Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in North Carolina: Kinship Care, TANF, and Support

Last updated: April 7, 2026

Bottom line: North Carolina does not have one simple monthly grant for every grandparent who takes in a child. In real life, help usually comes from a mix of Work First child-only cash assistance, kinship foster care options, NC Medicaid, Food and Nutrition Services, school enrollment rules, and caregiver support through North Carolina’s aging network.

If the child came to you through Child Protective Services or a county Department of Social Services, ask today whether this is informal care, a Temporary Safety Provider arrangement, unlicensed kinship foster care, or licensed foster care. In North Carolina, that one answer changes what money, paperwork, and legal authority you may have.

Emergency help now

• Call your county DSS right away and ask whether the child is in county custody. Use the official Local DSS Directory or call the NC DHHS Customer Service Center at 1-800-662-7030.
• Apply now for food and health coverage through ePASS, or use your local DSS office for Food and Nutrition Services and NC Medicaid.
• If school or medical care is blocked, do not wait. Ask the school about North Carolina’s caregiver-adult enrollment process under G.S. 115C-366, and ask the parent for a notarized health care authorization under Chapter 32A, Article 4.

What this help actually looks like in North Carolina

Start by identifying the case type. North Carolina does not offer a broad, stand-alone cash benefit just for informal grandparent caregivers. Instead, help is split across county-run child welfare, county-run Work First, state Medicaid, food programs, school rules, court orders, and local aging services.

That matters because North Carolina’s kinship system is practical, but not simple. The state’s Kinship/Relative Care page is useful, and the state also has Kinship Konnect NC for resource information, but there is not one statewide cash portal that solves everything for informal grandfamilies. Most real decisions still happen through your county DSS office, your local school district, your local court, and your local housing or aging providers.

North Carolina also treats kinship care very differently depending on whether the child is just living with you or is formally in DSS custody. In November 2023, the state announced new payments for unlicensed kinship caregivers after noting that North Carolina had more than 10,000 children in foster care and only about 5,400 licensed foster homes. That payment helps, but only in formal foster care cases.

If this is your situation	Who has legal control	Most likely help in North Carolina
Private family arrangement or informal care	Usually the parent still has legal rights	Work First child-only, Medicaid, FNS, school enrollment tools, and a parent-signed medical authorization. No foster payment just because the child moved in.
Temporary Safety Provider or other temporary CPS setup	The child may still not be in county custody	Ask the worker in writing whether the placement is only temporary or whether the child is actually in foster care. Do not assume you will receive kinship foster payments.
Unlicensed kinship foster care	County DSS has custody and the court authorized placement in your home	You may qualify for the Unlicensed Kinship Payment Program and the child may qualify for foster-care-linked Medicaid.
Licensed kinship foster care	County DSS has custody and your home is licensed	You can receive the same board rate as a licensed non-relative foster home under the state’s foster care funding rules.
Guardianship after foster care	You become the legal guardian by court order	You may qualify for KinGAP, Medicaid for the child, and post-permanency support. The DSS-1810 agreement must be signed before the guardianship order is entered.

Quick facts

• Best immediate takeaway: First find out who has custody of the child.
• Major rule: In North Carolina, informal caregiving, custody, kinship foster care, and guardianship are not the same thing.
• Realistic obstacle: Counties often ask for proof of relationship, placement, address, and school or medical paperwork before the case moves.
• Useful fact: North Carolina law allows public school enrollment in some caregiver-adult situations, and the law says legal guardianship cannot be required under that subsection.
• Best next step: Start ePASS applications for Medicaid, food help, and Work First while you also sort out custody and consent paperwork.

Who qualifies

In plain language, North Carolina grandparents and other older relatives may be able to get help if:

• the child is now living with you in North Carolina;
• you are responsible for the child’s day-to-day care;
• you can show your relationship to the child or show the DSS or court paperwork that placed the child with you;
• the child meets the age, citizenship, immigration, or residency rules for the specific program; and
• for foster-care-based payments, the child is in county DSS custody and your placement has been formally approved.

Even if your retirement income is too high for one program, the child may still qualify for other help. That is common with NC Medicaid for children, WIC, SUN Bucks, or foster-care-linked benefits.

Best first steps after a grandparent takes in a child

Do these steps in the first week if you can. They save time later.

1. Ask the hard question first: Is the child in county DSS custody, or is this only a family arrangement?
2. Get every paper you can find: birth certificate, Social Security number, school records, Medicaid card, court orders, DSS placement papers, and the parent’s contact information.
3. Start benefits right away: use ePASS or your local DSS for Work First, Medicaid, FNS, and energy help.
4. Fix school and medical authority: ask the school for its caregiver enrollment process and ask the parent for a notarized health care authorization if the case is informal.
5. Decide whether you need court help: if this is not just a short visit, talk with the custody court system or a legal aid program early.
6. Keep a notebook: write down every worker’s name, date, phone number, and what they told you. This helps when notices are late or stories change.

Financial help for grandparents raising grandchildren

Start with the two cash questions that matter most: can the case be opened as child-only Work First, and is the child in county custody?

Child-only TANF for grandparents raising grandchildren

• What it is: North Carolina’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is called Work First Family Assistance. For many grandparents, the most useful version is a child-only case.
• Who can get it or use it: Non-parent caregiver cases must be verified. The public Work First guidance says the county must verify age, address, living arrangement, kinship, income, and other eligibility factors, and it explains that non-parent cases often involve proof of kinship, legal custody, or guardianship. If you are caring for the child informally, ask your county DSS whether the child can be opened in a child-only case before you give up.
• How it helps: The state’s current Work First maximum benefit table lists $181 for an assistance unit of 1, $236 for 2, $272 for 3, $297 for 4, and $324 for 5. It is not much, but it can help with basics and may connect the child to other systems faster.
• How to apply or use it: Apply through ePASS or your local DSS office. Ask the worker to explain whether your case is being opened as child-only Work First or as a full-family case, because work rules are different.
• What to gather or know first: Your ID, proof of North Carolina address, the child’s birth certificate and Social Security number if you have them, proof of relationship or a court order, and any paper showing why the child lives with you.

One more North Carolina point matters here. Work First is county-administered, so cash rules are statewide, but extra services and crisis help can vary by county plan. If your county says no, ask why, ask for the reason in writing, and ask what proof is missing.

Kinship care payments and kinship navigator help in this state

• What it is: North Carolina’s main state kinship hub is the Kinship/Relative Care page. It links to benefits, legal help, and the state’s kinship contacts. The most important cash option for many formal placements is the Unlicensed Kinship Payment Program.
• Who can get it or use it: The unlicensed program applies only when the child is in the custody of a local child welfare agency, the court authorized placement in your home, the child is age 0 through 17, and you are related by blood, marriage, or adoption.
• How it helps: North Carolina’s published unlicensed kinship payment amounts are $351 per month for ages 0-5, $371 for ages 6-12, and $405 for ages 13-17.
• How to apply or use it: Talk to the child’s county social worker. The state flyer says you must agree to the payments by signing the Unlicensed Kinship Payment Acknowledgement form that the county provides.
• What to gather or know first: Ask for the case number, the worker’s direct line, the court order or placement paper, and clear written confirmation that the child is in county custody. Also ask whether you should start the licensing process now if the placement may last.

Important: North Carolina has kinship resource help, but it does not have a one-stop statewide kinship navigator that takes over your case. The state’s Kinship Konnect NC email is for resource information, not for case-specific complaints. If your problem is with a live DSS case, use the Child Welfare Services Constituent Concerns Office instead.

Can grandparents get foster care payments?

• What it is: Yes, grandparents can get foster care payments in North Carolina if the child is in DSS custody and the grandparent becomes a licensed foster parent.
• Who can get it or use it: Licensed kinship foster parents. The state’s foster care funding manual says the payment to a licensed kinship foster family home is the same amount paid to a licensed non-relative foster family home.
• How it helps: North Carolina’s published standard board rates as of July 1, 2023 are $702 for ages 0-5, $742 for ages 6-12, and $810 for ages 13 and older. The same manual says $15 per month per child is treated as a personal needs allowance.
• How to apply or use it: Tell the county social worker you want a kinship foster care assessment and ask what steps you must finish for licensing. If the placement looks long-term, ask about licensing early, not after the case has dragged on for months.
• What to gather or know first: Licensing can take time. Expect background checks, home safety checks, and training. If the child is just staying with you privately, that is not enough by itself to create foster care payments.

Guardianship assistance for older caregivers

• What it is: North Carolina’s Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP) is for youth leaving foster care to permanent guardianship with relatives or kin.
• Who can get it or use it: KinGAP is for a relative, including a person with a substantial relationship to the child or the child’s parent before foster care, when guardianship becomes the child’s permanent plan. It is not automatic in private custody cases outside foster care.
• How it helps: The state says KinGAP is tied to the standard board rate, includes Medicaid for the youth, and can reimburse up to $2,000 in non-recurring legal guardianship costs. Some youth can continue benefits past age 18 when the program’s rules are met.
• How to apply or use it: Work through the child’s DSS worker before the guardianship order is entered. The state manual says the DSS-1810 KinGAP/GAP Agreement must be signed before the court issues guardianship.
• What to gather or know first: Ask whether the child is formally eligible for KinGAP, whether your licensing status supports it, and whether the agreement is already drafted. Do not let the court date happen before the agreement is signed.

Work First Emergency Assistance

• What it is: Work First Emergency Assistance is a one-time crisis pathway that counties can use.
• Who can get it or use it: The state says the family must have a child who lives with a relative as defined for Work First and the family’s gross income must be at 150% or 200% of the federal poverty level, depending on the county plan.
• How it helps: Counties may use it for urgent situations tied to child safety and family stability. Exact uses can vary by county.
• How to apply or use it: Ask your local DSS specifically for Work First Emergency Assistance. Do not just ask for “emergency help.”
• What to gather or know first: Bring the crisis proof: shutoff notice, eviction paper, lease, late rent letter, or other urgent bill, plus proof the child is living with you.

North Carolina payment snapshot	What the state publishes	Big catch
Work First child-only cash assistance	$181 for 1, $236 for 2, $272 for 3, $297 for 4, $324 for 5	Small payment. Eligibility and case type still matter.
Unlicensed Kinship Payment Program	$351 ages 0-5, $371 ages 6-12, $405 ages 13-17	Only for children in county DSS custody with court-authorized placement in your home.
Licensed kinship foster care board rate	$702 ages 0-5, $742 ages 6-12, $810 ages 13+	You must be licensed, and the child must be in foster care.
KinGAP	Tied to the standard board rate plus up to $2,000 in non-recurring legal costs	The DSS-1810 agreement must be signed before the guardianship order.

School enrollment and medical consent issues

Do not wait for these problems to fix themselves. In North Carolina, school and doctor’s office delays are some of the biggest real-world barriers for grandparents.

School enrollment

• What it is: North Carolina law allows certain children living with a caregiver adult to enroll in the local public school without the caregiver first getting legal guardianship.
• Who can get it or use it: The exact paperwork is local, but G.S. 115C-366 says the board can use caregiver and parent affidavits, and if the parent is unavailable the caregiver may attest to that.
• How it helps: The law says a district may not require legal guardianship for enrollment under that subsection, which can save months of delay.
• How to apply or use it: Call the district enrollment office, not just the school front desk. Ask for the district’s caregiver-adult enrollment process, and review the NC DPI enrollment guidance for parents.
• What to gather or know first: Proof the child lives with you, your proof of address, the child’s birth certificate if available, immunization records, prior school records, and any court or DSS papers you already have.

Medical consent

• What it is: North Carolina has a written, notarized way for a custodial parent to delegate health care authority to another adult under Chapter 32A, Article 4.
• Who can get it or use it: Informal caregivers need this the most. If DSS has custody, ask the worker who can sign for routine medical, dental, therapy, and behavioral health care.
• How it helps: A provider may rely on the signed authorization, and the statute says the consent has the same effect as if the custodial parent were present.
• How to apply or use it: Ask the parent to sign the authorization before a notary as soon as possible. Keep copies in your purse, the child’s school file, and the doctor’s office.
• What to gather or know first: If there is no authorization yet, emergency treatment may still be allowed in limited situations under Chapter 90 when delay would endanger the child or seriously worsen the child’s condition. For non-emergencies, offices often want paper proof.

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

• What it is: NC Medicaid covers many children even when the grandparent caregiver does not qualify for coverage.
• Who can get it or use it: Many grandchildren can qualify based on child rules. If the child is in foster care or receiving adoption assistance, North Carolina now uses the statewide Children and Families Specialty Plan through Healthy Blue Care Together.
• How it helps: Medicaid can cover doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, behavioral health services, and other care. The Specialty Plan is designed to follow eligible children across placements and coordinate with child welfare.
• How to apply or use it: Apply through ePASS, your local DSS in person, by phone, or by mail, email, fax, or drop-off. The NC Medicaid Contact Center is 1-888-245-0179. Walk-ins are available at local DSS offices.
• What to gather or know first: The state says you need a full legal name, date of birth, mailing address, and a signature to start. Bring proof of residency and anything else you have, but do not wait to begin.

Important for mixed-status families: NC Medicaid says undocumented parents or guardians can apply for their children. If language is a barrier, DSS offices must provide language help, and the Medicaid page says interpreter services are available.

Food help and child benefits for kinship families

• What it is: The biggest North Carolina food programs for kinship families are Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), WIC, and SUN Bucks. Child benefits may also come from Social Security or SSI.
• Who can get it or use it: FNS depends on who buys and prepares food together. WIC helps eligible pregnant women, infants, and children under 5. For summer 2026, the SUN Bucks page says many children are automatically eligible if they receive Work First, FNS, qualifying Medicaid, foster care benefits, Cherokee Tribal Food Distribution, or McKinney-Vento services.
• How it helps: FNS is monthly food help. WIC provides approved foods, nutrition support, and referrals. SUN Bucks is a summer food benefit issued as a single payment. The state’s kinship page also notes that if a parent is deceased and was insured, a caregiver may be able to pursue Social Security benefits on the child’s behalf, and a child with a disability may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• How to apply or use it: FNS can be started online, in person, or by mail. The official FNS page says benefits can take up to 30 days, but if you are approved they start from the day you file. Interviews can be done in person, by phone, or by video, and you can choose a representative to help. For WIC, use the local WIC agency finder or call or text 1-844-601-6881.
• What to gather or know first: For FNS, be ready to explain exactly who buys and cooks food together in the home. If the child’s parent still lives there, the food household rules can get complicated fast.

Housing help for seniors raising grandchildren

• What it is: North Carolina housing help is mostly local. The strongest statewide options for many grandfamilies are LIEAP heating help, the Crisis Intervention Program, local public housing or vouchers through HUD-listed housing agencies, and the Urgent Repair Program for some older homeowners.
• Who can get it or use it: For LIEAP, households with a person age 60 or older or receiving qualifying disability services can apply from Dec. 1 to Dec. 31. Other households can apply from Jan. 1 to March 31, or until funds run out. For CIP, applications are taken July 1 to June 30 or until the allocation is exhausted, and the state lists a $4,500 resource limit for households with a member age 60 or older or disabled.
• How it helps: LIEAP sends a one-time vendor payment for heating costs. CIP helps in a heating or cooling crisis. Local housing authorities handle vouchers and public housing. The NCHFA Urgent Repair Program helps eligible elderly or special-needs homeowners with emergency repairs.
• How to apply or use it: Use your county DSS or ePASS for LIEAP and CIP. Use the HUD public housing agency contact finder or call 1-800-955-2232 for local voucher or public housing contacts. For repair help, use the NCHFA Urgent Repair Program page or call 919-877-5700.
• What to gather or know first: Bring utility bills, shutoff notices, lease papers, proof of home ownership if you own, and proof the child is living with you. For rent help, there is no single statewide kinship rent program, so ask about county programs, Work First Emergency Assistance, and local housing counselors.

Legal custody vs kinship care vs informal caregiving

Do not use these words as if they mean the same thing. In North Carolina, they do not.

• Informal caregiving: A private family arrangement. The child lives with you, but there is no open child welfare case and no court order. This is common, but it can create benefit, school, and medical problems.
• Kinship care: A broad term. On the state’s kinship page, it can include relatives and people with a family-like relationship. In practice, it may mean informal care or a foster care placement with kin.
• Legal custody: A court order giving you custody. The NC child custody page says grandparents and other third parties can file for custody in some situations, but non-parents must usually show the parents are unfit or have acted inconsistently with their parental rights.
• Guardianship: In North Carolina, clerk-based minor guardianship is narrower than many people think. The NC Courts guardianship page says a guardian of the person or general guardian for a minor is usually appointed when both parents are deceased or parental rights have been terminated. In many everyday grandparent cases, custody, not clerk guardianship, is the court path.
• Kinship foster care: The child is in county DSS custody and placed with you. This opens the door to foster-care-based money, but it also means DSS and the court stay involved.

What documents grandparents need

Bring more than you think you need. Missing papers are one of the top reasons cases stall.

• ☐ Your photo ID and proof of North Carolina address
• ☐ Child’s birth certificate and Social Security number, if available
• ☐ Court orders, safety plans, DSS placement letters, or foster care paperwork
• ☐ Proof of kinship, such as birth certificates showing the family link
• ☐ Child’s school records, immunization record, and report cards if you have them
• ☐ Child’s Medicaid card, private insurance card, medication list, and doctor names
• ☐ Proof of household income and big bills if applying for FNS, Work First, or energy help
• ☐ Any paper showing why the child is living with you, such as incarceration, death, treatment, or abandonment records if available

Support groups and respite help for older caregivers

Family Caregiver Support Program

• What it is: The Family Caregiver Support Program is North Carolina’s main aging-network program for older relatives caring for children.
• Who can get it or use it: The state says older relatives age 55 and older caring for children under 18 can qualify.
• How it helps: Services may include information, help finding services, counseling, support groups, caregiver training, short-term respite, and limited supplemental help. Availability varies by region and provider.
• How to apply or use it: Use the provider directory on the official program page to find your local program.
• What to gather or know first: This program does not pay you a salary to raise the child, but it can reduce burnout and help you find respite or support groups.

FFA-NC and post-foster-care support

• What it is: The Foster Family Alliance of NC offers kin-specific support, and North Carolina also expanded its Success Coach model statewide for families after foster care ends.
• Who can get it or use it: FFA-NC supports kinship caregivers statewide. Success Coach is for families exiting foster care, including kinship, custody, guardianship, reunified, and adoptive families.
• How it helps: FFA-NC says it offers a kin-specific support group, monthly training, free therapy for caregivers, and access to education and Medicaid specialists. Success Coach offers no-cost, in-home coaching, advocacy, and resource navigation for up to two years at a time.
• How to apply or use it: Contact FFA-NC at 1-800-578-7770 or use the official support page. For Success Coach, ask your county DSS or post-permanency worker whether your family can be referred.
• What to gather or know first: Success Coach is strongest for families whose case already touched foster care. Informal caregivers may need to lean more on the aging network, schools, and legal aid.

How grandparents can apply for benefits in this state

Use the shortest path that fits your situation.

• For Work First, Medicaid, food help, and energy assistance: Start at ePASS or your local DSS office.
• For child welfare or kinship payments: Work through the child’s county social worker, not the general benefits line.
• For school problems: Call the district enrollment office and use the NC DPI enrollment page as your backup.
• For custody or guardianship: Use the NC Courts custody page or the NC Courts guardianship page.
• For application help: The NC Medicaid page points to free navigators at 1-855-733-3711, and older adults may qualify for legal assistance through the aging network.

Application or proof checklist

• ☐ Ask DSS or the parent: Who has legal custody right now?
• ☐ File the benefits applications even if some documents are missing
• ☐ Ask for a written list of missing proof and the due date
• ☐ Save confirmation screens, upload receipts, and copies
• ☐ Get the child enrolled in school right away
• ☐ Get a signed health care authorization or confirm who can consent
• ☐ If the child is in foster care, ask about licensing and KinGAP early

Reality checks

• Case labels matter more than families expect: “Kinship care” sounds broad, but payment rules change sharply if the child is informal, temporary, in county custody, or already on a path to guardianship.

• Child-only Work First is helpful but small: It can be a good first cash step, but it will not replace a retirement check, cover full child care, or fix a housing crisis by itself.

• Front desks often do not understand kinship paperwork: Schools, doctors, and insurers may wrongly ask for “custody papers” when the law or your authorization form allows something else. Ask for a supervisor and keep copies.

• County variation is real: Work First services, emergency help, respite availability, school forms, and housing waitlists differ across North Carolina. If one office says no, ask whether that is a state rule or just a local process.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming you will get foster care payments just because the child moved in
• Waiting for every document before filing Medicaid, FNS, or Work First
• Letting a KinGAP guardianship order happen before the DSS-1810 agreement is signed
• Not asking whether the case is child-only Work First or a full-family case
• Skipping legal advice when the child may stay with you for months or years
• Not keeping a notebook of every call, notice, and deadline

Best options by need

• I need money this month: Ask about child-only Work First, FNS, CIP, and Work First Emergency Assistance.
• DSS placed the child with me: Ask about the Unlicensed Kinship Payment Program and whether to begin foster home licensing.
• I need school access now: Use the caregiver-adult enrollment rules and call the district office.
• I need doctor visits and prescriptions: Start Medicaid and get the parent’s health care authorization.
• This placement may be long-term: Talk about custody, and if the child is already in foster care ask about KinGAP.
• I am exhausted and need support: Call the Family Caregiver Support Program or FFA-NC.

What to do if denied, delayed, or blocked

• Ask for the reason in writing. Do not rely on phone advice alone.
• Ask what exact proof is missing and the deadline. Say, “What document would fix this?”
• Ask what case type the worker used. This is critical for child-only Work First and kinship foster cases.
• For child welfare problems, go up the chain. Start with the worker, then the supervisor, then the Child Welfare Services Constituent Concerns Office at 919-527-6340. That office can review child welfare concerns, but it cannot change a court ruling.
• For Medicaid, Work First, FNS, or energy assistance, follow the appeal instructions on the notice immediately. Deadlines are notice-based, so do not wait.
• If you are 60 or older and the problem affects custody, benefits, or housing, ask for legal help. Use Legal Assistance for Older Adults or another legal aid resource.

Plan B / backup options

• Ask whether the child may qualify for Social Security survivor benefits or SSI.
• If the child is under 5, call WIC even if other benefits are pending.
• If summer food is a problem, check whether the child is auto-enrolled for SUN Bucks.
• If the child care need is blocking work or court dates, review the child care subsidy program and ask the county child care contact what is possible in a kinship situation.
• If housing is unstable, use the HUD local housing authority finder and ask a HUD-approved housing counselor what local options exist.

Local resources

• Local DSS offices: official county directory or 1-800-662-7030
• ePASS for benefits: North Carolina ePASS
• NC Medicaid: how to apply or 1-888-245-0179
• Food and Nutrition Services: official application page; phone help and interpreter line on that page is 866-719-0141
• WIC: My WIC or 1-844-601-6881
• Family Caregiver Support Program: official provider directory
• Legal help for older adults: Legal Assistance for Older Adults
• Kinship peer support and training: FFA-NC or 1-800-578-7770
• Child welfare complaints: Constituent Concerns Office or 919-527-6340
• Housing agencies: local PHA finder or 1-800-955-2232

Diverse communities

Seniors with Disabilities

If you are age 60 or older or connected to qualifying disability services, you get the earlier LIEAP window from Dec. 1 to Dec. 31. The Crisis Intervention Program also uses the higher $4,500 resource limit for households with a member age 60 or older or disabled. Ask the Family Caregiver Support Program about respite.

Veteran Seniors

If you are a veteran and housing is unstable, the North Carolina HUD page points veterans to HUD-VASH and homeless veteran resources. A veteran grandparent should also ask a VA social worker about family housing options.

Immigrant and Refugee Seniors

NC Medicaid says undocumented parents or guardians can apply for their children, and North Carolina WIC says WIC is not part of the public charge test. If English is hard, ask DSS and WIC for interpreter services by phone or in person.

Tribal-Specific Resources

The state’s kinship page links to the Raising Relatives resource guide for Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian families. The Children and Families Specialty Plan also says it coordinates with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian Family Safety Program.

Rural Seniors with Limited Access

You do not have to do everything online. NC Medicaid can be started in person, by phone, or by mail, email, fax, or drop-off through local DSS, and FNS interviews can be done by phone, video, or in person. North Carolina’s Success Coach expansion specifically notes its value for families in rural counties after foster care ends.

Frequently asked questions

Does North Carolina have a special monthly “grandparents raising grandchildren” grant?

Not for every informal caregiving situation. North Carolina’s real cash paths are usually Work First child-only assistance, the Unlicensed Kinship Payment Program when the child is in county DSS custody, licensed foster care board payments under the state foster care rates, or KinGAP after foster care moves to permanent guardianship. If the child is simply living with you by family agreement, there is no broad state-only grandparent stipend.

Can I get child-only TANF in North Carolina if I do not have custody yet?

Maybe, but do not assume the answer is yes or no without asking your county DSS. North Carolina’s public Work First guidance requires counties to verify the child’s living arrangement, age, kinship, and other facts, and non-parent caregiver cases often turn on whether the county accepts the proof you have. The safest move is to apply through ePASS or your local DSS, then ask the worker whether your case can be opened as child-only Work First and what extra proof is needed.

Can I enroll my grandchild in school without legal guardianship in North Carolina?

Often, yes. Under G.S. 115C-366, local boards can enroll a student who lives with a caregiver adult using affidavits, and the statute says legal guardianship cannot be required under that subsection. Local forms still vary, so call the district enrollment office and review the NC DPI enrollment information. Bring proof of address and whatever child records you have.

How do I get permission to take my grandchild to the doctor?

If the parent still has rights and the case is informal, ask for a notarized authorization under North Carolina’s health care for minor law. If DSS has custody, ask the worker who has authority to consent. For emergencies, treatment may still be possible under Chapter 90, but routine care is much easier when you carry paper proof.

Can my grandchild get Medicaid if my income is too high?

Yes, that happens often. A child may qualify for NC Medicaid even when the grandparent does not. If the child is in foster care or receiving adoption assistance, the child may be placed in the Children and Families Specialty Plan. Start the application anyway. You can file through local DSS, ePASS, or HealthCare.gov.

What if DSS says the child is only in a temporary safety plan?

Ask exactly what that means. North Carolina’s kinship guidance explains that a Temporary Safety Provider arrangement is a voluntary, temporary step used during child protective services work. That is not always the same thing as foster care. Ask in writing whether the child is in county custody, whether the court authorized the child’s placement in your home, and whether you qualify for the unlicensed kinship payment.

What is KinGAP, and when does the paperwork have to be signed?

KinGAP is North Carolina’s guardianship assistance program for eligible kin after foster care. It can provide monthly support tied to the standard board rate, Medicaid for the youth, and up to $2,000 in non-recurring legal costs. The timing matters: the state manual says the DSS-1810 agreement must be signed before the guardianship order is entered. If you wait until after court, you may lose the chance.

Where should an older grandparent start if everything feels overwhelming?

Start with three calls: your county DSS, the Family Caregiver Support Program, and if needed Legal Assistance for Older Adults. If the child is in a child welfare case and the county is not responding clearly, call the Constituent Concerns Office at 919-527-6340. You do not need to solve every issue in one day, but you do need to identify the case type fast.

Resumen en español

Si usted es abuelo, abuela u otro familiar mayor que ahora está criando a un niño en Carolina del Norte, el primer paso es saber si el caso es un arreglo familiar informal o si el niño está bajo custodia del DSS del condado. Esa diferencia cambia los pagos, los papeles y la autoridad legal. Empiece con el directorio oficial de DSS del condado y, si puede, presente solicitudes en ePASS para Medicaid, Food and Nutrition Services y Work First.

Carolina del Norte no tiene una sola ayuda mensual para todos los abuelos cuidadores. La ayuda real suele venir de Work First, de los pagos de cuidado de parentesco cuando el niño está en custodia del condado, de NC Medicaid, de Food and Nutrition Services y de apoyos para cuidadores mayores. Para ayuda con escuela y recursos de parentesco, use la página estatal de Kinship/Relative Care. Para apoyo a cuidadores mayores de 55 años, contacte el Family Caregiver Support Program. Si necesita WIC, puede encontrar la oficina local en My WIC o llamar al 1-844-601-6881.

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.

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