Benefits for Grandchildren You’re Raising: SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, and More
Accessing benefits for a grandchild in your care is not always straightforward — the child may be listed under a parent who is no longer caring for them, or you may not know what you can apply for without full legal custody. This guide covers the major benefits and how to access them as a grandparent caregiver.
SNAP (Food Assistance)
Can you apply for SNAP for your grandchild? Yes, in most situations. A child in your care can be included in your SNAP household regardless of whether you have legal guardianship. Your household’s SNAP benefit is calculated based on everyone in the household, including the grandchild.
If the child is receiving SNAP through their parent’s case: That case should be updated when the child moves to your home. Contact your local SNAP office to report the change. Continuing to receive benefits intended for a child who is no longer in the home is a problem for the parent’s case — but more importantly, you should be receiving the additional support for the child in your household.
Apply at: Your state’s SNAP agency — find it through fns.usda.gov/snap.
Medicaid and CHIP
The child’s prior insurance may not follow them. When a grandchild moves into your care, their insurance situation needs to be actively updated — you cannot assume coverage continues automatically.
Medicaid eligibility for the child is based on the child’s situation and your state’s income rules — in many states, children qualify for Medicaid or CHIP at income levels well above what qualifies adults. Apply even if you think your income is too high; the child’s eligibility is evaluated differently from an adult’s.
Apply at: Your state’s Medicaid agency or healthcare.gov. In many states, the child qualifies immediately as a dependent in your household.
If the child is receiving Medicaid through a parent’s case: This needs to be updated when the child’s living situation changes. The child may continue to qualify — but the case needs to reflect where the child actually lives.
Social Security Benefits Based on a Parent’s Record
If the grandchild’s parent is deceased, disabled, or retired and receiving Social Security, the child may be entitled to Social Security dependent or survivor benefits based on the parent’s record — regardless of who is raising them.
Survivor benefits (if the parent is deceased): The child may receive monthly benefits until age 18 (or 19 if still in high school). These are paid to the child’s representative payee — which can be you as the caregiver.
Dependent benefits (if the parent is disabled or retired and receiving Social Security): The child may receive benefits based on the parent’s record.
How to apply: Contact the Social Security Administration directly at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local SSA office. You’ll need the parent’s Social Security number and documentation of the child’s relationship to the parent and current living situation.
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) for a Child With a Disability
If the grandchild has a qualifying disability, they may qualify for SSI. The deeming rules for SSI are different when the child lives with a grandparent caregiver versus a parent — the grandparent’s income may or may not be deemed to the child depending on the legal relationship.
Specifically:
– If you are the child’s legal guardian or have adopted the child, your income is generally deemed to the child for SSI purposes
– If you are an informal caregiver without legal status, the income deeming rules may be different
A Social Security benefits counselor can advise on the specific rules for your situation. For the full SSI for children overview, see SSI for Children: Does Your Child Qualify and How to Apply.
TANF (Child-Only Cases)
As covered in the kinship financial support guide, a child-only TANF case allows you to receive cash assistance for the grandchild in your care based on the child’s eligibility — without counting your income or imposing work requirements on you as the grandparent.
Apply at: Your state’s TANF agency through your local social services office. Ask specifically about child-only cases.
School Lunch and Free/Reduced Programs
The grandchild in your care qualifies to apply for free or reduced school lunch based on your household’s income. Apply at the start of each school year directly with the school — eligibility doesn’t carry over automatically year to year.
Tax Considerations
Dependency exemption and Child Tax Credit: If the grandchild lives with you and you provide more than half their support, you may be able to claim them as a dependent and access the Child Tax Credit. The rules about who can claim a grandchild when a parent is also in the picture can be complex — consult a tax professional if there’s any question about this.
Head of Household filing status: If you’re unmarried and are providing a home for the grandchild, you may qualify to file as Head of Household, which provides a lower tax rate and higher standard deduction than filing as Single.
Earned Income Tax Credit: As a caregiver for a grandchild who qualifies as your dependent, you may qualify for the EITC — verify current-year eligibility with a tax professional or VITA free tax preparation site.
Where to Start If You’re Unsure What You Qualify For
Your state’s Kinship Navigator program (find it at grandfamilies.org) is specifically designed to help grandparent caregivers navigate the benefits landscape. A Kinship Navigator can tell you what’s available in your state, help with applications, and identify benefits you may not know to look for.