Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Nevada: Kinship Care, TANF, and Support

Last updated: April 7, 2026

Bottom line: Nevada does have real help for grandparents raising grandchildren, but it does not come as one simple statewide grandparent grant. The fastest path is usually to apply right away for child-only Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Medicaid or Nevada Check Up through Access Nevada, while you sort out guardianship. If child welfare is involved, relative foster care or Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP) may pay much more than child-only TANF.

Emergency help now

• If the child is in immediate danger: Call 911. To report abuse or neglect in Nevada, call Clark County at 1-702-399-0081, Washoe County at 1-833-900-7233, or rural Nevada at 1-833-571-1041 through the state child welfare reporting information.
• If you need food, cash, or health coverage now: File one Access Nevada application today for TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid or Nevada Check Up.
• If a parent will cooperate and this may be temporary: Use Nevada’s short-term guardianship process right away, then decide whether you need a court guardianship.

Quick help for Nevada grandparents

• Fastest cash path: Ask for a child-only TANF case for the child, not for yourself, through Access Nevada or your local Division of Social Services (DSS) office.
• If you are 62 or older and already have a Nevada guardianship order: Ask specifically for the Nevada Kinship Care Program.
• If the child came through Clark County DFS, Washoe County HSA, or DCFS Rural: Call the open child welfare agency first. That is how you find out about relative foster care, licensing, respite, and KinGAP.
• Best statewide kinship navigator: Foster Kinship runs Nevada’s kinship navigator with a helpline at 1-844-810-1667 and centers in North Las Vegas and Reno.
• No internet or trouble with portals: Nevada still allows paper, fax, mail, drop-off, and office-based application help for many benefit programs through local DSS offices.

What this help really looks like in Nevada

Start by figuring out which Nevada system your family is in. That matters more than anything else. If there is no open child welfare case, most grandparents are dealing with the benefits system and the courts. If the child was placed with you by a child welfare agency, you are dealing with a very different set of rules, payments, and workers.

Nevada also changed some agency names. As of July 1, 2025, the old Division of Welfare and Supportive Services, or DWSS, officially became the Division of Social Services (DSS). Many official pages and PDF forms still use the older DWSS name, so do not assume a page is outdated just because you see DWSS on it.

Official Nevada child welfare data show that on June 30, 2024, there were 688 children in relative foster care statewide: 527 in Clark County, 120 in Washoe County, and 41 in rural Nevada. That only counts the formal foster care side. Many grandparents in Nevada are caring for children privately and need DSS benefits, school help, and court paperwork instead.

If this is your situation	Where to start in Nevada	Most likely help
You took in a grandchild privately and no child welfare case is open	Access Nevada, your local DSS office, and the Nevada Self-Help Center	Child-only TANF, SNAP, Medicaid or Nevada Check Up, school help, court guardianship
The child was placed with you by child welfare	Your open case agency in Clark, Washoe, or rural Nevada	Relative foster care, licensing, respite, Medicaid, KinGAP, caseworker support
A parent agrees this is temporary	Short-term guardianship plus DSS benefits	Fast temporary authority, but usually not enough for insurance or many medical consent problems

Quick facts

• Best immediate takeaway: In Nevada, the best first move is usually to apply for child-only benefits before you finish court paperwork.
• One major rule: You usually do not get foster care payments unless a child welfare agency is involved and the child is formally placed with you.
• One realistic obstacle: Schools and health providers may ask for more proof than you expect if you do not yet have a court order.
• One useful fact: Nevada’s senior-focused Kinship Care Program exists, but it is limited to caregivers age 62 or older with Nevada court-approved guardianship.
• One best next step: Decide whether your case is private, short-term with parent consent, or formal child welfare placement, then call the right office first.

Who qualifies in plain English

You may qualify for some kind of Nevada help if these points are true:

• The child is living with you in Nevada.
• You are the child’s grandparent or another relative. In some child welfare programs, a close family friend or “fictive kin” may also qualify.
• You can show who is in the home and what money is coming in.
• You are willing to apply for the child, not just wait for the system to find you.
• If you want Nevada’s senior Kinship Care Program, you must be age 62 or older, have cared for the child for at least six straight months, and already have a Nevada court guardianship order.
• If you want KinGAP or foster care payments, the child must already be in a formal child welfare track.

Best first steps after a grandparent takes in a child

• Make the child safe. If there is violence, neglect, drug activity, or a missing parent crisis, call 911 or the right child welfare line.
• Get the child’s basic papers. Ask for birth certificate, Social Security card, school records, Medicaid card, immunization record, and any court or placement papers.
• Apply for benefits the same day. Use Access Nevada or a DSS office for TANF, SNAP, and medical coverage.
• Pick your legal track. If a parent will sign and this is truly short-term, use short-term guardianship. If this will last longer, start a court guardianship case.
• Call the school quickly. Ask what the registrar needs for enrollment in your district today, not next week.
• Call Foster Kinship. The Nevada kinship navigator can help you avoid common mistakes at 1-844-810-1667.

Financial help for grandparents raising grandchildren

Child-only TANF for grandparents raising grandchildren

• What it is: Nevada’s child-only TANF is cash assistance for the child. In DSS materials, you may see it described as a non-parent or non-needy relative caretaker category.
• Who can get it or use it: Grandparents and other specified relatives caring for a child in their home. Nevada’s current TANF need standards chart shows a separate non-parent income test at 275% of the federal poverty level, so a retirement or Social Security income does not always block this option.
• How it helps: The current DSS chart effective April 1, 2025 lists these monthly non-parent child-only payment allowances: $418 for one eligible child, $478 for two, $538 for three, $598 for four, $659 for five, $719 for six, and $60 for each additional eligible child.
• How to apply or use it: File through Access Nevada or a local DSS office. Tell the worker you are asking for a child-only TANF case for a grandchild and that you are not asking for cash for yourself. Nevada says TANF decisions are generally made within 45 days.
• What to gather or know first: Child identity documents, proof the child lives with you, income proof for the household, and any papers showing the parents are absent or not caring for the child. DSS may also ask about child support cooperation, so speak up right away if contact with a parent would be unsafe.

Eligible child count	Monthly Nevada child-only TANF payment allowance
1	$418
2	$478
3	$538
4	$598
5	$659
6	$719
Each additional child	+$60

Important: These are the latest public non-parent payment amounts in Nevada’s DSS TANF chart available on April 7, 2026. This program is different from Nevada’s senior Kinship Care Program below.

Kinship care payments for seniors through Nevada’s Kinship Care Program

• What it is: A narrow DSS cash program for certain older relatives who already have legal guardianship. Nevada is unusual because it does have this senior-focused kinship benefit.
• Who can get it or use it: The official DSS Kinship Care Program page says you must be age 62 or older, be a non-parent non-needy relative caregiver, live with the child, have cared for the child for at least six consecutive months, have Nevada court-approved legal guardianship, comply with court requirements, and be under the program’s household income rule.
• How it helps: DSS currently lists up to $418 per month when the only child is age 0 through 12, $401 per child when there are two or more children age 0 through 12, and $463 per child age 13 or older.
• How to apply or use it: Contact your local DSS office and ask for the Nevada Kinship Care Program. If you do not meet the Kinship Care rules yet, ask to be screened for child-only TANF and Medicaid for the child while you finish guardianship.
• What to gather or know first: Your guardianship order, proof you and the child have lived together for six straight months, IDs, income proof, and the child’s citizenship and identity papers. DSS also says it may reimburse up to $750 for approved independent legal counsel to obtain guardianship if you are approved for the non-needy relative caretaker TANF program.

Can grandparents get foster care payments in Nevada?

• What it is: Foster care money is paid when a child welfare agency has placed the child with you in a formal foster care setting.
• Who can get it or use it: Relatives or fictive kin in an open child welfare case. Nevada’s relative foster care guidance says kinship foster caregivers can be licensed or unlicensed, but licensed relatives get the full foster care rate.
• How it helps: Nevada’s current state foster care rate schedule lists a base relative kinship care rate of $858.02 per month for children ages 0 through 12 and $971.38 per month for children age 13 and older, plus clothing and school-supply allowances. Nevada also says counties may add county money. In Washoe County, the official caregiver rates page publicly lists $33 per day for relatives or fictive kin, plus any special-needs rate.
• How to apply or use it: Ask the open case agency whether the child is formally placed with you, whether you are being treated as a relative foster placement, and how to start licensing. Nevada says the licensing process usually takes about three to six months.
• What to gather or know first: Placement papers, IDs for adults in the home, background check and fingerprint paperwork, and home safety information. If another adult in the home has a serious disqualifying crime or child abuse history, that can stop or delay approval.

Guardianship assistance for older caregivers through KinGAP

• What it is: The Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP) is for children leaving foster care into permanent guardianship with a licensed relative or fictive kin caregiver.
• Who can get it or use it: Under Nevada’s April 25, 2025 KinGAP policy, the child must have been removed from home, reunification and adoption must not be the right permanency option, the child must have lived with the licensed relative or fictive kin for at least six consecutive months, and the KinGAP agreement must be signed before the court finalizes guardianship.
• How it helps: The payment is negotiated based on the child’s needs and cannot exceed the foster care rate. Nevada says no means test is allowed for KinGAP eligibility or payment amount. The same policy also allows up to $2,000 per case in non-recurring guardianship expenses and provides Medicaid coverage.
• How to apply or use it: This is handled through the child welfare agency, not through DSS. Ask the caseworker, supervisor, or subsidy worker about KinGAP before you file for guardianship in court.
• What to gather or know first: Proof of licensure, placement dates, the child’s needs, cost estimates, and every receipt tied to the guardianship case. Nevada allows the payment to continue until age 19 if the child is still in high school and the guardian asks for continuation.

Kinship navigator help through Foster Kinship

• What it is: Nevada’s child welfare system points kinship caregivers to the Foster Kinship navigator program.
• Who can get it or use it: Nevada says it is available to anyone parenting a relative’s or fictive kin’s child in the state, not just foster parents.
• How it helps: Family advocates help with benefits, legal options, immediate needs, and referrals. Nevada’s official relative foster care page lists a southern kinship center in North Las Vegas, a northern center in Reno, remote appointments, and the helpline at 1-844-810-1667.
• How to apply or use it: Call 1-844-810-1667 or use the Foster Kinship website to request help.
• What to gather or know first: A short timeline of when the child moved in, any child welfare papers, benefit notices, school questions, and your biggest problem first.

Legal custody vs kinship care vs informal caregiving

Plain-English rule: “Kinship care” is a family situation, not a single legal status. In Nevada, the money and decision-making power depend on whether you are informal, short-term, court-appointed, or in a formal child welfare case.

Arrangement	Who has legal authority	Best for	Biggest limit
Informal caregiving	The parent still keeps legal authority	Very short emergencies	School, medical, and benefit problems happen fast
Short-term guardianship	Parent signs a notarized private form	Temporary care of 6 months or less	Usually not enough for insurance or many medical treatment issues
Court guardianship	The court-appointed guardian	Longer-term school, medical, and legal authority	Takes court paperwork and time
Relative foster care or KinGAP	Child welfare plus court or agency rules	Children already in the formal system	Only available if the child welfare track applies

Short-term guardianship under Nevada law

• What it is: A private, parent-signed guardianship that does not need a judge if the parent has legal custody.
• Who can get it or use it: Families using Nevada’s short-term guardianship process. If the child is 14 or older, the child must consent in writing.
• How it helps: It can give quick temporary authority and can help you bridge a crisis.
• How to apply or use it: Use the Nevada Self-Help forms or, in Clark County schools, the CCSD temporary guardianship form. The agreement must be notarized.
• What to gather or know first: It lasts only six months unless a shorter term is written. Nevada Self-Help warns that this is not a court order and usually cannot be used to get medical insurance for a child or permit medical treatment.

Court guardianship of a minor

• What it is: A court order that gives you stronger authority over the child’s care.
• Who can get it or use it: Grandparents and other adults asking a Nevada district court to appoint them guardian of a child. Nevada’s guardianship laws are in Chapter 159A of the Nevada Revised Statutes.
• How it helps: This is the safer path for long-term school, medical, and benefits problems. It is also required for Nevada’s senior Kinship Care Program.
• How to apply or use it: Start with the Nevada Self-Help Center’s guardianship pages. County court steps and fees vary, so use your district court’s self-help materials for your county.
• What to gather or know first: You will usually need family information, addresses for notice, reasons the parents cannot care for the child, and child records. If the child welfare system is involved, ask first whether guardianship should be delayed until KinGAP or another subsidy is reviewed.

School enrollment and medical consent issues

Call the school right away. Under Nevada school attendance law, a parent, guardian, custodial parent, or other person with control or charge of a child must enroll the child. But in real life, school registrars still ask for paperwork.

In Clark County, the Clark County School District enrollment page says schools want parent or guardian ID, the child’s ID, immunization records, and proof of address. The district’s online registration is available in English and Spanish. If you are living in a temporary or homeless situation and cannot produce the usual proof of address, CCSD says to call Title I HOPE at 1-702-855-6682.

In Washoe County, the Washoe County School District registration pages require online registration, and district materials say that if the child is not living with a parent or guardian, the adult with whom the child lives and the legal parent or guardian must complete a temporary guardianship form. Washoe’s Student Enrollment and Records office lists 1-775-861-4428 for general enrollment questions, and the district also has a guardianship forms page.

Medical consent is harder than school enrollment. Nevada Self-Help says short-term guardianship usually cannot be used to get medical insurance or permit medical treatment. If a parent is not available, court guardianship or formal foster placement papers are much stronger. For true emergencies, Nevada law allows a person standing in loco parentis to consent to immediate hospitalization, medical attention, or surgery when the parents cannot be found, under Chapter 129. For routine care, call the doctor, dentist, therapist, or clinic before the appointment and ask exactly what legal paper they require.

Medicaid and health insurance for grandchildren in a grandparent’s care

• What it is: Nevada Medicaid and Nevada Check Up can cover a grandchild living with you.
• Who can get it or use it: Children may qualify for Medicaid or Nevada Check Up based on age, income, immigration, and household rules. Nevada Check Up covers uninsured children birth through age 18 who are not eligible for Medicaid.
• How it helps: The latest public Nevada medical income chart still shows Nevada Check Up at up to 205% of the federal poverty level. The Nevada Check Up page says quarterly premiums are $25, $50, or $80 per family, with a 15-day grace period.
• How to apply or use it: Use Access Nevada, a paper application, or your local DSS office. Nevada Medicaid’s member site also offers free translation help.
• What to gather or know first: Child identity, household income, address, and any current insurance information. If the child already has Medicaid under a parent’s case, update the address and living arrangement quickly so cards, notices, and plan mail go to the right place.

Local variation matters here. Nevada Medicaid says managed care became statewide on January 1, 2026, and the new contract period runs through December 31, 2030. Available plans vary by region, and Nevada Medicaid has identified Anthem, CareSource, Molina, SilverSummit, and United Health Plan of Nevada in the 2026 contract cycle. At the same time, Nevada says some children in foster care, juvenile justice, and child welfare systems remain in fee-for-service instead of ordinary managed care. If your grandchild moved counties, changed guardians, or is in a child welfare case, confirm the plan before you schedule specialists or refill medication.

Food help and child benefits for kinship families

Apply for SNAP at the same time as TANF. Nevada’s official SNAP application page says the fastest way is online through Access Nevada, but paper applications are also accepted. Nevada’s SNAP rights page says eligible households should receive benefits within 30 days, and expedited households can receive benefits within seven days.

School meals and Summer EBT matter too. Nevada’s S-EBT page is the place to watch, but as of April 7, 2026, the public page still displays 2025 operating details. Do not assume a 2026 benefit is automatic. Nevada lists these S-EBT customer service numbers: northern Nevada 1-775-684-8740 and southern Nevada 1-702-486-9640. Nevada also warns that the S-EBT customer service center cannot discuss guardianship or case specifics with someone who is not listed as the primary guardian in the school registration system.

Housing help for seniors raising grandchildren

Nevada does not have a separate statewide housing program just for grandparents raising grandchildren. That is the honest answer. Most families piece housing help together from ordinary housing, utility, and local emergency aid programs.

The most practical statewide help is the Energy Assistance Program. Nevada says the program year runs from July 1 through June 30, applications are accepted year-round until funding runs out, and eligible households usually receive one benefit per year paid directly to the utility provider. The state also says prior recipients generally cannot reapply until about 11 months after the last benefit.

If you live in subsidized housing, a voucher household, or a senior property, report the child’s move-in to the housing provider right away. Household-size changes can affect occupancy rules, utility allowances, and recertification. If you still work or need after-school care so you can keep a job, Nevada’s child care assistance program may also help, but eligibility depends on your reason for care and income.

Support groups and respite help for older caregivers

Do not try to do this alone. Nevada’s official relative foster care page says licensed kinship foster caregivers can receive respite, training, and a licensing worker. Even when you are not licensed, Nevada’s kinship navigator through Foster Kinship can help with support groups, referrals, and problem-solving.

Nevada also points caregivers to QPI Nevada, the Quality Parenting Initiative, for caregiver training and practical child welfare education. If you are in a formal foster case, ask the worker directly what respite is available in your county and whether you must be licensed first.

How grandparents can apply for benefits in Nevada without wasting time

• Decide the track. Private caregiving goes through DSS and the courts. Formal placements go through child welfare.
• Create your Access Nevada account. Nevada says anyone using Access Nevada since February 3, 2025 must register for a new account.
• Apply for three things at once. Ask for TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid or Nevada Check Up in the same application.
• Tell DSS exactly what kind of case this is. Say “child-only TANF for my grandchild” or “I am 62+ and want the Nevada Kinship Care Program.”
• Start the legal paper you need. Use short-term guardianship if a parent will sign and the crisis is temporary. Otherwise start court guardianship.
• Update school and medical records fast. Use the child’s current address and your contact information so notices do not keep going to a parent who is not caring for the child.
• Keep copies of everything. Save screenshots, upload receipts, fax confirmations, and names of workers.

What documents grandparents need

• ☐ Your photo ID
• ☐ The child’s birth certificate, school ID, or other identity proof
• ☐ Social Security numbers, if available
• ☐ Proof the child lives with you now
• ☐ Any court order, short-term guardianship, placement paper, or child welfare notice
• ☐ Proof of all household income for at least the last 30 days
• ☐ Proof of address and recent utility bills
• ☐ Immunization records and school records
• ☐ Existing Medicaid card, insurance card, or doctor information
• ☐ Notes explaining where the parents are and why the child is with you, if relevant

Reality checks

• Portal problems are common. Access Nevada changed account registration in 2025. Seniors who have not logged in for a while often find their old login no longer works.
• The word “kinship” causes confusion. A worker may say “kinship” and mean child-only TANF, the senior Kinship Care Program, relative foster care, or KinGAP. Ask which one they mean.
• Short-term guardianship is limited. It can help in a crisis, but Nevada Self-Help says it usually does not solve medical insurance or treatment issues.
• Bad records create bad outcomes. Old addresses and old guardian names can block EBT cards, school notices, Medicaid mail, and S-EBT.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting for a judge before applying for child-only TANF, SNAP, or Medicaid.
• Assuming a private family arrangement automatically creates foster care payments.
• Finalizing guardianship in a foster case before asking about KinGAP.
• Using the wrong county agency when a child welfare case is open.
• Failing to tell DSS or the school when the child’s address changes.
• Missing deadlines because notices are still going to a parent’s old address.

Best options by need

• I need cash this month: Child-only TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid through Access Nevada.
• I need a larger payment and child welfare is already involved: Relative foster care licensing and a KinGAP review before guardianship.
• I need school and doctor authority now: Short-term guardianship if a parent will sign, or court guardianship if this is not truly temporary.
• I am 62 or older and already have court guardianship: Ask DSS about the Nevada Kinship Care Program.
• I do not know where to start: Call Foster Kinship at 1-844-810-1667.

What to do if denied, delayed, or blocked

• Ask for the exact reason in writing. Do not accept “you do not qualify” without the missing proof, income rule, or legal reason.
• Call the right office back fast. For private benefits, contact your local DSS office. For formal child welfare issues, contact the open agency in Clark, Washoe, or rural Nevada.
• Ask for a supervisor. This is especially important if the worker confuses child-only TANF with the senior Kinship Care Program or says foster money should be automatic.
• Use the appeal process. Nevada’s Administrative Adjudications Unit handles hearings for TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, Nevada Check Up, child care, and energy assistance. Nevada says decisions are usually made within 90 days, except SNAP, which is usually completed within 60 days.
• If school enrollment stalls: Ask for the district enrollment office or homeless liaison the same day. In Clark County, call Title I HOPE at 1-702-855-6682.
• If the problem is in a child welfare case: Ask for the caseworker’s supervisor and use the DCFS contact page to find the correct agency.

Plan B and backup options

• If you are over income for TANF, still apply for SNAP, Medicaid or Nevada Check Up, school meals, and energy help.
• If a parent will not cooperate with guardianship, ask a court self-help center or legal aid provider about filing directly for guardianship.
• If child welfare placed the child with you but you are not licensed yet, ask what the temporary reimbursement is and how fast licensing can start.
• If you cannot use the internet, use paper forms and office help through DSS and the Nevada Self-Help Center.

Local resources in Nevada

Resource	What it helps with	Contact
Foster Kinship	Kinship navigator, family advocates, support, benefits help, legal navigation	1-844-810-1667
Clark County Department of Family Services	Open child welfare cases, relative foster care, KinGAP	1-702-455-5444
Washoe County Human Services Agency	Open child welfare cases, relative foster care, KinGAP	1-775-785-8600
DCFS Rural Region	Rural child welfare cases and local field offices	Carson City admin office 1-775-684-1930
Nevada Self-Help Center	Guardianship instructions and forms	Online statewide resource
CCSD / Title I HOPE	Clark County school enrollment if you lack stable housing documents	1-702-855-6682
Washoe Student Enrollment and Records	Washoe enrollment questions	1-775-861-4428

Diverse communities in Nevada

Rural seniors with limited access

Rural Nevada works differently. Child welfare is handled through DCFS Rural Region offices in Carson City, Elko, Ely, Fallon, Fernley, Pahrump, Tonopah, Winnemucca, and Yerington. Foster Kinship also says appointments can be remote. Since Nevada Medicaid moved managed care statewide in 2026, rural families should verify provider networks before switching doctors or behavioral health services.

Tribal-specific resources

If you live on a Nevada reservation or colony, DSS says you may also check with tribal social services or health clinics for application help when applying for SNAP and related benefits. Nevada’s S-EBT rules also recognize the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations for some automatic eligibility paths. If the child is an Indian child, placement and notice rules under the Indian Child Welfare Act can change the case, so ask about tribe-specific contacts early.

Immigrant and refugee seniors

Mixed-status families should still ask for screening because a child’s eligibility can differ from the caregiver’s status. Nevada’s kinship licensing standards say a caregiver’s immigration status alone does not preclude foster care maintenance payments in appropriate cases. In Clark County, the county has also published a kinship caregivers and families facing immigration issues guide with local referrals.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Nevada grandparent get child-only TANF without legal guardianship?

Often, yes. Nevada separates ordinary child-only TANF from the stricter senior Kinship Care Program. Child-only TANF is usually the first cash option to ask about when a grandchild is living with you and no foster care payment exists. Start through Access Nevada or your local DSS office. But if you want the senior Kinship Care payment, you must already have a Nevada court guardianship order.

What is the difference between child-only TANF and Nevada’s Kinship Care Program?

Child-only TANF is the faster, more basic cash option for the child. Nevada’s Kinship Care Program is a separate senior-focused program for relative caregivers age 62 or older who have already cared for the child for at least six straight months and have a Nevada court-approved guardianship. The child-only TANF amounts and the Kinship Care amounts are different, and the Kinship Care program can pay more per child in many cases.

Can grandparents get foster care payments in Nevada?

Yes, but only when the child welfare system is involved. Nevada’s relative foster care rules make clear that private family arrangements do not automatically create foster care checks. If the child is formally placed with you and you become a licensed relative foster caregiver, you can receive the full foster care rate. If the case is moving toward permanent guardianship from foster care, ask the agency about KinGAP before the court finalizes guardianship.

Does a short-term guardianship let me handle school and medical care?

It may help with school in some situations, but it is not a complete fix. Nevada’s Self-Help Center says short-term guardianship is not a court order and usually cannot be used to get medical insurance or permit medical treatment. In Clark County, the district’s temporary guardianship form can help with school issues, but it must be renewed every six months and cannot be used to dodge attendance-zone rules.

Which Nevada office handles my kinship case?

If there is no child welfare case, start with DSS for benefits and the court self-help system for guardianship. If child welfare is involved, use the official county and rural child welfare contacts page. Clark County cases go through Department of Family Services, Washoe cases go through Human Services Agency, and rural counties go through DCFS Rural Region.

What if the school says I cannot enroll my grandchild?

Ask for the enrollment office or homeless liaison the same day. In Clark County, call Title I HOPE at 1-702-855-6682 if you do not have normal proof of address. In Washoe County, call Student Enrollment and Records at 1-775-861-4428. Schools still need identity and immunization records, but Nevada law expects the child to be enrolled, and district staff can often tell you which temporary paper will work while you finish guardianship.

What if DSS denies or delays my application?

Ask for the reason in writing, turn in any missing proof quickly, and ask for a supervisor if the explanation does not make sense. If the problem continues, use the hearing instructions on your notice and ask for review through Nevada’s Administrative Adjudications Unit. That office handles TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, Nevada Check Up, child care, and energy assistance appeals.

Resumen en español

Si usted es abuelo, abuela, o un pariente mayor que está criando a un nieto en Nevada, el primer paso práctico suele ser presentar una solicitud en Access Nevada para TANF solo para el menor, SNAP, y Medicaid o Nevada Check Up. No espere a terminar la tutela para pedir ayuda básica. Si usted tiene 62 años o más y ya tiene una orden de tutela emitida por un tribunal de Nevada, pregunte por el Programa de Kinship Care de Nevada. Ese programa es diferente al TANF normal para el menor.

Si el caso del niño ya está en el sistema de bienestar infantil, llame primero a la agencia que lleva el caso en Clark, Washoe, o la región rural. Allí es donde se determina si usted puede recibir pagos de foster care o ayuda de KinGAP. Para ayuda práctica y acompañamiento, Nevada recomienda a Foster Kinship, que tiene línea de ayuda estatal al 1-844-810-1667. Si el padre o la madre coopera y la situación será temporal, revise la tutela de corto plazo, pero recuerde que normalmente no resuelve problemas de seguro médico ni muchos temas de tratamiento médico.

About This Guide

This guide uses official federal, state, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.

Editorial note: This guide is produced based on our Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources, regularly updated and monitored, but not affiliated with any government agency and not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Verification: Last verified April 7, 2026, next review August 7, 2026.

Corrections: Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we respond within 72 hours.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, forms, payment levels, and local availability can change. Always confirm current details with the official Nevada agency, court, school district, health plan, or contractor before you act.