Written & Reviewed by
Last updated: May 27, 2026
Bottom Line: Indiana does not have one broad monthly check just because you are a grandparent raising a grandchild. The fastest cash path for many private family cases is child-only Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, also called TANF. If the child was placed with you by the Indiana Department of Child Services, or DCS, a different kinship or foster care path may apply. Your first move is to make the child safe, apply for TANF, Medicaid, and food help, and then figure out whether your case is informal care, DCS kinship care, or court guardianship.
Emergency help now
- If the child is unsafe now: Call 911. You can also call the DCS hotline at 1-800-800-5556. The hotline is open 24 hours a day.
- If you need food, shelter, diapers, medicine, or utility help today: Call Indiana 211 at 211 or 1-866-211-9966, then ask for help near your ZIP code.
- If you need benefits started: Use the FSSA portal or call the Division of Family Resources at 1-800-403-0864. If you need a county office, use the DFR office finder before going.
Quick help for Indiana grandparents
- Most private family cases: Start with child-only TANF, Medicaid, SNAP, and school enrollment.
- DCS placed the child: Ask your family case manager for the kinship stipend, Medicaid, child care, clothing, bedding, travel rules, and placement papers.
- School is asking for custody papers: Ask for the Indiana Custodial Statement and Agreement forms. Do not let the child sit out of school while papers are being gathered.
- You are 55 or older and worn out: Call the caregiver support line at 1-800-713-9023 and ask about respite or local caregiver help.
- You need broader senior help too: See our Indiana senior help guide.
| Your situation | Start here | Main help to ask about | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child is with you by private family agreement | DFR and the school | Child-only TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, school enrollment | You may still need legal papers for long-term medical and school decisions. |
| DCS placed the child with you | DCS family case manager | Kinship stipend, Medicaid, child care, reimbursements, foster licensing | DCS still controls the case plan while the case is open. |
| You want long-term authority | County court or legal aid | Guardianship or third-party custody | A court order gives authority, but it does not always create a monthly payment. |
| You are behind on rent or utilities | 211 and Community Action | Local crisis help, food, shelter, utility referrals | Indiana EAP is closed as of May 27, 2026, and is expected to reopen in fall 2026. |
Contents
- Pick the right lane first
- Best first steps
- Child-only TANF
- DCS kinship and foster payments
- Guardianship and school help
- Health, food, and child help
- Housing and utility help
- Support for older caregivers
- Documents to gather
- If denied or delayed
- Local Indiana resources
Pick the right lane first
The most important question is not, “Am I a grandparent?” The most important question is, “How did the child come into my care?” Indiana uses different systems for private family care, DCS placement, and court guardianship.
Informal caregiving
This means the child lives with you, but there is no guardianship order and DCS is not the legal custodian. You can still ask for child-only TANF, Medicaid, SNAP, WIC for young children, and school enrollment help. The problem is authority. Some offices may ask for more proof if the arrangement lasts.
DCS kinship placement
This means DCS placed the child with you as a relative or kin caregiver. The family case manager matters. DCS lists help for eligible relative placements on its DCS financial resources page, including stipends and some allowances. Ask for every support in writing.
Guardianship or third-party custody
This means a court gives you legal authority. Guardianship can help with school, medical care, and long-term stability. Private guardianship does not always come with monthly cash. Indiana’s main verified guardianship subsidy is limited to certain DCS-involved children.
Best first steps
- Get the child safe. If there is danger, call 911 or the DCS hotline.
- Write down the date the child moved in. This date may matter for TANF, school, court, and DCS records.
- Apply for help right away. Use the Indiana benefits portal guide if the state website is confusing, then keep screenshots or confirmation numbers.
- Ask what legal lane you are in. Ask whether this is private care, DCS placement, or a court case.
- Enroll the child in school. Do not wait weeks for perfect documents if the child is living with you now.
- Ask for help for yourself too. A tired caregiver can miss notices and deadlines. Your local aging office may help you sort calls and paperwork.
Child-only TANF
For many Indiana grandparents, child-only TANF is the first cash program to check. Indiana’s Indiana TANF page says TANF helps children under 18 who live with a parent or relative, such as a grandparent, and meet program rules. In a child-only case, the child may be the cash recipient while the grandparent is the caretaker.
What it helps with: TANF gives monthly cash that can help with basic child needs. It is not large enough to cover the full cost of raising a child, but it may help with clothing, school items, transportation, or household costs.
Who may qualify: The child must live in Indiana with an eligible relative caregiver and meet financial and nonfinancial rules. Indiana’s policy manual includes a dependent child under 18 who lives with an eligible relative who cannot provide enough support.
Where to apply: Apply through the state portal, by phone at 1-800-403-0864, or through a local DFR office. Do not wait for a guardianship order before asking. If the child is already living with you, ask DFR what proof they will accept now.
| Children-only TANF group size | Maximum monthly payment |
|---|---|
| 1 child | $248 |
| 2 children | $409 |
| 3 children | $513 |
| 4 children | $617 |
| 5 children | $721 |
| 6 children | $825 |
| 7 children | $929 |
| 8 children | $1,033 |
| 9 children | $1,137 |
| 10 children | $1,241 |
Reality check: These are maximum amounts from Indiana’s TANF standards effective March 1, 2026. The real payment can be lower if the child has countable income or another rule applies. Keep every notice. If DFR asks for proof, ask for the exact document name and due date.
DCS kinship and foster payments
If DCS placed the child with you, ask about DCS money. Indiana’s kinship stipend FAQ says DCS provides $300 per month per child for a child placed in an unlicensed kinship home by DCS. It says DCS provides $150 if care is for a partial month lasting less than 15 days.
What it helps with: The stipend helps with basic care. DCS also lists possible help with clothing, bedding, travel, respite, and child care. Ask which supports fit your case.
Who may qualify: This path is for children placed by DCS. It is not the same as a private family agreement. If you took the child in without DCS placement, you can still ask DFR about TANF and other benefits, but you should not assume the DCS stipend is available.
Licensed foster care: Some grandparents become licensed foster parents for a relative child in a DCS case. Indiana’s 2026 rate letter lists standard foster care per diem rates of $27.86 for ages 0 to 4, $30.23 for ages 5 to 13, and $34.90 for ages 14 to 18. Higher care levels may pay more.
Reality check: If you are paid licensed foster care for the child, you usually cannot also claim TANF for that same foster child. Ask DCS and DFR before you assume which payment is better.
Guardianship, school, and medical authority
Money and legal authority are separate. A grandparent may need TANF quickly, but also need legal authority if the child will stay long term.
Guardianship: Indiana’s GAP page says the DCS Guardianship Assistance Program is for certain DCS or juvenile wards. The child usually must be age 13 or older, or part of a sibling group that meets the rule, and must have lived in a licensed relative home for at least six straight months. The child must also have a strong attachment to the caregiver and the court must approve guardianship as the permanency plan.
Private guardianship: If DCS is not involved, you may still ask the county court about guardianship or third-party custody. This can help with school and medical decisions. It does not automatically create a monthly payment.
School enrollment: Indiana’s enrollment memo says a child living with a relative or kinship caregiver has the right to attend school in the district where the child resides. The state also has custodial forms for certain third-party custody situations.
Medical consent: DCS placement papers or a court order can make medical care easier. In informal cases, some clinics may accept written parent permission for routine care, while others may ask for stronger proof. If the arrangement may last, talk with legal aid early.
Reality check: Do not use school forms just to get a child into a different district. If the child truly lives with you, start enrollment and ask the school what it needs. If the child is not really living with you, the district can challenge it.
Medicaid, food, child support, and child care
Cash is only one part of the plan. Health coverage, food help, child support, and child care may matter more in the first month.
Health coverage: Indiana’s Hoosier Healthwise program covers children up to age 19 and pregnant people. It can cover doctor visits, medicine, mental health care, dental care, hospital care, and surgeries. If the child was with MDwise, check the state health plan page because MDwise is no longer an option.
Food help: Add the child to SNAP if the child is now in your household and your case rules allow it. If the child is under 5, ask about Indiana WIC. Indiana says families receiving Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF are income-eligible for WIC, though the child still must meet WIC rules.
Child support: Parents may still have a duty to support the child. Indiana has child support enrollment for custodial parties and caretakers. You can also call Kidsline at 1-800-840-8757.
Child care: If you work, go to school, or need care because of a DCS placement, ask about Child Care and Development Fund help. Indiana uses Early Ed Connect for child care applications.
Reality check: Each program counts household members and income in its own way. Do not guess. Say, “The child moved in with me. Tell me whose income you need for this program.”
Housing, utility, and local crisis help
Indiana does not have a special statewide housing voucher only for grandparents raising grandchildren. Use the regular housing, utility, shelter, and local charity systems.
Utility help: The Indiana EAP page says Program Year 2026 closed on April 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. As of May 27, 2026, new EAP applications, including second crisis and summer help, are not being accepted.
Local help: Use the Community Action map to find the agency serving your county. Community Action may know about food, rent, weatherization, and local crisis help.
Affordable housing: Search Indiana Housing Now for rental listings and housing resources. If you need a senior-focused overview, our Indiana housing help guide may help you choose the right housing path.
Emergency help: If the child moving in created a crisis, see our Indiana emergency help guide for more ways to look for rent, food, utility, and local charity help.
Reality check: Housing help has waitlists. Utility help has seasons. Local charity funds can run out. Call early in the day and ask for more than one referral.
Support for older caregivers
Grandparents often focus only on the child. But the caregiver needs support too. Indiana’s Family Caregiver page says older relatives age 55 and older who are not the child’s parent may be served when caring for a child. Help may include training, support groups, counseling, respite, and limited services.
Call 1-800-713-9023 and say you are an older relative raising a child. You can also use our Area Agencies guide to find the aging network in your part of Indiana.
If you are also caring for an older adult or disabled spouse, read our Indiana caregiver pay guide. It explains adult caregiver programs, which are separate from child-only TANF and DCS child placement payments.
Reality check: Respite is not always immediate. Ask what is available now, what has a waitlist, and whether there are support groups or counseling while you wait.
Documents to gather
You do not need every paper before you ask for help. But a folder can save weeks.
| Document or detail | Why it matters | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Your photo ID | Shows who you are | DFR, school, court, medical office |
| Child name and birth date | Starts most applications | TANF, Medicaid, SNAP, school |
| Child Social Security number | Often needed for benefits | DFR, Medicaid, child support |
| Proof the child lives with you | Shows day-to-day care | TANF, SNAP, school, court |
| DCS placement letter | Shows official placement | DCS help, school, doctors |
| Court order, if any | Shows legal authority | School, medical care, benefits |
| Parent names and addresses | Needed for notices and support | Child support, court, DFR |
| Income and benefit notices | Shows household money | SNAP, TANF, housing, WIC |
| School and medical records | Helps avoid delays | Enrollment, doctors, therapy |
Our printable document checklist can help you make a benefits folder for your household.
How to start without wasting time
| Who to call | What to say | What to write down |
|---|---|---|
| DFR | “My grandchild now lives with me. I want to apply for child-only TANF, Medicaid, and SNAP. What proof do you need today?” | Case number, worker name, missing documents, due date |
| DCS worker | “Was this child placed with me by DCS? Am I approved for the kinship stipend and allowances? Please send the placement letter.” | Case number, worker, supervisor, approved supports |
| School office | “The child lives with me in this district. Please enroll the child now and tell me which custodial form you need.” | Enrollment date, form name, staff name |
| Indiana 211 | “A child moved into my home and I need food, rent, utility, clothing, or bedding help near my ZIP code.” | Agency names, phone numbers, hours, documents needed |
Reality checks
- TANF is helpful but small. Use it as one part of the plan, not the whole plan.
- DCS money is not the same as private family help. The kinship stipend is tied to DCS placement.
- Guardianship gives authority, not always money. Ask the court or legal aid what the order will and will not do.
- Notices matter. A missed DFR letter can close or delay a case.
- School enrollment can be stressful. Stay calm, ask for the written rule, and ask for enrollment first.
- Local help changes fast. Food pantries, rent funds, and utility help can open and close.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for full guardianship before asking about TANF, Medicaid, SNAP, or school enrollment.
- Assuming all grandparents qualify for DCS kinship payments.
- Not asking whether the child was officially placed by DCS.
- Letting the parent’s old address stay on benefit notices.
- Taking a verbal “no” as final without asking for the rule or missing document.
- Forgetting to ask for child support when parents are not helping.
- Missing respite or support because you only apply for help for the child.
What to do if denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
- For TANF, Medicaid, or SNAP: Call DFR at 1-800-403-0864. Ask what document is missing, how to send it, and whether you can appeal.
- For DCS kinship help: Call the family case manager. If you do not get an answer, ask for the supervisor and keep a dated call log.
- For school problems: Ask for the reason in writing. Say the child lives with you and ask for the enrollment memo and custodial forms.
- For court questions: Try Indiana Legal Help and Indiana Legal Services before you file papers alone.
- If you are too tired to sort it: Call 211 or the aging network. Ask for a person who can help you make the next three calls.
Backup options
- Add the child to benefits you already get. If you receive SNAP or Medicaid, report the household change and ask what happens next.
- Ask for parent-written authority. If a parent is safe and reachable, written permission can help during a short-term arrangement.
- Use local help while benefits are pending. School social workers, churches, Community Action, and 211 may bridge gaps.
- Open a child support case. This can be slow, but it may help over time.
- Use broader grandfamily help. Our grandparent programs guide explains common national and state paths for relatives raising children.
Local Indiana resources
- Indiana 211: Call 211 or 1-866-211-9966 for local food, housing, utility, clothing, counseling, and family referrals.
- Division of Family Resources: Call 1-800-403-0864 for TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, and DFR office help.
- DCS hotline: Call 1-800-800-5556 if you suspect abuse or neglect, or if there is urgent child safety concern.
- Family Caregiver Program: Call 1-800-713-9023 and ask for help for an older relative caregiver.
Resumen en español
Si usted es abuelo, abuela, u otro pariente mayor criando a un menor en Indiana, la ayuda depende de cómo llegó el niño a su hogar. Si el arreglo es privado, empiece con TANF solo para el menor, Medicaid, SNAP, WIC si el niño es pequeño, y la escuela. Si DCS colocó al menor con usted, pregunte al trabajador del caso sobre el estipendio de parentesco, Medicaid, cuidado infantil, ropa, viajes, y cartas de colocación.
No espere a tener todos los papeles para pedir ayuda. Llame a DFR al 1-800-403-0864 para beneficios. Llame a Indiana 211 al 211 o 1-866-211-9966 si necesita comida, vivienda, ropa, o ayuda local. Si usted tiene 55 años o más y necesita apoyo como cuidador, llame al 1-800-713-9023.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get child-only TANF without guardianship in Indiana?
Often, yes. A grandparent or other eligible relative can ask for TANF for a child living in the home. You still need proof of identity, where the child lives, and other details DFR asks for. Guardianship may help, but it is not always required just to apply.
Can Indiana grandparents get the DCS kinship stipend?
Yes, but usually only when DCS placed the child with the grandparent or kin caregiver. The current unlicensed kinship stipend is $300 per month per child, or $150 for a partial month lasting less than 15 days.
Do I get a monthly check if I get private guardianship?
Usually no. Private guardianship can give legal authority for school and medical care, but it does not automatically create a monthly payment. Indiana’s DCS Guardianship Assistance Program is much narrower and is tied to certain DCS-involved cases.
What should I do if the school will not enroll my grandchild?
Ask for the reason in writing. Tell the school the child lives with you and ask for the custodial forms. If the child is living in the district, enrollment should not be delayed just because every document is not ready on day one.
What health insurance should I check first?
Check Hoosier Healthwise first for most children. If the child was placed by DCS, ask the family case manager to make sure Medicaid is active. If the child had MDwise, check for a new managed care plan.
Where can older caregivers get respite in Indiana?
Call 1-800-713-9023 and ask about the Family Caregiver Program. Older relatives age 55 or older who are caring for a child may be able to get information, support groups, respite, training, or limited supplemental services.
About This Guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, 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 May 27, 2026, next review August 27, 2026.
Corrections: Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we will respond within 72 hours.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the official program before acting.
Last updated: May 27, 2026
Next review: August 27, 2026
Choose your state to see senior assistance programs, benefits, and local help options.
About the Authors