Asking for Financial AssistanceSome grandparents are embarrassed to admit that theyneed help with the costs of raising their grandchildren,or don’t think they qualify for assistance programs. Butkeep in mind that your grandchildren are in a specialsituation. Raising your grandchildren is an extraordi-nary responsibility, and one you have taken on becauseyou love them. Chances are good that you’re also savingthe state significant amounts of money that would havebeen needed to care for your grandchild if you hadn’tstepped in to help. If you need financial assistance, youdon’t need to be embarrassed or to think that you’reasking for help without just cause.

The following sections provide some basic informa-tion about the major assistance resources available in

most communities. Keep in mind that each programhas different eligibility requirements. Talk to staff atthe local offices to see if you qualify. If you have trou-ble finding the offices, check the government listingsin your local phone book to find the local Departmentof Family and Children Services (DFCS) office. Theycan answer many of your questions, and may even beable to refer you to other programs and services thatyou may not have heard about.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF)In 1996, the old Aid to Families with DependentChildren (AFDC) program, commonly referred to as“welfare,” was replaced by a program called

Raising grandchildren can be expensive, espe-cially for grandparents with limited budgets. Ifyou’re struggling to make ends meet, you may want to check out the financialresources and services in your community. Your family may be eligible forfederal and state financial assistance programs to help with the costs of food,health care, and other expenses. There are also other good resources in yourcommunity that can help make the job of raising your grandchildren easier.

Welfare reform has changed the ways that federal and state benefits are dis-tributed to children and families. Changes in food stamps, Medicaid, and SocialSecurity have also happened since welfare reform began in the 1990’s. Thisbrochure is intended to provide a brief introduction to the kinds of resourcesavailable. Keep in mind that most financial assistance programs are now admin-istered by local agencies and government offices. Contact the appropriate localoffices to get the most current information about the programs.

GrandparentsRaising

GrandchildrenAccessing Resources in Your Community

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,or TANF. The TANF program providestemporary financial assistance to familieswith children. TANF also works to helpfamilies become self-sufficient by provid-ing parents with services such as jobpreparation, help with job searching,transportation, child care assistance, andchild support enforcement.

The federal law requires that TANF assis-tance be time-limited. In Georgia, familiescan receive TANF assistance for up to 48months, unless certain hardships exist.Unmarried teen parents under age 18 arerequired to live with a parent or legalguardian in order to receive TANF benefits.If your grandchildren’s parents are under18, they may need to live with you in orderto qualify for TANF, unless you have legalcustody of your grandchildren.

TANF Benefits and OptionsThe amount of financial assistance you canreceive from TANF depends on your familyincome. In 2009, the maximum monthlybenefit for a family of three was $280. Ifyour grandchildren’s parents are also livingwith you, you can request TANF on behalfof the whole family. Keep in mind thateveryone’s income will be considered ifyou apply as a family, and all adults overage 18 will have to prove that they areemployed or participating in job trainingand other efforts.

If your grandchildren’s parents do not livewith you and you do not have legal cus-tody, you can apply for TANF benefits forchildren under 18 as individuals. As agrandparent raising your grandchildren,

you are exempt in Georgia from the four-year lifetime limit on TANF benefits andthe work rules, as long as the applicationis for the individual grandchildren.

If grandparents want to apply for TANFfunds in your own name, you will have tomeet the TANF work requirements, andyou will only be eligible for TANF for fouryears. If you have had difficulty findingwork, you may want to apply for TANF inorder to receive the employment help theyoffer.

Before you apply for TANF, consider howmuch you receive in child support. If youare receiving child support for your grand-children, you are required to turn over thechild support funds to the state if youreceive TANF benefits. If your child sup-port is more than what you could receivethrough TANF, you may decide not toapply for TANF benefits.

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The TANF program provides

temporary financialassistance tofamilies with

children.

How to Apply for TANFIf you’ve never received TANF benefits foryourself or your grandchild, be prepared fora fairly time-consuming applicationprocess. You will need to fill out paperworkand answer questions about your family sit-uation. Start by making an appointmentwith a caseworker at the DFCS office inyour county. (Check in the county govern-ment listings in the phone book.)

Before you go to the appointment, ask whatdocuments you need to bring with you. Beprepared to describe your family’s situationto them. You will probably be asked tobring birth certificates or other documentsthat prove your relationship to your grand-children. You will be asked for verificationfrom a close friend or neighbor that yourgrandchildren actually live with you. Youdon’t currently need to have custody of thegrandchildren, as long as you can provethat they are living in your home. (Thisrequirement may change in the future.)

Other Financial Assistance ProgramsIn addition to TANF, your community hasother financial resources that could helpwith the cost of raising your grandchildren.These are some of the most widely avail-able programs.

Food stampsFood stamps can help you purchase foodfor your family. Grandparents caring forgrandchildren can apply for food stamps,even if you don’t have legal custody of thechildren, but your grandchildren cannotqualify for food stamps separately. Whetheryou are eligible for food stamps is based onyour household income. You can apply forfood stamps at the same Department ofFamily and Children Services (DFCS) officethat handles TANF requests. You shouldapply for both at the same time. You will beasked for proof of your identity, where youlive, your household income, and expensessuch as rent, utilities, and medical costs. Be

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In addition toTANF, your

community hasother financial

resources that couldhelp with the cost

of raising yourgrandchildren.

sure to ask in advance what documents youneed to bring with you.

Medicaid and PeachCare for KidsHealth care costs can be expensive.Medicaid and PeachCare help families withchildren who can’t afford health insurance.You can apply for Medicaid just as you dofor other benefits, at your county’s DFCSoffice. Don’t forget to bring informationabout any health insurance you may have.You don’t need to have legal custody ofyour grandchildren to qualify for Medicaid.

Those who qualify for Medicaid receive acard that they can present to doctors, den-tists, hospitals and pharmacies. If thedoctors or pharmacies have agreed to par-ticipate in Medicaid, they will bill the statefor their services. Be careful. Not everydoctor accepts Medicaid payment, and notevery prescription drug is covered. You

may be required to go to a doctor the statechooses for Medicaid to pay your bills.

If your household income is too high toqualify for Medicaid, but you still can’tafford health insurance, your grandchil-dren might qualify for PeachCare for Kids.To qualify, you must be a U. S. citizen orlegal resident, your grandchildren must be18 or younger, and the children must havebeen uninsured for at least three months.There are income limits for PeachCare,and your grandchildren cannot receivePeachCare if they qualify for Medicaid orhave access to insurance because you areemployed by the state of Georgia (even ifyou have not purchased the coverage). Formore information on Peach Care for Kids,got to www.peachcare.org or call 1-877-GA-PEACH.

Supplemental Security IncomeIf your grandchild is disabled, he mightqualify for Supplemental Security Income(SSI). SSI provides financial assistance forlow-income people, including children,who are blind, disabled or elderly. If youare over age 65 or are disabled, you mayalso qualify for SSI. Receiving SSI alsoqualifies you to receive Medicaid. To applyfor SSI, you must provide proof that yourgrandchild is disabled. Talk with the SocialSecurity Administration office to find outwhether your grandchild’s disability meetsSSI guidelines. You can go to www.ssa.govor call 1-800-772-1213 to find out the loca-tion of your local Social SecurityAdministration office, or look in the phonebook under United States governmentoffices. Ask them to send you an applica-tion packet. It will explain the applicationprocess and tell you what documents you

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SupplementalSecurity Income(SSI) provides

financial assistancefor low-income

people, includingchildren, who areblind, disabled or

elderly.

will need. If you receive TANF, you will gethelp in applying for SSI if your grandchildqualifies.

Earned Incomes Tax Credit (EITC)This is a special benefit for low- and mod-erate-income working people who areraising children. To receive this credit, youmust file an income tax return. If you don’towe any taxes, you will receive a check forthe tax credit. If you do owe taxes, thecredit will be subtracted from what youowe. The earned income tax credit is basedon your earned income. Money you receivefrom TANF, Social Security, VA pension,child support, and investments does notcount. To qualify for the EITC, you mustprove that your grandchildren are eitherunder age 19, under 24 if they are full-timestudents, or totally disabled. Your grand-children must have lived in your home formore than six months of the year, and youmust have worked during the tax year. Ifyour grandchildren’s parents are applyingfor this credit, you cannot also apply dur-ing the same tax year.

To apply for the EITC, contact the localIRS office for forms and instructions, or goto www.irs.gov/formspubs to get moreinformation. The EITC can help make rais-ing your grandchildren more affordable.

Local Community ResourcesIn addition to the federal and state pro-grams described above, many localcommunities have resources that can helpwith the cost of raising grandchildren. Youmay qualify for free or reduced-priceschool breakfasts and lunches, assistancefrom local food banks and clothes closets,and special programs to help buy holiday

gifts for your grandchildren. Talk to thecaseworker at your local DFCS office; heor she may be able to connect you to spe-cial programs or services in yourcommunity.

Other Help in Your CommunityMany communities also have otherresources that can help make raising yourgrandchildren easier. You might look forthe following:

n Child care referrals: If you’re lookingfor child care, you can contact your localchild care resource and referral agencyfor a list of programs and providers.Contact the Georgia Association of ChildCare Resource and Referral Agencieswww.gaccrra.org or call 800-466-5681 tofind out how to contact your local

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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Cooperative Extension, The University of Georgia

agency. This service is free to all parentsand grandparents. (For more informa-tion on choosing child care, seeGrand parents Raising Grandchildren:Child Care Concerns.)

n Grandparent support groups:Raising grandchildren can be stressful.In some communities, grandparentsraising grandchildren get together reg-ularly to share ideas and support eachother. You might ask your child’sschool counselor, your faith organiza-tion leader, or other grandparentswhether they know about a grandpar-ent support group in your area. If youcan’t find a group, you might considerstarting one. (For more information onstarting a grandparent support group,see Grandparents Raising Grand -children: Caring for Yourself.)

n Community activities for children:Agood way for your grandchild to get toknow other children is to get involved inactivities in your community, such assports teams, music lessons, or artclasses. If your community has a recre-ation center or a large park, check to seewhat activities they offer. Watch thelocal section of your newspaper forannouncements of upcoming activities.Talk to other parents and grandparentswho have children about the same ages;they may know a lot about activities andsign-up dates. (For fun, low-cost activi-ties to do with your grandchildren, seeGrandparents Raising Grandchildren:Fun Learning Activities for You andYour Granchildren.)

In SummaryRaising grandchildren can be a challenge.But you don’t have to handle everythingalone. Many federal, state, and localresources are available to help, both finan-cially and with information and activities.Talk to other adults in your community,contact your local DFCS office, and watchthe newspaper for special events.Remember that you’re not alone. Gettingsupport in the community is a wonderfulway to take care of yourself. When you areless worried about the financial responsi-bilities of raising your grandchildren, youare more available to provide warmth,security, attention, and fun learning oppor-tunities.

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ReferencesAARP (2008). Guide to public benefits for grandfamilies. Retrieved on December

15, 2008, from http://www.aarp.org/family/grandparenting/articles/guide_to_public_benefits.html

AARP (2007). Public benefits programs. Retrieved on December 15, 2008, fromhttp://www.aarp.org/family/grandparenting/articles/public_benefits_programs_can_help_grandparents.html

Cox, C. (2000). To grandmother’s house we go and stay: Perspectives on custodial grand-parents. New York: Springer.

de Toledo, S. & Brown, D.E. (1995). Grandparents as parents: A survival guide for rais-ing a second family. New York: Guilford Press.

Georgia Department of Human Resources (2003). TANF in Georgia. Retrieved December15, 2008 from http://dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/DHR-DFCS/DHR-DFCS_CommonFiles/4922055TANF_in_Georgia.pdf

State of Georgia (2003). Georgia’s temporary assistance for needy families state plan forFFY 2003. Retrieved December 15, 2008, from http://dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/DHR-DFCS/DHR-DFCS_CommonFiles/4920828TANF_Plan_FY2003.pdf

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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Cooperative Extension, The University of Georgia

The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture andcounties of the state cooperating. Cooperative Extension, the University of Georgia College ofAgricultural and Environmental Sciences, offers educational programs, assistance and materialsto all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ORGANIZATIONCOMMITTED TO A DIVERSE WORK FORCE

Publication # CHFD-E 59-6 revised July, 2009

Developed and released by Dr. Diane Bales, Human Development Specialist,

Cooperative Extension, The University of Georgia. The Grandparents Raising

Grandchildren series was adapted, with permission, from the Grandparents as

Parents series originally developed by the University of Kentucky Cooperative

Extension and released by Sam Quick. For more information, go to

http://www.gafamilies.org or call 1-800-ASK-UGA1.