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

Last updated: 7 April 2026

Bottom Line: Vermont does not appear to offer a separate statewide monthly kinship stipend for grandparents who take in a child informally. For most older Vermonters, the real starting points are Reach Up Child Only, Dr. Dynasaur through Vermont Health Connect, food help through MyBenefits, and hands-on support from Vermont Kin as Parents.

If the child is in Department for Children and Families custody, bigger monthly help may come through licensed foster care or Vermont’s Guardianship Assistance Program. The hardest part for many seniors is not just money. It is getting the right paperwork for school, doctors, and court.

Emergency help now

• If the child is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical care, call 911 now.
• If you need cash, food, or health coverage started quickly, call Vermont’s DCF Benefits Service Center at 1-800-479-6151 or go to your Economic Services Division district office.
• If you need same-day local help with shelter, food, transportation, or court referrals, dial 2-1-1 or, if you are age 60 or older, call Vermont’s Senior Helpline at 1-800-642-5119.

What this help actually looks like in Vermont

Most important action: apply right away, even if you do not yet have every paper. Vermont’s Reach Up rules say a signed application with your name, address, and signature is enough to start the filing date, and the state says applications should be acted on within 30 days.

Important Vermont reality: if you took in a grandchild outside foster care, you usually start with Reach Up Child Only, not a special kinship-only payment. Vermont’s larger monthly payments are mostly tied to licensed foster care or a narrow guardianship assistance path.

How Vermont is set up: Vermont benefits are handled by the state through the Department for Children and Families, usually the Economic Services Division for cash, food, and fuel help, and the Family Services Division for child welfare, kinship foster care, and DCF custody questions. That means local help is regional, not county-based. The state uses 12 district offices.

• Best immediate takeaway: older adults often can get help for the child without adding the grandparent’s own income to a child-only case.
• Major rule: for Child Only Reach Up, the child must not be in foster care and must not be receiving Supplemental Security Income, or SSI.
• Realistic obstacle: informal caregiving may get benefits started but still leave you stuck on school forms, routine medical consent, and insurance problems.
• Useful Vermont fact: current Reach Up procedures use a one-person basic-needs standard of $644, a housing standard of $400 outside Chittenden County or $450 in Chittenden County, and a 49.6% ratable reduction.
• Best next step: gather ID, proof the child lives with you, any parent or court papers, and apply this week.

Care setup	Who makes the main decisions	Main Vermont help that may fit	Biggest limit
Informal caregiving	Usually the parent still keeps legal rights	Child-Only Reach Up, Dr. Dynasaur, 3SquaresVT, VKAP support	School and medical paperwork can still be hard
Minor guardianship in probate court	The guardian named by the court	May make school and medical decisions easier; may still use Child-Only Reach Up and support services	Not the same as foster care and does not automatically bring foster payments
Conditional custody in family court	The caregiver, under court order, with DCF involvement	Child-Only Reach Up, court-backed caregiving, DCF case support	Court oversight and case-plan duties
Licensed kinship foster care	DCF and the court share authority	Foster reimbursement, child care support, Medicaid, case-plan help	Licensing, training, background checks, and less day-to-day autonomy
Permanent guardianship after foster care	The permanent guardian	Guardianship Assistance Program and Medicaid if approved	Only available in narrower DCF-related cases

Who qualifies in plain language

You may have a workable Vermont path if all or most of these are true:

• You are a grandparent, other relative, or older family friend raising a child in your home.
• The child is living with you because the parent cannot safely or reliably care for the child right now.
• You need help paying for food, clothing, utilities, school needs, child care, or health coverage.
• You may or may not have legal guardianship yet.
• The child is not already in foster care, if you are looking at Child-Only Reach Up.

Watch out: if a parent still lives in the home and can care for the child, child-only help may be much harder. If the child is already in DCF custody, ask about kinship foster care instead of child-only TANF.

Best first steps after a grandparent takes in a child

1. Stabilize the child first. Get medicines, a safe sleeping space, school contact names, and any counseling or behavioral supports already in place.
2. Ask the parent for papers now if you can. Try to get the child’s birth certificate, Social Security number, insurance card, school records, and a signed note about your caregiving role.
3. Apply for benefits this week. Use Child-Only Reach Up if you want help for the child only, or use the regular Application for Benefits if you also need food, fuel, or help for yourself.
4. Put health coverage in place right away. Call Vermont Health Connect at 1-855-899-9600.
5. Decide whether informal care is enough. If schools or doctors are pushing back, talk with VKAP or Legal Services Vermont about guardianship or another court order.
6. Get support before burnout hits. Call Senior Helpline at 1-800-642-5119 if you are 60 or older, and call VKAP at 802-871-5104 for kinship-specific help.

Financial help for grandparents raising grandchildren

Child-Only Reach Up for grandparents raising grandchildren

• What it is: Vermont’s child-only Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, cash grant. The state calls it Reach Up Child Only.
• Who can get it or use it: a child under 18, with limited school exceptions, who is living with and cared for by someone other than a legal, step, or adoptive parent, has little or no income, is not in foster care, and is not getting SSI.
• How it helps: it gives a monthly cash benefit for the child. Vermont does not publish one simple statewide child-only amount. Instead, the current procedure manual uses a one-person basic-needs standard of $644, adds allowed housing, and then applies a 49.6% reduction. In plain English, the real check varies by housing costs, region, child income, and case details.
• How to apply or use it: if you only want child-only cash help, use the Child-Only Reach Up application. If you also want 3SquaresVT, Fuel Assistance, or your own needs included, use the regular Application for Benefits at MyBenefits, by mail, or through a district office. Expect a phone interview.
• What to gather or know first: child’s name, date of birth, Social Security number if available, proof the child lives with you, rent or housing proof, and any parent or court papers. Do not wait for every document before you file.

Important Vermont rule: in a true child-only case, the grandparent’s income and resources usually are not automatically counted against the child, unless the grandparent asks to be included or is legally responsible to support the child. That is why this path matters so much for seniors living on Social Security or retirement income.

Reach Up with the grandparent included

• What it is: a regular Reach Up case where the grandparent or other caretaker asks to have their own needs included.
• Who can get it or use it: low-income caretakers whose full household also meets Reach Up rules.
• How it helps: it can raise the grant in some households, but not all. Vermont’s rules require DCF to look at the child-only budget first and then compare it to the budget with the caretaker included, so the caretaker can choose.
• How to apply or use it: use the regular 202 application or MyBenefits. Ask the worker to run both budgets.
• What to gather or know first: your income, resources, rent, utilities, and the names of everyone living in the home.

Safety note: child support issues can come up in Reach Up cases. If pursuing child support could put you or the child at risk, ask for a waiver right away through the Benefits Service Center at 1-800-479-6151.

Kinship care payments and kinship navigator help in this state

Vermont Kin as Parents and KIN-KAN support

• What it is: Vermont’s most practical kinship-navigation help is community-based. Vermont Kin as Parents, or VKAP, is the best-known statewide contact, and the Vermont Parent Representation Center highlights the KIN-KAN network of kinship navigators and peer support.
• Who can get it or use it: grandparents and other kinship caregivers across Vermont, including family friends in some situations.
• How it helps: VKAP helps with legal, school, child care, financial, nutrition, and medical navigation. It also connects families to support groups and limited respite help.
• How to apply or use it: call 802-871-5104 or use the VKAP contact page.
• What to gather or know first: a short summary of how the child came to live with you, what papers you have, and what is most urgent right now.

Guardianship assistance for older caregivers

• What it is: Vermont’s Guardianship Assistance Program, usually called GAP.
• Who can get it or use it: caregivers who have been providing kinship foster care for the child for at least six months, are relatives or had a significant relationship with the child before DCF custody, and meet other program rules described in the official Vermont Kinship Caregivers Guide.
• How it helps: monthly payments for the child’s ongoing needs and Medicaid for the child.
• How to apply or use it: call DCF’s Adoption Unit at 802-241-2131. Apply before the guardianship is finalized.
• What to gather or know first: the child’s DCF case information, your foster-care history with the child, and any planned guardianship hearing dates.

Can grandparents get foster care payments?

• What it is: monthly foster care reimbursement when a child is in DCF custody and placed with you as a licensed kinship foster home.
• Who can get it or use it: grandparents or other kin approved by DCF and licensed as foster parents. Informal care and probate guardianship alone do not create foster care payments.
• How it helps: Vermont says foster care reimbursement can help cover the costs of care. The state’s kinship guide also says licensed foster homes may get child care support authorized by DCF, health coverage through a parent’s insurance or Medicaid, and payment of some case-plan costs such as transportation.
• How to apply or use it: if the child is already in DCF custody, tell the Family Services worker you want to be considered for kinship foster placement. Vermont’s official guide says licensing includes an application package, background checks on household members age 16 and older, a home visit, and required training.
• What to gather or know first: names and dates of birth for everyone in your home, home safety details, and any criminal or registry issues that may come up during checks. Getting licensed does not guarantee placement.

School enrollment and medical consent issues

Most important action: before the first school day or doctor visit, ask exactly what papers they want. In Vermont, many delays happen because a grandparent has the child in the home but does not yet have a court order or written parent consent.

School enrollment: Vermont does not appear to have one simple statewide “grandparent school form” that fixes every case. Rules and practice can vary by district. If your grandchild has special education needs, Vermont’s special education rules can treat an adult acting in the place of a parent, including a grandparent the child lives with, as the child’s “parent” in some cases; see the Vermont Special Education Rules.

If housing is unstable: the federal McKinney-Vento homeless-student law can matter fast. Vermont Legal Help explains that children without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence can be enrolled right away even without records or immunizations, and the school should involve its homeless liaison.

Medical consent: Vermont Legal Help explains that the person who can legally make health care decisions for a child is usually the parent or legal guardian. That means informal grandparents often run into trouble with routine care, specialists, and records requests. If you do not have guardianship, get written parent permission if you can, and bring it along with the child’s insurance cards and medication list.

Plain-English rule: informal care may be enough for day-to-day life, but it is often not enough for smoother school and medical decisions. If parents are unreachable or the situation will last, talk with VKAP or Legal Services Vermont about whether probate guardianship or another order makes sense.

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

Most important action: apply for the child’s coverage through Vermont Health Connect right away at 1-855-899-9600.

Vermont’s kinship guide says a grandparent can apply for Medicaid, called Dr. Dynasaur for children, for a child in the grandparent’s care, and that the income counted is the child’s income. The program can cover doctor visits, prescriptions, mental health care, dental care, and more. If the child is already on a parent’s job-based insurance, keep that card too until the new coverage is confirmed.

If the child is in foster care, Vermont says coverage may come from a parent’s insurance or Medicaid. Either way, keep copies of every insurance letter. Pharmacy problems are common during handoffs.

Food help and child benefits for kinship families

Most important action: when you file benefits, ask about food and school help at the same time.

For groceries at home, use the regular Vermont Application for Benefits or MyBenefits to ask about 3SquaresVT. If the child is under 5, check WIC in Vermont. Vermont Legal Help notes that caregivers of children under 5 may qualify, and a child already getting Medicaid, Dr. Dynasaur, 3SquaresVT, or Reach Up may already meet WIC’s financial test.

School meals are unusually strong in Vermont. The Agency of Education says Vermont has a permanent universal meals law for public schools. That means many families do not have to fight for breakfast and lunch access the way they do in other states. Still, complete any household income forms the school sends, because districts may use them for funding, direct certification, or other school benefits.

Summer food also matters. In a 2025 state press release, Vermont reported that children were served over 1 million summer meals at almost 300 sites in summer 2024. Each summer, call 2-1-1 for current local sites.

Housing help for seniors raising grandchildren

Most important action: if taking in a child puts your housing at risk, do not wait for an eviction notice. Call 2-1-1, call ESD at 1-800-479-6151, and ask what housing, fuel, and emergency options are active in your region.

Vermont’s regular benefits application can also be used for Fuel Assistance. The general Reach Up page also says Reach Up households may qualify for free weatherization services.

Vermont variation matters here: Reach Up housing rules treat Chittenden County differently from the rest of the state, and shared housing can change the amount budgeted. If you are doubled up with relatives, in subsidized housing, or in a shelter, ask the worker to explain exactly what shelter amount was budgeted.

If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, the state’s housing and unsheltered homelessness page points families to regional coordinated-entry lead agencies. DCF also says that if you already contacted ESD and still need help, you may contact your local Field Service Director, and then AHS Central Office at 802-241-0440 if the issue is still not resolved.

Legal custody vs kinship care vs informal caregiving

Informal caregiving is the fastest thing to start, but it gives the least legal proof. It may be enough to start child-only benefits, but it often leads to trouble with schools, doctors, and long-term planning.

Minor guardianship in probate court is often the next step when the arrangement will last and parents are not reliably available. It can make school and medical decisions much easier. It is still not the same as foster care.

Conditional custody and foster care usually involve family court and DCF. Those paths matter when there is a child welfare case, safety concern, or DCF custody. Foster care can bring higher monthly support, but you will have more oversight and licensing rules.

Permanent guardianship may become the right fit later when reunification is unlikely and adoption is not the best plan. In the right DCF-related case, that is where GAP may help.

What documents grandparents need

• ☐ Your photo ID
• ☐ The child’s birth certificate, if you have it
• ☐ The child’s Social Security number or proof you are trying to get it
• ☐ Proof the child lives with you, such as school papers, a letter from a landlord, mail, DCF paperwork, or a medical note
• ☐ Any signed parent consent for care, school, or medical treatment
• ☐ Any court order, guardianship paper, DCF placement letter, or safety plan
• ☐ Rent, mortgage, lot-rent, and utility bills
• ☐ Insurance cards and a list of medicines, doctors, therapists, and schools
• ☐ Your income papers if you are asking to include yourself in Reach Up or applying for 3SquaresVT or Fuel Assistance
• ☐ Copies of everything you submit

Support groups and respite help for older caregivers

Most important action: call for respite help before you feel overwhelmed.

The Family Caregiver Support Program through Vermont’s Area Agencies on Aging can be a major help for older adults. Vermont’s kinship guide says that if you are 55 or older and raising the child of a relative or friend, supportive services may include respite, caregiver training, help finding programs, support groups, and individual counseling. Start with Senior Helpline at 1-800-642-5119.

VKAP also offers kinship support groups across Vermont and limited respite grants. The state kinship guide says those respite funds are limited, available once a year, and first-come, first-served.

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

• Choose the right application first: use 202CARE if you only want Child-Only Reach Up. Use the regular 202 if you also want 3SquaresVT, Fuel Assistance, or your own needs included.
• File now, not later: Vermont lets a signed application start the case. Missing papers can often be added after filing.
• Expect a phone interview: Reach Up interviews are normally done by phone. If you miss the call, call back fast.
• Use the current office page: older Vermont PDFs can be out of date. For example, the live district office page shows the Burlington ESD office at 128 Lakeside Avenue, Suite 301.
• Keep proof of every upload or drop-off: write the date, time, and worker name on your copies.
• Ask for both cash comparisons if needed: if your own income is low, ask ESD to compare child-only and caretaker-included Reach Up.
• Use phone help if you are not online: call 1-800-479-6151. If you are 60 or older, call 1-800-642-5119. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, the state application says to use relay 7-1-1.

Need	Best Vermont contact	How to reach it
Cash, food, fuel, forms, office help	DCF Benefits Service Center / ESD	1-800-479-6151 or district office finder
Apply online	MyBenefits	myBenefits.vt.gov
Child health coverage	Vermont Health Connect	1-855-899-9600 or official site
Kinship navigation and support groups	Vermont Kin as Parents	802-871-5104 or VKAP
Senior caregiver support	Senior Helpline / Area Agencies on Aging	1-800-642-5119 or vermont4a.org
Local emergency and community referrals	Vermont 2-1-1	Dial 2-1-1 or visit vermont211.org
Guardianship Assistance questions	DCF Adoption Unit	802-241-2131
Child care help	Child Care Support Agencies	1-877-705-9008 or child care support agency finder

Reality checks

• Old information is a real problem: some Vermont PDFs still show older office addresses and older VKAP web addresses. Use the live district office page before driving anywhere.
• Benefits do not fix authority problems: a child-only cash case can be approved even while a school or doctor still asks for stronger legal paperwork.
• Housing and respite help can be limited: coordinated entry is not the same as immediate housing, and VKAP respite grants are limited and first-come, first-served.
• Portal and mail delays happen: save copies, keep envelopes, and write down every call. If something goes wrong, those notes matter.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting for a court order before filing for child-only help
• Using the wrong form when you also need food or fuel help
• Missing the Reach Up interview call
• Ignoring child support or safety-waiver notices
• Assuming informal care will be enough for school and doctor decisions
• Relying on old office addresses instead of the current state page
• Failing to report a major change after the child leaves, moves, or income changes

Best options by need

• I need money for the child fast: Reach Up Child Only.
• I need food and heating help too: use the regular Application for Benefits or MyBenefits.
• I need help understanding kinship care: call VKAP.
• I need a break and I am an older caregiver: call Senior Helpline.
• The child needs insurance: call Vermont Health Connect.
• The child is already in DCF custody: ask about kinship foster care and foster licensing, not just TANF.
• I may need guardianship: talk with Legal Services Vermont, Vermont Legal Help, or VKAP.

What to do if denied, delayed, or blocked

• Call and ask one direct question: “What exact proof is missing, and what date do you need it by?” Use 1-800-479-6151.
• Ask ESD to explain the budget: if the payment seems too low, ask whether housing was included, whether the case was run as child-only, and whether Chittenden or non-Chittenden housing rules were used.
• If safety is the problem, say so clearly: ask for a child-support waiver if contacting a parent could cause harm.
• Use your appeal rights: Vermont’s Reach Up rules say denial and closure notices must include fair-hearing rights. Read the deadline on the notice and act fast.
• Get legal backup: call Legal Services Vermont at 1-800-889-2047 or use Vermont Legal Help.
• If school enrollment is blocked because of housing instability: ask for the school’s homeless liaison and use the rights explained on Vermont Legal Help’s homeless education page.

Plan B / backup options

• WIC for children under 5: Vermont WIC at 1-800-649-4357.
• Head Start and Early Head Start: Vermont Head Start for younger children.
• Early childhood or developmental help: Children’s Integrated Services and Help Me Grow Vermont.
• Parent-child and family support: Parent Child Centers.
• Social Security: if the child is disabled or a parent is disabled or deceased, check Social Security.
• Mental health support: use Vermont’s community mental health centers or the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health.

Local resources in Vermont

Statewide kinship and senior help: Vermont Kin as Parents, Senior Helpline, and Vermont 2-1-1 are the best first calls.

Legal help: Legal Services Vermont, Vermont Legal Help, and the Vermont Bar lawyer referral service.

Post-permanency help: the Vermont Consortium for Adoption & Guardianship offers support after adoption and guardianship, and some services may also help some probate-guardianship families.

Community Action Agencies: for local rent, utility, food, and emergency help, contact the agency serving your area: BROC, Capstone, CVOEO, NEKCA, or SEVCA.

Family Services district office numbers for DCF custody or kinship foster questions: Barre 802-479-4260; Bennington 802-442-8138; Brattleboro 802-257-2888; Burlington 802-863-7370; Hartford 802-295-8840; Middlebury 802-388-4660; Morrisville 802-888-4576; Newport 802-334-6723; Rutland 802-786-5817; Springfield 802-289-0648; St. Albans 802-527-7741; St. Johnsbury 802-748-8374.

Frequently asked questions

Does Vermont have a separate monthly kinship care payment if I am just raising my grandchild informally?

Usually no. Vermont does not appear to offer a separate statewide monthly kinship stipend for informal grandparent care. In most cases, the first cash program to check is Reach Up Child Only. If the child is in DCF custody and you become a licensed foster home, foster reimbursement may be available. Later, in narrower DCF-related cases, the Guardianship Assistance Program may help.

Can I get Child-Only Reach Up if I have Social Security or retirement income?

Often yes. In a true child-only case, Vermont rules generally do not treat the grandparent’s income and resources as available to the child unless the grandparent asks to be included or has a legal support obligation. That is why many older Vermonters with fixed income still start with Child-Only Reach Up. If your own income is low too, ask ESD to compare a child-only budget and a caretaker-included budget.

Do I need legal guardianship before I apply for Vermont benefits?

No. You do not need to wait for guardianship before filing a benefit application. Vermont’s rules say a signed application can start the filing date, and Child-Only Reach Up is specifically for children being cared for by someone other than a legal, step, or adoptive parent. But if the child will stay with you for a while, guardianship or another court order may still be worth discussing for school and medical authority.

How much is child-only TANF in Vermont?

There is no one flat amount that fits every family. Vermont’s current Reach Up procedures start with a one-person basic-needs standard of $644, add allowed housing up to $400 outside Chittenden County or $450 in Chittenden County, add up to $90 in special housing allowance, and then apply a 49.6% ratable reduction. The final amount can still change based on the child’s income, child support, and whether housing is budgeted. Ask ESD to run the budget for your exact case.

Can I enroll my grandchild in school and take them to the doctor without custody?

Sometimes, but it can be messy. School paperwork varies by district, and routine medical consent is usually strongest when a parent or legal guardian signs it. If housing is unstable, McKinney-Vento rights may require immediate school enrollment even without records. For medical care, Vermont Legal Help explains that legal decision-makers are usually the parent or legal guardian, so informal caregivers should get written parent permission when possible and consider guardianship if the arrangement will last.

What if the child is already in DCF custody?

If the child is already in DCF custody, do not assume child-only TANF is the right path. Ask the child’s Family Services worker about kinship foster care, foster licensing, and whether you can be considered for placement. Vermont’s Kinship Caregivers Guide explains that licensed kinship foster homes may receive foster reimbursement and other support. If permanency later becomes the plan, ask whether GAP might apply.

Resumen en español

Si usted es abuelo, abuela, u otro cuidador mayor en Vermont y acaba de recibir a un nieto o a otro niño en su casa, el primer paso práctico suele ser pedir ayuda por medio de Reach Up Child Only, no esperar una “ayuda especial de kinship” que quizá no existe como pago mensual separado. Si también necesita comida o ayuda con calefacción, use la solicitud regular de beneficios de Vermont en MyBenefits o llame al 1-800-479-6151.

Para seguro médico del niño, llame a Vermont Health Connect al 1-855-899-9600 y pregunte por Dr. Dynasaur. Para ayuda con escuela, documentos, grupos de apoyo y descanso para cuidadores, contacte a Vermont Kin as Parents al 802-871-5104. Si usted tiene 60 años o más, también puede llamar a la Senior Helpline al 1-800-642-5119 para ayuda con beneficios y apoyo para cuidadores. Si hay problemas con vivienda o comida hoy mismo, marque 2-1-1. Si el niño ya está en custodia de DCF, pregunte por kinship foster care y no solo por TANF.

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, office locations, and availability can change. Always confirm current details directly with the official Vermont program, school, court, insurer, or service provider before you act.