.
How long can I get it?
There is a 60-month lifetime limit. Months can be used in separate stretches, and going to work does not automatically end the benefit.
Will working stop my check right away?
No. Earnings may go uncounted for the first six months, and deductions apply after that, so a working family may keep receiving assistance.
What else comes with K-TAP?
Possible childcare, transportation help, relocation assistance, and education and work-incentive bonuses through the Kentucky Works Program.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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