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

Last updated: April 7, 2026

Bottom line: North Dakota does offer real help for grandparents and other relatives raising children, but the right help depends on how the child came to live with you. In this state, the biggest difference is whether you have an informal family arrangement, a court-involved kinship placement through a Human Service Zone, the Division of Juvenile Services, or a Tribal Agency, or a fully licensed foster care placement.

North Dakota’s Kinship-ND program says there are an estimated 10,000 children in kinship care statewide. The fastest way to avoid lost money and paperwork problems is to find out your case type first, then apply for the child’s own benefits right away.

Emergency help now

• If the child is in immediate danger: Call 911 now. If a Human Service Zone, Tribal Agency, or juvenile case is already involved, call that caseworker the same day.
• If you just took in a child and have no money for basics: Call North Dakota’s Apply for Help Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005 or 701-328-1000, 711 (TTY), and ask about child-only TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, and LIHEAP.
• If you need authority for school or medical care fast: Ask right away whether you need a North Dakota minor guardianship or whether the existing child welfare case already gives a zone, tribal agency, or foster care case manager authority.

Quick help box

• Fastest first call for kinship guidance: Kinship-ND at 701-328-1453, 711 (TTY), or kinship@nd.gov
• Fastest benefits route: Use North Dakota’s Self-Service Portal (SSP) or file SFN 405, the Application for Assistance
• Medical coverage only: Use the North Dakota Medicaid ways to apply page and ask whether the child fits Medicaid or CHIP
• If the placement came through social services or court: Ask the case manager whether this is TANF Kinship Care, foster care, or a guardianship-assistance case
• If you are age 55 or older and need respite or caregiver support: Start with the Family Caregiver Support Program

What this help actually looks like in North Dakota

Start here: In North Dakota, “grandparents raising grandchildren” is not one single program. It is a mix of child-only Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), North Dakota TANF Kinship Care, licensed foster care payments, guardianship help, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), food help, and caregiver support.

The most important action item: Ask one direct question on day one: “Who has legal custody and what kind of case is this?” That answer controls what money, paperwork, and decision-making power you can get.

How the child came to you	What usually opens first in North Dakota	Main office or system	Big risk if you guess wrong
Informal family arrangement, no court order	Child-only TANF, SNAP, Medicaid or CHIP, Kinship-ND, possible minor guardianship	Customer Support Center, Human Service Zone office, ND Courts	School and medical offices may say you do not have enough authority
Court-ordered relative placement under a zone, Tribal Agency, or DJS	TANF Kinship Care, Medicaid, Kinship-ND, maybe later guardianship or foster licensing	Custodial case manager plus TANF eligibility worker	You may miss kinship payments if forms and background checks are late
Licensed kinship foster home	Foster care maintenance payments and child Medicaid	Foster care case manager and licensing process	Unlicensed relatives usually do not get the full foster care rate
Guardianship after foster care	State guardianship assistance or Title IV-E guardianship assistance	Child’s foster care case manager and HHS Children and Family Services	These payments are only for certain children already in foster care

Example: If your grandson moved in after a family crisis and there is no open court case, start with child-only TANF, SNAP, Medicaid or CHIP, and school paperwork. If the Human Service Zone or a Tribal Agency already has custody, ask about TANF Kinship Care or foster care licensing instead.

Quick facts

• Best immediate takeaway: In North Dakota, the same child can fall into very different rules depending on whether the placement is informal, kinship foster care, or guardianship after foster care.
• One major rule: North Dakota TANF Kinship Care requires a court order giving care, custody, and control to a North Dakota Human Service Zone, the Division of Juvenile Services, or a North Dakota Tribal Agency.
• One realistic obstacle: If you do not have a court order or signed parental paperwork, schools and clinics may delay enrollment, records, or consent.
• One useful fact: The state’s Kinship-ND page estimates about 10,000 children are in kinship care in North Dakota.
• Best next step: Call Kinship-ND and your local Human Service Zone office the same week the child moves in.

Who qualifies in plain language

You may qualify for one or more North Dakota programs if:

• You are a grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or another relative now caring for a child full-time.
• The child lives in North Dakota, or the case is being run through a North Dakota Human Service Zone, Tribal Agency, or the Division of Juvenile Services.
• The child is under age 18, or in some TANF situations is a full-time high school student expected to graduate before age 19.
• You need help with cash, food, health coverage, legal authority, or respite.

Important: North Dakota uses “kinship caregiver” broadly in Kinship-ND. That can include a relative, tribal or clan member, godparent, stepparent, or another adult with a close relationship to the child. But cash programs such as child-only TANF and TANF Kinship Care are narrower. Do not assume that qualifying for Kinship-ND means you automatically qualify for TANF cash.

Financial help for grandparents raising grandchildren

Most important action: Apply for the child’s own benefits before you spend down retirement income or go into debt. In North Dakota, the biggest money gap usually comes from waiting too long to sort out whether the child fits child-only TANF, TANF Kinship Care, foster care, or guardianship assistance.

Current North Dakota amount	What it means	Amount
Child-only TANF standard, 1 child	0-caretaker row of TANF standard of need	$366 per month
Child-only TANF standard, 2 children	0-caretaker row of TANF standard of need	$536 per month
Child-only TANF standard, 3 children	0-caretaker row of TANF standard of need	$697 per month
Family foster care rate, ages 0-4	Licensed foster or kinship foster home	$900 per month
Family foster care rate, ages 5-12	Licensed foster or kinship foster home	$1,020 per month
Family foster care rate, ages 13+	Licensed foster or kinship foster home	$1,110 per month
State guardianship subsidy	Daily rate on the 2025 state payment sheet	$19 per day
Title IV-E guardianship subsidy	Daily rate on the 2025 state payment sheet	$28 per day

Child-only TANF for grandparents raising grandchildren

• What it is: Cash help for the child when the grandparent or other caretaker is not included in the TANF grant.
• Who can get it or use it: North Dakota relatives caring for a child who is without parental support because of a parent’s death, disability, age, or continued absence from the home, using the rules on the state’s TANF page.
• How it helps: North Dakota’s October 1, 2025 TANF standard uses the 0-caretaker row for child-only cases. That gives a base amount of $366 for one child, $536 for two, $697 for three, and $866 for four.
• How to apply or use it: File SFN 405, the Application for Assistance, through the Self-Service Portal, by mail, or through a Human Service Zone office. Say clearly that you want to ask about child-only TANF.
• What to gather or know first: Photo ID, the child’s birth certificate if you have it, Social Security numbers if available, proof the child lives with you, any court papers, and information about the parents. If it would be unsafe to cooperate with child support, ask HHS about its Notice of Right to Claim “Good Cause”.

If you ask to include yourself in regular TANF instead of child-only TANF, different rules apply. The state’s TANF FAQ says a caretaker over age 65 is exempt from the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) work program, which matters for some older caregivers.

Kinship care payments and kinship navigator help in this state

• What it is: North Dakota TANF Kinship Care is an alternative to out-of-home foster care for some court-involved relative placements, and Kinship-ND is the state’s kinship navigator program.
• Who can get it or use it: TANF Kinship Care is for children in the care, custody, and control of a North Dakota Human Service Zone, the Division of Juvenile Services, or a North Dakota Tribal Agency, placed with a relative within the fifth degree. Kinship-ND is broader and helps many kinship caregivers, including some fictive kin.
• How it helps: The state’s current kinship care brochure says approved supports can include child care, clothing, school and community activity fees, transportation, other emergency needs, and some help with legal fees tied to guardianship. The brochure also says foster children receiving TANF Kinship Care may qualify for Medicaid.
• How to apply or use it: For TANF Kinship Care, work with the child’s foster care case manager and the TANF eligibility worker. For Kinship-ND, the state’s 2025 brochure says to complete SFN 408, the Kinship-ND Kinship Navigation Services Application. Call 701-328-1453, 711 (TTY), or email kinship@nd.gov.
• What to gather or know first: North Dakota’s TANF Kinship Care overview says the case needs a court order, a kinship placement agreement, an unlicensed caregiver home study, and adult background checks. Those background checks must be completed within 90 days, and if another adult age 18 or older moves into the home, a new background check window applies.

Very important North Dakota rule: The same policy says a child in the legal custody of an out-of-state entity is not eligible for North Dakota TANF Kinship Care, even if that child is placed in North Dakota.

Guardianship assistance for older caregivers

• What it is: North Dakota has two guardianship assistance programs for certain children leaving foster care for guardianship, and Kinship-ND also offers one-time help with legal establishment costs.
• Who can get it or use it: These ongoing payments are for children already in foster care. The state-funded track is for certain children in North Dakota foster care when reunification and adoption are ruled out. The Title IV-E track has extra rules, including Title IV-E eligibility, six consecutive months of placement, and a licensed relative foster parent.
• How it helps: North Dakota’s July 1, 2025 foster care payment-rate sheet lists guardianship subsidy rates at $19 per day for state guardianship and $28 per day for Title IV-E guardianship. The guardianship assistance brochure says children on an eligible guardianship are also eligible for North Dakota Medicaid if they live in North Dakota.
• How to apply or use it: Ask the child’s foster care case manager from the custodial agency to screen the case for guardianship assistance. Do this before finalizing guardianship.
• What to gather or know first: Ask whether the case fits the state-funded or Title IV-E lane, whether the child meets the age or sibling-group rules, and whether your foster home license must stay active through approval.

For families who are not yet at the subsidy stage, North Dakota’s 2025 Kinship-ND guardianship announcement says current Kinship-ND caregivers can apply for up to $2,500 to help with the initial guardianship process.

Can grandparents get foster care payments?

• What it is: Yes, but usually only if the child is in foster care and your home is licensed or approved as a foster setting.
• Who can get it or use it: Grandparents or other relatives caring for a child in foster care through a case managed by a Human Service Zone, Tribal Agency, or the Division of Juvenile Services.
• How it helps: North Dakota’s 2025 payment-rate sheet lists family foster care maintenance at $900 per month for children ages 0-4, $1,020 per month for ages 5-12, and $1,110 per month for ages 13 and up. The same sheet says HHS pays the provider directly.
• How to apply or use it: Tell the child’s case manager you want to know whether you can be licensed as a kinship foster home. Ask whether the current relative placement can be converted to a paid foster care placement.
• What to gather or know first: Licensing, home study, background checks, training, and safety requirements matter. Unlicensed relatives may still fit TANF Kinship Care or child-only TANF, but that is not the same as full foster care pay.

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

• What it is: North Dakota Medicaid and CHIP cover eligible children. Foster children and some TANF Kinship Care children often fit Medicaid first.
• Who can get it or use it: Children in your care who meet Medicaid or CHIP rules. CHIP is for uninsured children through the month they turn 19.
• How it helps: The state’s CHIP page says coverage is for uninsured children in qualifying-income households, with income up to 205% of the federal poverty level. The page’s April 1, 2026 income chart lists monthly income limits of $3,697 for a family of 2, $4,668 for 3, and $5,638 for 4.
• How to apply or use it: If you want only medical coverage, use the Medicaid ways to apply page and file SFN 1909. If you also want food, cash, or child care help, use SFN 405 instead.
• What to gather or know first: IDs, household income, the child’s date of birth and Social Security number if available, address, and any current insurance information. North Dakota also says free application help is available through ND Navigators at 1-800-233-1737.

Practical note: The state’s Medicaid application page says the Customer Support Center is transitioning to a new phone system, so some callers may experience delays. If you cannot get through, try the local zone office, mail, or ND Navigators.

Food help and child benefits for kinship families

• What it is: SNAP food benefits, school meals, and Summer EBT are often the fastest food supports for kinship families.
• Who can get it or use it: Low-income households and children who meet school-meal or direct certification rules.
• How it helps: North Dakota’s SNAP page shows maximum monthly SNAP benefits for October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 of $546 for a 2-person household, $785 for 3, and $994 for 4. The state’s Summer EBT page says children may qualify directly if the household participates in SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.
• How to apply or use it: Use the SNAP application page, your zone office, or the Customer Support Center. For help filling out SNAP, the state says Great Plains Food Bank SNAP Outreach can be reached at 1-855-405-0000.
• What to gather or know first: Household income, shelter costs, utility costs, proof the child lives with you, and school information. If the child is in foster care, tell the school right away and ask how they handle meals and records for foster children.

Housing help for seniors raising grandchildren

• What it is: North Dakota does not appear to have a special statewide housing program just for grandparents raising grandchildren. The fastest verified statewide housing-cost help is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
• Who can get it or use it: Both renters and homeowners with qualifying income. The state says tribal LIHEAP programs serve tribal members living on reservations.
• How it helps: The state’s LIHEAP page says applications are accepted year-round and can help with heating costs, emergency shut-off situations, cooling devices, furnace help, and weatherization referrals. For the 2025-2026 heating season, the page lists a monthly income limit of $3,378 for 1 person and $4,418 for 2.
• How to apply or use it: Apply online, by mail, or through your zone office. For application help, the state says Community Options can help at 1-800-823-2417 and may be able to assist people who cannot easily travel.
• What to gather or know first: Heating bill, lease if you rent, income proof, and records of expenses such as medical costs, child care, or child support paid.

School enrollment and medical consent issues

• What it is: This is often the first non-cash problem grandparents hit. In North Dakota, school and medical access can change a lot depending on whether you have informal care, guardianship, or foster care authority.
• Who can get it or use it: Any grandparent or older relative caring for a child, especially in the first days after a move.
• How it helps: A North Dakota minor guardianship creates a legal relationship that allows the guardian to care for and make decisions for the child. Without that, schools and clinics may still help, but they often want more paperwork.
• How to apply or use it: If the care will be long-term, review the state’s minor guardianship information. North Dakota says an emergency guardianship can last no more than 60 days from the date of the required hearing. For shorter-term informal care, ask the parent to sign written school and medical consent forms if possible, then ask the school district and clinic what else they require.
• What to gather or know first: Child’s birth certificate, immunization records, proof of address, emergency contacts, prior school records, insurance card, and any court orders. The NDSU guide on grandparents’ rights in North Dakota says getting health care and enrolling children in school can be challenging when grandparents do not have legal custody or guardianship.

For urgent medical decisions, Legal Services of North Dakota’s explanation of the informed health care consent law can help you understand when another adult may be able to consent if a parent or guardian cannot be reached. But that law is not a full substitute for guardianship, and each clinic may handle documentation differently.

Legal custody vs kinship care vs informal caregiving

• What it is: Three different legal and practical situations that often get mixed together.
• Who can get it or use it: Every North Dakota grandfamily should sort this out early.
• How it helps: Knowing the right label helps you avoid missed money and denied paperwork.
• How to apply or use it: Informal caregiving is a family arrangement with no court order. Kinship care in North Dakota often means a child welfare placement with a zone, tribal agency, or DJS involved. Minor guardianship is a court appointment through North Dakota courts and gives clearer decision-making power without terminating parental rights.
• What to gather or know first: Ask whether the parents signed anything, whether a court case already exists, and whether the child welfare agency or tribe has legal custody. Then keep copies of every order, placement paper, and notice.

What documents grandparents need

• What it is: A basic “proof folder” for benefits, school, and medical care.
• Who can get it or use it: Everyone caring for a child, even if the arrangement feels temporary.
• How it helps: It cuts down repeat calls, portal delays, and trips back to the office.
• How to apply or use it: Keep paper copies in a folder and photos on your phone if you can.
• What to gather or know first: Your ID; the child’s birth certificate and Social Security number if available; proof the child lives with you; any court order or placement agreement; parent contact information; school records; immunization card; insurance card; and income proof for anyone whose income must be reported.

Support groups and respite help for older caregivers

• What it is: North Dakota’s Family Caregiver Support Program, Kinship-ND, and the North Dakota Post Adopt Network.
• Who can get it or use it: The Family Caregiver Support Program serves older relative caregivers age 55 or older caring for grandchildren or other young relatives age 18 or younger. Kinship-ND helps kinship caregivers broadly. The Post Adopt Network is available to all guardianship families, according to the state’s guardianship assistance brochure.
• How it helps: HHS says the caregiver program can offer local service information, a trained caregiver coordinator, counseling, support groups, training, respite care, and some supplemental help with items such as incontinence supplies or assistive devices.
• How to apply or use it: Start with the Family Caregiver Support Program page or call Adult & Aging Services at 1-855-465-5465. For guardianship families, call the North Dakota Post Adopt Network at 1-844-454-1139.
• What to gather or know first: Your age, the child’s age, your relationship to the child, your county, and a short list of what is hardest right now, such as transportation, respite, behavior, or legal paperwork.

How grandparents can apply for benefits in this state without wasting time

• Identify the lane first: informal care, TANF Kinship Care, licensed foster care, or guardianship after foster care.
• Make the right first call: use Kinship-ND for kinship guidance, the Customer Support Center for TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, and LIHEAP, and ND Courts for minor guardianship.
• Use the right form: SFN 405 if you want cash, food, or child care help too; the health coverage route if you only want Medicaid or CHIP.
• Tell them you are a grandparent caregiver: do not just say “I need help.” Ask specifically about child-only TANF, TANF Kinship Care, or foster care licensing.
• Ask what proof is missing: if something is delayed, ask for the exact document, who needs it, where to send it, and the deadline.
• Use phone, mail, or in-person help if the portal stalls: North Dakota offers mail and zone-office options for major programs.
• Know the signature rule: the state’s SSP Help page says an authorized representative can sign SNAP, Medicaid, and LIHEAP applications in some situations, but TANF applications still need the applicant’s signature.
• After approval, report changes fast: North Dakota’s TANF brochure says approved TANF recipients must report some changes within 5 days, including income changes, address changes, and people moving in or out.

Application or proof checklist

• ☐ Your photo ID
• ☐ Child’s birth certificate, if available
• ☐ Social Security numbers, if available
• ☐ Proof the child lives with you now
• ☐ Any court order, custody order, or placement agreement
• ☐ Parent names, contact information, and what happened that led to the placement
• ☐ Your income proof and any child income proof
• ☐ Rent or mortgage amount and utility bills
• ☐ Child’s school records and immunization records
• ☐ Insurance card, medication list, and doctor names
• ☐ Notes with dates, names, and phone numbers from every agency call

Reality checks

• Kinship care money can stop over paperwork: North Dakota’s kinship care policy has a hard 90-day background-check rule. If the checks are not done, the TANF Kinship Care case can close even if the child is still with you.

• Child-only TANF is often much smaller than people expect: It can help, but it is usually far below the monthly cost of raising a child. Many grandparents need SNAP, Medicaid, school meals, and LIHEAP too.

• Informal care is common, but weak on legal authority: You may be doing all the parenting while still getting asked for parental consent by schools, clinics, and insurers.

• Phone delays and portal problems are real: North Dakota’s Medicaid application page warns of possible Customer Support Center delays during its phone system transition. If you are stuck, switch to mail, in-person help, or ND Navigators.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming “kinship care” automatically means foster care pay
• Not asking whether the child welfare case is with a zone, tribe, or DJS
• Waiting too long to apply because you hope the child will return home quickly
• Not telling the school and doctor’s office that the child now lives with you
• Forgetting to ask about Good Cause when child support cooperation would be unsafe
• Letting another adult move into a TANF Kinship Care home without asking how that affects required background checks
• Not reporting TANF changes quickly after approval

Best options by need

• Need cash right now: child-only TANF through SFN 405
• Need the largest regular child payment: ask whether the child qualifies for licensed kinship foster care instead of only a child-only TANF case
• Need help navigating everything: Kinship-ND at 701-328-1453
• Need school or medical decision-making authority: North Dakota minor guardianship
• Need legal-cost help for guardianship: Kinship-ND guardianship establishment funds up to $2,500
• Need health coverage: Medicaid or CHIP through SFN 1909 or SFN 405
• Need food help: SNAP, school meals, and Summer EBT
• Need help with heating or utility crisis: LIHEAP and Community Options
• Need respite or caregiver support: Family Caregiver Support Program for relative caregivers age 55 and older

What to do if denied, delayed, or blocked

• Ask for the exact reason in plain English: missing proof, wrong case type, income issue, relationship issue, custody issue, or background-check issue.
• Ask what category your case was opened under: child-only TANF, regular TANF, TANF Kinship Care, foster care, or guardianship assistance. Many problems start because the wrong lane was used.
• Ask where to send the missing proof: upload, fax, mail, or in-person. The Customer Support Center fax number is 701-328-1006.
• For TANF decisions, move fast: the state’s TANF brochure says appeals must be requested within 30 days. Ask for SFN 162, Request for Hearing.
• If a kinship or foster care payment is blocked: ask the child’s case manager whether a court order, home study, fingerprint check, or licensing step is missing.
• Use backup paths while you fix the main problem: SNAP, Medicaid or CHIP, LIHEAP, Kinship-ND, and the Family Caregiver Support Program can still matter even when one cash lane is delayed.

Plan B / backup options

• If child-only TANF is denied, ask whether the child can still get SNAP, Medicaid or CHIP, school meals, and Summer EBT.
• If North Dakota TANF Kinship Care is not available because another state has custody, ask that state’s agency what support follows the child and ask North Dakota about child-only TANF and minor guardianship.
• If foster care licensing is not possible yet, ask whether the child can stay in a relative placement while you work through licensing steps.
• If you cannot manage the portal, request paper forms by phone and keep copies of everything you send.
• If legal fees are the main barrier, call Kinship-ND and ask whether you can be screened for the state’s guardianship establishment funds.

Local North Dakota resources

Resource	What it helps with	How to reach it
Apply for Help Customer Support Center	TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, LIHEAP, application questions, case status	1-866-614-6005 or 701-328-1000, 711 (TTY)
Human Service Zone office finder	Local in-person help by county or region	Official zone-office finder online
Kinship-ND	Kinship navigation, coaching, guardianship-establishment screening	701-328-1453, 711 (TTY), kinship@nd.gov
Family Caregiver Support Program	Respite, support groups, caregiver coordinator, training	1-855-465-5465
ND Navigators	Free help with Medicaid and CHIP applications	1-800-233-1737
Great Plains Food Bank SNAP Outreach	Help completing SNAP applications	1-855-405-0000
North Dakota Courts minor guardianship page	Guardianship training, forms, emergency guardianship information	Official court self-help page online
North Dakota Post Adopt Network	Support for guardianship families after placement	1-844-454-1139

Diverse communities

Seniors with Disabilities

Use the Family Caregiver Support Program if you are age 55 or older and caring for a child. North Dakota HHS also offers phone, mail, and zone-office options for people who cannot complete everything online. Major HHS contacts listed in this guide include 711 (TTY).

Tribal-Specific Resources

North Dakota TANF Kinship Care can apply when the child is under the care, custody, and control of a North Dakota Tribal Agency, not just a Human Service Zone. Tribal members living on reservations may also use tribal LIHEAP programs, as the state’s LIHEAP page explains. If a tribal nation is involved, ask both the tribal program and the state which office is the lead on benefits and custody.

Rural Seniors with Limited Access

North Dakota’s system still allows phone, mail, and local office filing. For heating help, the state says Community Options can help complete LIHEAP applications and may come to you at 1-800-823-2417. For medical coverage, ND Navigators can help in person or virtually at 1-800-233-1737.

Frequently asked questions

Can a grandparent in North Dakota get TANF without putting their own income into the case?

Yes, sometimes. If you are caring for a relative child and do not want your needs included, ask North Dakota to screen the case for child-only TANF. The state’s TANF standard of need chart uses the 0-caretaker row for those cases, which is why child-only TANF is smaller than a full family TANF case. Use SFN 405 and say clearly that you are a grandparent caregiver asking about a child-only grant.

What is TANF Kinship Care in North Dakota, and how is it different from child-only TANF?

Child-only TANF is mainly a cash case for the child. TANF Kinship Care is a more specific North Dakota program for children already under a court-involved placement with a Human Service Zone, Tribal Agency, or the Division of Juvenile Services. The state’s TANF Kinship Care eligibility policy says the case includes an ineligible caretaker and an eligible kinship child, plus a kinship maintenance payment and supportive services.

Can I get full foster care payments for my grandchild?

Maybe, but usually only if your home becomes a licensed or approved foster setting and the child is in foster care. The state’s 2025 payment-rate sheet lists monthly family foster care rates of $900, $1,020, and $1,110 depending on age. If the child is only with you through an informal family arrangement, that does not automatically open foster care payments.

Do I need guardianship to enroll my grandchild in school or take them to the doctor?

Not always, but it often makes life much easier. North Dakota’s minor guardianship page explains that guardianship lets a guardian act in the place of a parent for the child. Without that, schools and clinics may ask for signed parent permission or other proof, and their rules can vary by district and provider. If the arrangement looks longer than a brief emergency, it is smart to review guardianship early.

Will my grandchild get Medicaid or CHIP if the child lives with me?

Many children can. North Dakota uses the same state application system to screen for Medicaid and CHIP. The state’s CHIP page says uninsured children can qualify through the month they turn 19 if family income fits the current chart. If the child is in foster care or a qualifying kinship-care arrangement, Medicaid is often the first health-coverage path to check.

What documents should I try to collect first?

Start with the child’s basic identity and residence records. Try to get your ID, the child’s birth certificate, Social Security number if available, proof the child now lives with you, any court papers, school records, immunization records, and income proof for the application. If you do not have every paper yet, apply anyway and ask the office exactly what can be turned in later.

Is there any North Dakota help for older grandparents who are worn out and need respite?

Yes. The Family Caregiver Support Program specifically serves older relative caregivers age 55 or older who are caring for grandchildren or other young relatives. HHS says it may provide caregiver coaching, counseling, support groups, training, respite, and some supplemental services.

What should I do if the state says I do not qualify for one program?

Do not stop with one answer. Ask which program you were screened for, why you were denied, what proof is missing, and whether a different lane makes more sense. A child may miss TANF Kinship Care but still qualify for child-only TANF, Medicaid or CHIP, SNAP, LIHEAP, or court-based guardianship help. If TANF was denied or reduced and you disagree, the state’s TANF brochure says you have 30 days to request a hearing.

Resumen en español

En Dakota del Norte, la ayuda para abuelos que están criando nietos depende mucho de cómo llegó el menor a su hogar. Si el arreglo es informal y no hay una orden de la corte, normalmente conviene empezar con TANF solo para el menor, SNAP y cobertura médica por Medicaid o CHIP. Si el caso ya pasa por una Human Service Zone, una Tribal Agency o la Division of Juvenile Services, pregunte si el menor entra en TANF Kinship Care o en cuidado de crianza con pago.

También existe Kinship-ND, que ayuda a familias de parentesco a entender sus opciones y hasta puede ofrecer fondos para iniciar una tutela. Si usted necesita autoridad legal para la escuela o el médico, revise la información de minor guardianship. Los abuelos de 55 años o más que cuidan a un niño también pueden pedir apoyo y relevo a través del Family Caregiver Support Program. Si no puede hacer todo por internet, Dakota del Norte también acepta solicitudes por teléfono, correo y en oficinas locales.

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 informational only, not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, and availability can change. Always confirm current details directly with the official North Dakota program, office, court, or provider before you act.