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Benefits and Financial Help for Relative Caregivers in Virginia

Read this in: Español

Author: Valerie L'Herrou

If a grandchild, niece, nephew, or other family member's child is living with you, financial help may be available. DSS and other agencies often call this a "relative child," so you may see that term when you apply for benefits.

Apply in person through your local Department of Social Services, called DSS, or online at CommonHelp.Virginia.gov. Have your financial and legal documents ready.

Important: Not all DSS workers are familiar with the benefits available to relative families. If a worker tells you the child does not qualify, ask for a copy of the policy and to speak with a supervisor.

Important: If you are not a citizen but the child was born in the U.S. or is a naturalized citizen, the child can still get benefits even if you cannot.

Cash assistance: TANF and SNAP

TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is a cash assistance program. If a relative child is living with you, you may be able to get TANF, even if you have too much income to be eligible. This is because the child may still be eligible for a child-only TANF grant, sometimes called "Payee TANF."

Here is how it works:

  • Only the child's income counts. Your income does not.
  • If your own income is low, you may qualify for a larger family TANF grant.

If the child came to live with you because of CPS involvement, ask about the Relative Maintenance Support bump. This is extra money added on top of the Payee TANF. Ask the social worker who helped arrange the placement.

If you receive TANF: the state will collect child support from the child's parents and keep it as reimbursement. That money goes to the state, not to you. You are required to share information about the parents to help with this. Refusing can mean losing TANF benefits.

Sometimes, if the state is able to get the parent to pay support, they will stop paying TANF benefits. If the parent stops paying support, you will need to seek help in getting the parent to pay again. Contact the Department of Child Support Enforcement or file with the court. 

SNAP is a food assistance program. Having a child in your home may make your household eligible for SNAP. Learn more about SNAP. If you do not receive SNAP, or the monthly amount is not enough, you can get other types of food assistance. You might be able to get free food at a food bank or pantry. The child may also be eligible for free breakfast and lunch at school.

KinGAP: ongoing help for licensed relative guardians

KinGAP, the Kinship Guardian Assistance Program, gives ongoing money to a relative, or someone who is not related but is like kin, who becomes the legal guardian of a child who was in foster care.

To qualify, you generally need to meet all of the following:

  • The child was removed from the parent(s) or the parents gave DSS custody of the child for the child’s safety and needs
  • The child was in foster care (and usually you were the child’s foster parent)
  • You want to become the child's permanent legal guardian
  • The child has a close bond with you
  • The child cannot be adopted
  • The child's parents cannot resume custody

KinGAP must be set up with your local DSS while the child is still in foster care. You cannot apply after the fact. The payment amount is based on the child's needs. If the child does not qualify for KinGAP, the other benefits on this page are still available.

Keep in mind: there are two kinds of KinGAP in Virginia: federally-funded and state-funded. If you are not eligible for one kind, you may be eligible for the other. Not all DSS workers are familiar with or offer KinGAP, so you may need to ask about it. If a worker tells you that you do not qualify, ask for a copy of the policy and to speak with a supervisor.

Read more: KinGAP Flowchart

Medical coverage

A relative child in your care should qualify for one of Virginia’s state health coverage programs based on the child’s income. These programs are Medicaid and FAMIS (Family Access to Medical Insurance Security, for uninsured children under age 19). Enroll Virginia is a free service that can help you complete the application for health coverage.

Children who have been through hard situations often need extra support. You may need support too. Medicaid and FAMIS coverage includes mental health care, so the child can also see a therapist or specialist. Your local Community Services Board or Behavioral Health Authority can help connect you to therapy or support groups.

If the child has more emotional, mental, or behavioral health needs than Medicaid or FAMIS covers, ask your DSS about the Children's Services Act, called CSA. Families can sometimes refer themselves. Every office works a little differently, so ask DSS how to access it in your area.

Other help to ask DSS about

Your local DSS may also be able to help with:

  • Child care subsidies if you work and the child needs day care
  • Housing help if you need more space or your lease does not allow children
  • Some localities also provide general relief funds for some one-time expenses

SSI and VA benefits

The child may also qualify for:

  • SSI (Supplemental Security Income) or "auxiliary benefits" if the child is disabled, if a parent is disabled, or if an eligible parent has died. Make sure the check goes directly to the child. No one else should be cashing it: ssa.gov
  • VA benefits if a parent is a veteran or service member: va.gov

If the parent previously received benefits for this child

Contact your local DSS or the Social Security Administration right away to update their records. Ensure that you are now the payee for any benefits received on behalf of the child, and not the parent. For example, if the parent receives SNAP for the child, the parent cannot just give you their SNAP card. You must now be the person on the account. If you do not contact the agency and make these changes, you or the parent may end up owing money to the state, or even face fraud accusations.

How to get legal custody

You do not always need a formal custody order to get these benefits. But if you do want to get legal custody, file with the J&DR Court in the correct district. 

Read more: Grandparent and Non-Parent Custody in Virginia

Where can I find more information? 

If you have not parented in a long time, or the child has been through trauma, ask social services about free or low-cost parenting classes.

Things to remember

  • Most children qualify for some help even if you do not.
  • You do not always need a formal custody order to get benefits.
  • Not all DSS workers know about every benefit. If you are denied, ask for a supervisor.
  • KinGAP must be set up before the child leaves foster care. You cannot apply after.
  • If the parent previously received benefits for this child, update DSS and SSA records right away.