Kinship Care Financial Support: What Grandparent Caregivers Are Entitled To
Grandparents raising grandchildren often do so with little to no financial support, unaware that several programs exist specifically to help — and that what’s available depends heavily on how the placement is structured and what state you’re in. This guide maps the major financial support options.
The Landscape of Financial Support for Kinship Caregivers
Financial support for grandparent caregivers varies based on whether the placement is:
– Informal — grandparent took the child in without any government involvement
– Court-ordered guardianship — grandparent has legal guardianship obtained through court
– Kinship foster care — child was placed with grandparent through the child welfare system
These different legal situations lead to different financial supports. Informal caregivers typically have the least access to financial support; kinship foster care provides the most.
Kinship Foster Care Payments
If the child in your care was placed by child protective services and you’ve been licensed as a foster caregiver, you’re entitled to the same foster care maintenance payment as any other licensed foster parent in your state. These payments are meant to cover the cost of the child’s food, clothing, shelter, and daily needs.
Foster care payment rates vary by state and by the child’s age and needs. They are generally significantly higher than the cash assistance available to informal kinship caregivers.
To access this: Contact your state or county child welfare agency. You will need to complete the foster care licensing process, which includes a home study, background checks, and training. Kinship families are often given support and flexibility in the licensing process that non-related foster families don’t receive — ask specifically about kinship licensing.
Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP)
If you’ve obtained legal guardianship of a child who was previously in foster care and meets federal eligibility criteria, the Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program may provide ongoing financial support after guardianship is finalized — similar to ongoing foster care payments.
Key facts:
– Not all states have implemented the full Title IV-E GAP program, though most have some version
– The child must meet specific prior foster care and eligibility criteria
– Payment amounts and services covered vary by state
– Medicaid coverage for the child typically accompanies this program
Ask your child welfare caseworker specifically about guardianship assistance before finalizing guardianship — once guardianship is finalized, eligibility rules apply differently.
TANF for Children in Relative Care
If you’re not receiving a foster care payment, you may be able to apply for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) on behalf of the child in your care — sometimes called a “child-only” TANF case, where only the child’s needs are considered, not the grandparent’s income.
Child-only TANF:
– The grandparent’s income is generally not counted — eligibility is based on the child’s situation
– Payment amounts are modest but provide some support
– Unlike adult TANF cases, work requirements may not apply to the grandparent in a child-only case
– Applying for the child does not require you to disclose or use your own income
Apply through your state’s social services or TANF agency. Ask specifically about child-only cases, as staff don’t always volunteer this option.
Medicaid for the Grandchild
Regardless of the grandparent’s income or insurance, the grandchild may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP based on the child’s own situation and your state’s income rules. As a grandparent caregiver, you should apply for Medicaid coverage for the child specifically — don’t assume the child’s prior coverage continues automatically when they move to your home.
Apply through your state’s Medicaid agency or through Healthcare.gov’s enrollment portal.
Social Security Benefits for the Child
If a grandchild’s parent is deceased, disabled, or retired and receiving Social Security, the child may be entitled to Social Security survivor or dependent benefits based on the parent’s record. These benefits go to the child and can be significant.
Contact the Social Security Administration directly at 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov to ask about whether the child qualifies based on the parent’s Social Security record.
If the child has their own qualifying disability, SSI (Supplemental Security Income) may also be available — see the main library’s benefits guides.
Support for the Grandparent Caregiver Personally
Most of the programs above support the child. A few programs address the grandparent’s own needs:
TANF for the grandparent — if your income is low enough, you may be able to include yourself in a TANF case that also covers the grandchild. This is different from the child-only case and does involve your income. Ask your caseworker about both options.
SNAP for the household — the grandparent caregiver’s household, including the grandchild, may qualify for food assistance. Apply as a household that includes the child.
Respite care programs — some states have specific respite programs for grandparent caregivers. The ARCH National Respite Network (archrespite.org) maintains a directory of respite programs by state.
The Kinship Navigator Program
Many states have Kinship Navigator Programs — specifically designed to help grandparent and other relative caregivers identify and access the services and benefits available to them. These are free services and among the most practically useful resources for grandfamilies, because the landscape of available support is fragmented and hard to navigate without a guide.
Find your state’s Kinship Navigator program through grandfamilies.org or by contacting your local child welfare agency.
The Bottom Line
Financial support for grandparent caregivers is available through multiple channels — foster care payments, guardianship assistance, child-only TANF, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits — but what you can access depends significantly on how the placement is structured and your state. A Kinship Navigator is often the most efficient way to identify what applies to your specific situation.