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Last updated: 16 September 2026
Financial help for grandparents raising grandchildren in Hawaii can come from several different systems. The strongest routes may include child-only TANF or TAONF cash assistance, formal foster or guardianship payments, food benefits, Med-QUEST health coverage, child-care subsidies, short-term housing help, and tax credits. The right path depends heavily on whether you are caring for the child privately or the child is in a formal Department of Human Services child-welfare case.
Bottom Line
Hawaii does offer financial help and benefits for some grandparents raising grandchildren, but there is not one payment that fits every grandfamily. If the child is living with you privately, ask the Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) to screen the child for child-only TANF or TAONF, SNAP, and Med-QUEST. If Child Welfare Services placed the child with you, ask about resource-caregiver payments and permanency assistance before signing a guardianship or adoption order.
Urgent Help
If a child is unsafe, abandoned, abused, or neglected, contact Child Welfare Services. DHS lists 808-832-5300 for Oʻahu and 1-888-380-3088 from neighbor islands. Call 911 for immediate danger or a medical emergency.
Start Here: 3 Financial-Benefit Actions
- Apply for cash and food help. Use the PAIS application and ask DHS to screen the child for a child-only TANF or TAONF case with you as a non-needy caretaker.
- Find out the child’s legal placement status. Ask whether this is private family care or a formal DHS placement. That answer can determine whether foster-board or permanency payments are possible.
- Check health and child-care costs. Apply for the child’s Med-QUEST coverage and, if you work, attend school, or train for work, check the Hawaii child-care subsidy.
| Help type | What it can pay for | Key eligibility issue | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child-only TANF / TAONF | Basic child and household needs | Child lives with a specified relative; ask about non-needy caretaker status | DHS through PAIS |
| Resource-caregiver payment | Monthly foster care costs and approved supports | Usually requires formal DHS placement and caregiver approval | Child Welfare Services |
| Permanency assistance | Ongoing guardianship support and medical benefits | Child must meet child-welfare rules; agreement must be signed before guardianship | Child’s DHS social worker |
| SNAP | Groceries | DHS reviews the SNAP household and its income; this is not automatically a child-only benefit | PAIS / DHS |
| Med-QUEST | Medical and other covered health care | Coverage group depends on age, household, and foster/guardianship status | Med-QUEST |
| Child-care subsidy | Part of approved child-care costs | Caretaker activity, child age, income, and approved provider rules | Child Care Connection Hawaii |
| Hawaiʻi Relief Program | Short-term housing, utility, or auto costs | Dependent child, legal custody, income, and a qualifying financial crisis | Contracted community provider |
What Has Changed
The May 2026 version of this guide carried older foster-board figures. The DHS resource-family material currently linked from its foster-care page lists monthly basic board reimbursement of $649 for ages 0–5, $742 for ages 6–11, and $776 for ages 12 and older. The public guide itself was last revised in 2022, so ask the child’s worker to confirm the amount that applies now before budgeting.
This update also makes the Hawaiʻi Relief Program’s legal-custody rule clearer. The current program administrator says a grandparent or other specified relative must have legal custody of the dependent child for that particular short-term housing, utility, or automobile assistance route.
Cash Assistance: Child-Only TANF or TAONF
Hawaii’s TANF and TAONF programs provide monthly cash assistance to eligible families with children. Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF) is state-funded and generally mirrors TANF policies for certain families that include non-citizens.
A grandparent should specifically ask about a child-only case. Hawaii rules use the term non-needy caretaker for a person who receives assistance for a dependent child but does not ask to be included in the assistance unit. Hawaii’s TANF work-referral form also identifies a person applying only for children who are not their own as a non-needy caretaker who is not referred to the normal work program.
This matters for grandparents living on Social Security, pensions, or retirement savings. Do not assume your own income is treated the same way as it would be in a cash case for yourself. Do not assume the child automatically qualifies. DHS still reviews the child’s relationship, residence, income, support, citizenship or immigration category, and other program rules.
Where to start: submit the financial-assistance application through PAIS or call the DHS Public Assistance Information Line at 1-855-643-1643. Ask for a written notice showing the approved benefit amount or the reason for denial.
For a broader national comparison of benefit routes, see the GFS guide to grandparent financial help.
Kinship Care Payments, Foster Payments, and Guardianship Assistance
Private family care and formal DHS placement are not the same. A grandchild moving into your home does not, by itself, create a foster-care payment. Hawaii’s foster and adoptive page lists approval steps such as background checks, a home visit, references, medical reports, and training.
| Care arrangement | Possible financial route | What matters most |
|---|---|---|
| Private grandparent care | Child-only TANF/TAONF, SNAP, Med-QUEST, tax credits | Relationship and program rules; foster payment usually does not apply |
| Formal DHS placement | Resource-caregiver board reimbursement and related supports | DHS placement responsibility and caregiver approval |
| DHS permanency case | Kinship guardianship or state permanency assistance | Eligibility and a signed assistance agreement before guardianship |
| Private court guardianship | May unlock authority for programs, school, and medical decisions | A private guardianship alone does not create a DHS permanency payment |
Resource-caregiver payments
The latest publicly linked DHS Resource Family Basics guide lists basic monthly foster-board reimbursement of $649 for ages 0–5, $742 for ages 6–11, and $776 for ages 12 and older. It also lists clothing allowances, mileage reimbursement, respite, and other supports. Because the guide was last revised in 2022, confirm the current payment with the child’s worker before relying on it.
Permanency and kinship guardianship assistance
Hawaii’s permanency-assistance rules require a written DHS agreement before legal guardianship is awarded. The agreement states the payment, medical benefits, and other services. The payment cannot exceed the foster-care maintenance amount that would otherwise apply.
The rules also allow up to $2,000 for eligible nonrecurring guardianship costs when the child qualifies. This is not a general payment for private guardianships.
Important: if Child Welfare Services is involved, ask about permanency assistance before the guardianship is finalized. A required agreement must be in place first.
Kinship navigation
DHS has an ʻOhana Navigator Program for relative and kin resource caregivers. In a child-welfare case, ask the social worker or the warm line at 808-545-1130 on Oʻahu or 1-866-545-0882 from neighbor islands how to reach the current navigator.
Food Benefits: SNAP and Food Support
Hawaii SNAP benefits can reduce grocery costs. You can apply for SNAP and cash assistance through the same DHS application. Hawaii also lists 2026 SNAP outreach providers that offer free application and recertification help.
Do not confuse SNAP with child-only TANF. SNAP has its own household and income rules. Your income and who buys and prepares food together can affect the SNAP case. Ask DHS how it will define your SNAP household rather than assuming the grandchild can always be treated alone.
If you also need help with your own grocery costs as an older adult, the GFS guide to Hawaii SNAP for seniors explains senior-specific deductions and application issues.
Health Coverage: Med-QUEST for the Child
Hawaii Med-QUEST programs include children under 19 and a group for children under 21 who receive foster care, kinship guardianship, or adoption assistance. Some adult caretaker relatives may qualify under a separate group.
The child’s eligibility is not the same as the grandparent’s own Medicaid eligibility. If you are applying only for the child, say that clearly. If you also need help with your own Medicare or Medicaid costs, use the Hawaii senior benefits guide for age-based programs.
For Med-QUEST application questions, DHS lists its Client Call Center at 808-524-3370. Ask what document proves that you can act for the child if you do not yet have guardianship papers.
Child-Care Help and Subsidies
Hawaii’s child-care subsidy rules cover eligible children under 13, and some children ages 13 through 18 who cannot care for themselves. The parent or caretaker generally must be working, attending school, or participating in job training. The current page says gross monthly family income must not exceed 85% of State Median Income and eligibility is redetermined every six months.
This help is a subsidy toward approved child care, not guaranteed full payment. Before choosing a provider, ask what DHS will pay, what your copayment may be, and whether the provider has completed the required approval and background-check steps.
Housing, Utility, and Emergency Cost Help
The Hawaiʻi Relief Program can help a grandfamily with a minor child during a qualifying financial crisis. As of 13 September 2026, the program administrator says applications are being accepted. Help is non-recurring and generally lasts no more than four months.
Published limits include up to $6,000 for a one-time housing deposit; housing payments up to $6,000 for each of up to four months; utility deposits up to $3,000 per source; and utility payments up to $2,000 per source for up to four months. Certain automobile costs can also qualify. Payments go to the vendor, not directly to the family.
Grandparent rule: the administrator says the family must include an adult specified relative, such as a grandparent, who resides with and has legal custody of the dependent child under 18. The household also must meet the program’s income, residency, immigration/citizenship, crisis, and non-duplication rules.
Reality check: this program has operated under emergency and short-term rules, so confirm that applications and funding are still open before depending on it. DHS says Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi handles Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi Island, while Maui Economic Opportunity handles Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi.
For other rent, shelter, or utility routes, see GFS Hawaii housing assistance and Hawaii emergency assistance.
Tax Help That Can Increase Household Money
Tax credits are not monthly benefits, but they can reduce taxes or increase a refund. For 2025 returns filed in 2026, the IRS says a grandchild can meet the relationship test for child-related credits when the other age, residency, support, Social Security number, and dependency rules are met.
Use the IRS Child Tax Credit rules before claiming a grandchild. Hawaii also lists a state earned income tax credit, a child and dependent care credit, and a refundable food/excise tax credit on its tax information page.
Legal custody is not the universal tax test. Tax rules differ from TANF, foster care, school, and housing rules. If a parent may also claim the child, check IRS tie-breaker rules or use qualified tax help.
Legal Help That Unlocks Benefits
Legal authority matters most when a program requires custody, guardianship, or proof that you can make decisions for the child. It does not mean every benefit requires a court order. Child-only TANF may be available to a qualifying specified relative without a private guardianship, while the Hawaiʻi Relief Program currently requires legal custody.
The Hawaii Judiciary provides family court forms by circuit, including minor guardianship. Some court fees may be waivable. For legal advice, contact Legal Aid Hawaii about guardianship, custody, or public benefits.
For school enrollment, Hawaii DOE lists parent/guardian identification and proof of residence among required documents. Check the enrollment document list and ask the school what it will accept if you are not yet the legal guardian.
Where to Apply for Financial Help
| Need | Best first contact | What to say |
|---|---|---|
| Child-only cash or SNAP | DHS Public Assistance, 1-855-643-1643 | “Please screen my grandchild for child-only TANF or TAONF and SNAP.” |
| Foster or guardianship payment | Child’s CWS social worker | “Does DHS have placement responsibility, and what payment path applies?” |
| Med-QUEST | Med-QUEST, 808-524-3370 | “What coverage group and authority documents apply to this child?” |
| Child-care subsidy | Child Care Connection Hawaii | “What is my family copayment and which providers can be paid?” |
| Housing or utility crisis | Hawaiʻi Relief contractor | “I am a grandparent with legal custody of a dependent child. Is funding open?” |
| Older-adult benefits for you | County aging network | “I am raising a grandchild and need benefits screening for my own senior costs.” |
Use GFS Hawaii benefits portals for state entry points. For your own age-based benefits, use the Hawaii aging offices guide.
Documents to Gather Before You Apply
- Your photo ID and proof of Hawaii address.
- The child’s birth certificate or other identity document.
- The child’s Social Security number, if available and required.
- Proof that the child lives with you.
- Any custody, guardianship, foster-placement, court, or DHS papers.
- Your income documents when the program asks for household income.
- The child’s income or benefit records, including Social Security or child support.
- Rent, mortgage, and utility bills for housing assistance.
- Child-care provider information if applying for a subsidy.
- Every notice of approval, denial, missing documents, or deadlines.
Do not delay every application because one document is missing. Submit what the program allows and ask for the missing-item deadline.
Reality Checks and Common Mistakes
- Child benefits and grandparent benefits are different. Child-only TANF may exclude you from the cash assistance unit, while SNAP, housing, tax, and senior-benefit programs use different household rules.
- Private care does not equal foster care. Foster-board and permanency payments generally depend on a formal child-welfare placement and DHS approval.
- Do not finalize guardianship too early in a DHS case. A permanency-assistance agreement must be completed before the guardianship for that payment route.
- Do not call every benefit a grant. TANF is cash assistance, SNAP is a food benefit, Med-QUEST is health coverage, foster-board money is reimbursement/support, and tax credits use tax rules.
- Funding and processing can change. SNAP and financial-assistance processing may be delayed, and short-term relief programs can close or change rules.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying for “family TANF” without asking whether a child-only non-needy caretaker case fits.
- Assuming your Social Security or pension is ignored by every program because it may be treated differently in child-only TANF.
- Assuming a private guardianship will automatically create foster or kinship payments.
- Waiting for perfect paperwork before starting time-sensitive benefit applications.
- Failing to report changes in the child’s residence, custody, income, or benefits when a program requires it.
Denied, Delayed, or Overwhelmed
Ask for the decision in writing and check the review or hearing instructions. If documents are missing, ask exactly what is missing and the deadline. If the problem is custody or guardianship, ask legal aid before filing new court papers.
While a benefit is pending, GFS lists backup Hawaii charities and churches for food, rent, utilities, or crisis help.
Phone Scripts for Benefits and Payments
DHS cash assistance
“I am my grandchild’s caregiver. I am applying for the child, not for cash for myself. Can you screen this as a child-only TANF or TAONF case with me as a non-needy caretaker? What income and relationship documents do you need, and what amount would apply if approved?”
Child Welfare Services
“Does DHS have placement responsibility for this child? If yes, what do I need to complete to receive resource-caregiver support, and should we discuss permanency assistance before any guardianship is finalized?”
Housing relief
“I am a grandparent caring for a dependent child. Does my custody status meet the program rule? Is the program accepting applications now, what expenses can it pay, and what documents must I bring?”
Benefits follow-up
“I submitted my application on [date]. What is still missing? What is the due date, what is the expected next step, and how do I request review if I receive a denial or reduced benefit?”
Resumen en español
En Hawái, los abuelos que crían a sus nietos pueden encontrar ayuda financiera por varias vías. Si el cuidado es privado, pregunte a DHS por TANF o TAONF solo para el niño, SNAP y Med-QUEST. Si el niño fue colocado formalmente por Child Welfare Services, pregunte por pagos para cuidadores de crianza y por asistencia de permanencia antes de finalizar una tutela legal.
También puede haber subsidio de cuidado infantil si usted trabaja, estudia o participa en capacitación. El Hawaiʻi Relief Program puede ayudar por un tiempo limitado con vivienda, servicios públicos o ciertos gastos de automóvil, pero exige reglas específicas, incluida la custodia legal del menor. Los créditos tributarios federales y estatales usan reglas distintas.
Al llamar, pregunte siempre: qué programa corresponde, cuánto podría pagar, qué documentos necesita, si exige custodia o colocación legal, cuál es el próximo paso y cómo apelar una decisión negativa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a grandparent get child-only TANF in Hawaii?
Yes, some grandparents may qualify as specified relatives caring for a dependent child. Ask DHS to screen the case as child-only TANF or TAONF with you as a non-needy caretaker. DHS decides eligibility and the payment amount based on the child’s case facts and current program rules.
Does my Social Security count for child-only TANF?
A true non-needy caretaker case does not include you in the cash assistance unit in the same way as a case where you request assistance for yourself. Do not assume that rule applies to SNAP, housing, tax, or other programs. Ask DHS how each income source is treated in your specific case.
Can grandparents get kinship or foster payments in Hawaii?
Yes, but usually when the child is in a formal Child Welfare Services placement and the grandparent is approved as a resource caregiver. A private family arrangement does not automatically create foster-board payments.
What is Hawaii permanency assistance?
Permanency assistance can provide monthly support and medical benefits for an eligible child who was under DHS placement responsibility and moves to a qualifying legal guardianship or permanent custody arrangement. The written assistance agreement must be in place before guardianship is awarded.
Can my grandchild get SNAP and Med-QUEST?
Possibly. SNAP and Med-QUEST each have separate eligibility rules. SNAP looks at the food household and its financial circumstances. Med-QUEST has child and caretaker coverage groups, including special paths for children receiving foster care, kinship guardianship, or adoption assistance.
Can a grandparent get child-care help?
Possibly. Hawaii’s child-care subsidy can cover part of approved care when the caretaker meets work, school, or training rules and the child, household income, and provider meet program requirements. It may not pay the full child-care bill.
Is legal custody required for every benefit?
No. Different programs use different rules. Child-only TANF may be available to a qualifying specified relative without a private guardianship, while the Hawaiʻi Relief Program currently requires legal custody. Foster and permanency payments require formal child-welfare and legal steps.
Can a grandparent claim tax credits for a grandchild?
Sometimes. A grandchild can meet the relationship test for federal child-related tax credits, but age, residency, support, Social Security number, dependency, income, and competing-claim rules also matter. Hawaii has additional state credits. Confirm the tax year’s rules before filing.
About This Guide
Sources: This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources linked in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced under the GFS Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources. GFS is not affiliated with a government agency and is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Despite careful verification, errors may occur. Readers may email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections.
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, funding, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the responsible official program before acting.
Last updated: 16 September 2026 · Next review: 16 January 2027
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