Kinship Care Benefits Eligibility Checker
Answer two questions to see which of the three main kinship care programs fit your situation.
"Kinship care benefits" covers three separate programs. Kinship Navigator programs give free help and are open to almost every relative caregiver. TANF child-only grants pay monthly cash based on the child's situation, and your income generally does not count. Kinship Guardianship Assistance applies only if the child was in foster care with you first. Most informal kinship caregivers qualify for the first two and not the third.
Help for grandparents and other relatives raising children is often described as one benefit. It is three programs with three different tests. Answer the questions below to see which apply to you.
Check Your Kinship Care Eligibility
✓ Likely eligible: TANF Child-Only Grant
A cash grant based on the child's needs, not your income, since only the child (not you) is counted in the assistance unit. Apply through your state TANF/welfare agency.
✓ Likely eligible: Kinship Guardianship Assistance (Kin-GAP)
Because the child was formally in foster care with you as a licensed foster parent before you became guardian, you may qualify for ongoing guardianship assistance payments through your state's Title IV-E program.
Kinship Guardianship Assistance (Kin-GAP) generally does not apply here, since it requires the child to have been formally in the foster care system with you as a licensed foster parent first. This doesn't affect your Kinship Navigator or TANF Child-Only eligibility above.
These specific kinship care programs are designed for relatives raising a child who isn't their own. If you're the child's parent, check this site's SNAP Eligibility Calculator or other general assistance tools instead.
All three programs are administered at the state level with varying rules. Contact your state's Kinship Navigator Program or child welfare agency to apply. childwelfare.gov has a state-by-state directory.
| Program | What you get | Who qualifies | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinship Navigator | Free help with applications, legal referrals and support groups. No cash. | Almost any relative caregiver | State or tribal navigator program |
| TANF child-only grant | Monthly cash for the child | A child living with a relative. The caregiver's income is generally not counted. | State TANF or welfare agency |
| Kinship Guardianship Assistance (Kin-GAP) | Ongoing guardianship payments | Relatives who were licensed foster parents for the child first | State child welfare agency |
Kinship Navigator. Congress has funded these programs under Title IV-B of the Social Security Act since 2018. They do not pay cash. Staff help you find and apply for benefits, reach legal help and join support groups. Most have no income test and no custody requirement, so this is the place to start. Dial 211 or call your Area Agency on Aging for the number.
TANF child-only grant. More than half of all TANF cases nationally are child-only. The child receives cash assistance, and only the child is in the "assistance unit," so the caregiver's income is not counted. Many states do not require a custody order. Expect to show the child's birth certificate and Social Security number, proof of your relationship, and proof that the child lives with you. States generally ask you to cooperate with child support enforcement against the parents, and you can ask for a "good cause" exemption if that would put you or the child at risk.
Kin-GAP. This program is authorized under the optional Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program. It applies only when the child was placed in state foster care with the relative as a licensed foster parent, before that relative became the legal guardian. If a grandchild moved in informally and the state never had custody, Kin-GAP generally does not apply, however long the child has lived with you.
Our grandfamilies benefits guide covers each program in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What benefits are available for grandparents raising grandchildren?
Three main programs: free help from a Kinship Navigator program, a monthly TANF child-only grant for the child, and Kinship Guardianship Assistance for relatives who fostered the child before becoming guardian. A child receiving TANF usually qualifies for Medicaid as well.
What is a Kinship Navigator Program?
It is a state or tribal program, funded under Title IV-B of the Social Security Act, that helps relative caregivers find and apply for benefits, legal help and support groups. It does not pay cash, and most programs have no income test.
What is a TANF Child-Only grant?
It is monthly cash assistance paid for a child who lives with a relative. Only the child is in the assistance unit, so the caregiver's income and assets generally do not affect eligibility. Amounts and rules differ by state.
What is the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (Kin-GAP)?
It pays ongoing assistance to a relative who becomes a child's legal guardian after caring for the child as a licensed foster parent. It is an optional Title IV-E program, so not every state offers it.
Do I need to become the child's legal guardian to get any help?
No. Kinship Navigator help needs no custody arrangement, and many states pay TANF child-only grants to informal caregivers. Legal guardianship matters for Kin-GAP and for things such as school enrollment and medical consent.
How is this different from foster care payments?
Foster care payments go to licensed foster parents caring for a child in state custody, and they are usually higher than a TANF child-only grant. Informal kinship caregivers are not in the foster care system, so they rely on TANF and navigator services unless the child enters foster care and they become licensed.
Based on federal rules for the Kinship Navigator Program (Title IV-B), TANF child-only grants and Kinship Guardianship Assistance (Title IV-E). Each state sets eligibility, payment amounts and application requirements, and they vary widely. This tool gives a general eligibility check, not an official determination. Contact your state's child welfare agency or Kinship Navigator Program to apply.