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

Written & Reviewed by

Analic Mata-Murray

Managing Editor

Yolanda Taylor

Senior Healthcare Editor

Last updated: April 7, 2026

Bottom line: Louisiana gives some grandparents more real help than many states, because it has a true kinship cash program called the Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP). But the system is split: since the October 1, 2025 One Door transition, KCSP, the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), and SNAP are handled by the Louisiana Department of Health, while the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Kinship Navigator, foster care, and child support still sit with DCFS. Your first step depends on whether the child is in your private care or already in state custody.

Emergency help now

• If the child is unsafe, abandoned, abused, or neglected, call the Louisiana child abuse and neglect hotline at 1-855-452-5437 right now.
• If the child needs food or cash help quickly, start a family support application through the Louisiana CAFÉ portal or call 1-888-524-3578.
• If school or a doctor needs consent today, use a non-legal custodian affidavit or a provisional custody by mandate if you can get one signed right away.

Quick help box

• Fastest Louisiana cash path: If the child lives with you and the parents do not, check KCSP first.
• Best temporary paper: If a parent agrees, use a provisional custody by mandate now.
• If there is no parent signature: A non-legal custodian affidavit can help with school and some medical consent.
• If DCFS already took custody: Ask immediately to be considered as a relative/kin foster caregiver and ask about certification.
• Do not wait on health coverage: Apply for the child through Louisiana Medicaid/LaCHIP the same day.
• Need local help: Dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 through Louisiana 211.

What this help actually looks like in Louisiana

Start with the right track: In Louisiana, grandparents usually fall into one of three lanes. You are either caring for the child informally in a private family arrangement, caring for the child with a temporary signed paper such as a provisional custody by mandate, or caring for a child who is already in DCFS custody. The lane matters because KCSP is not the same as foster care pay, and school and medical paperwork can look very different from one parish to another.

Know which office does what: Older search results still send people to DCFS pages for cash benefits. Those pages can still be useful, but the current public benefits home for KCSP, FITAP, and SNAP is the Louisiana Department of Health Office of Economic Stability, Division of Family Support. DCFS still runs the Grandparent/Relative Caregiver resources, the Kinship Navigator, child welfare cases, foster care, and child support.

• Best immediate takeaway: Louisiana’s KCSP pays $450 per month for each eligible child, which is often the first program grandparents should check.
• Major rule: For KCSP, the parents cannot live in your home, and the child cannot be getting SSI or foster care payments.
• Realistic obstacle: Many grandparents have the child in the home but do not yet have the paper needed for school, doctors, or KCSP.
• Useful fact: The CAFÉ application portal still uses a DCFS web address even though the benefits moved to LDH.
• Best next step: Get the fastest paper that gives you authority, then apply for KCSP, SNAP, and child health coverage without waiting for everything else to be perfect.

Who qualifies in plain language

You may qualify for help if a grandchild or other relative child is living with you in Louisiana because the parent cannot safely care for the child, is gone, is incarcerated, is struggling with addiction, has died, or is otherwise unavailable. The kind of help depends on how the child came to you and what papers you have.

• You may qualify for KCSP if you are a qualified relative, the child is under 18, the parents do not live in your home, the child has under $450 in monthly income, and your household income is under the KCSP limit.
• You may qualify for child-only TANF through FITAP if the child is financially needy and living with a qualified relative, even if KCSP is not the right fit.
• You may qualify for foster care payments only if the child is in DCFS custody and you become a certified relative/kin foster caregiver.
• You may be able to handle school and some medical needs quickly with a non-legal custodian affidavit or provisional custody by mandate, even before a full court case is done.

Best first steps after a grandparent takes in a child

1. Make the child safe first. If there is abuse, neglect, or abandonment, call 1-855-452-5437.
2. Figure out your legal lane. Ask: Is this a private family arrangement, a signed temporary arrangement, or a DCFS case?
3. Get a paper that gives you authority. Use a provisional custody by mandate if a parent will sign. If not, look at the non-legal custodian affidavit.
4. Apply for cash and food help the same day. Louisiana lets you use one family support process for KCSP, FITAP, and SNAP.
5. Apply for the child’s health coverage right away. Use Louisiana Medicaid/LaCHIP.
6. Call the school registrar in your parish. Ask for the current registration checklist and what they accept for a grandparent caregiver.
7. Save every case number, upload receipt, and notice. If the portal stalls, you will need proof of what you already sent.

Financial help for grandparents raising grandchildren

Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP)

• What it is: Louisiana’s KCSP pays $450 a month for each eligible child who lives with a qualified relative other than a parent.
• Who can get it or use it: Grandparents are included. The child must be under 18, live in Louisiana, have under $450 in monthly income, and not receive SSI or foster care payments. The parents cannot live in your home.
• How it helps: KCSP is Louisiana’s clearest kinship cash payment for grandparents raising grandchildren. It is often the strongest non-foster monthly cash option if you meet the rules.
• How to apply or use it: Apply through the CAFÉ portal, call 1-888-524-3578, or use the paper options on the Family Support page. An interview is required.
• What to gather or know first: You need proof of the child’s age and your relationship, income proof, Social Security information, and custody proof. Louisiana says you must have legal custody or get it within one year of certification, and the state accepts court records or a provisional custody by mandate as proof. You also must assign child support rights to the state and cooperate unless good cause applies.

Important: Louisiana says you have the right to get a KCSP decision within 30 days after turning in your application, and you can ask for a fair hearing or supervisor review if you disagree with the action on your case.

Child-only TANF for grandparents raising grandchildren

• What it is: Louisiana’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is called FITAP. Grandparents often ask whether the case can be child-only, meaning the grant is built around the child rather than the grandparent.
• Who can get it or use it: A qualified relative caring for a financially needy child may apply through FITAP.
• How it helps: FITAP can be the fallback cash program when KCSP does not fit, such as when the legal-status or income rules are different.
• How to apply or use it: Use the same CAFÉ portal or call 1-888-524-3578. Louisiana also accepts paper applications through the Family Support page.
• What to gather or know first: Louisiana’s current FITAP page does not post a simple public child-only payment chart. The grant depends on the assistance unit and countable income. Ask during the interview how LDH is building your case. If the case includes the caretaker relative instead of being child-only, FITAP work rules and time-limit rules can matter.

Can grandparents get foster care payments?

• What it is: Yes, but only in a state foster care case. A grandparent can receive foster care board payments only if the child is in DCFS custody and the grandparent becomes a certified relative/kin foster caregiver.
• Who can get it or use it: This is not for informal family care or a private custody case. DCFS says potential foster caregivers must be at least 21, have enough income for their own needs, enough space, pass criminal clearances, and be in good physical, emotional, and mental health.
• How it helps: Foster care payments are usually much higher than KCSP, but they come with state custody, certification rules, visits, and case oversight. If you receive a foster care board rate, you cannot also get KCSP for that child.
• How to apply or use it: If the child is entering or already in custody, tell the DCFS caseworker in writing that you want to be considered for placement and certification. Ask to be referred to Home Development and to the Kinship Navigator.
• What to gather or know first: Expect background checks, home safety checks, and documentation about everyone in your household. Relative/kin caregivers who can provide a safe and stable home should be referred for certification quickly.

The 2025 Louisiana Foster Caregiver Handbook shows these average monthly board payments for certified caregivers. The exact deposit can vary because Louisiana computes payments at a daily rate, and some children may qualify for special board payments.

Kinship care payments and kinship navigator help in Louisiana

The cash payment is KCSP. The KCSP page is where you verify the monthly amount and core rules. The navigation help is separate. The Louisiana Kinship Navigator Program does not replace the cash application, but it helps grandparents and other kinship caregivers find legal information, local supports, and state contacts.

• What it is: DCFS says the Kinship Navigator helps caregivers locate resources that let children stay safely with relatives and improve caregiver and child well-being.
• Who can get it or use it: Grandparents, other relatives, and kinship caregivers in Louisiana.
• How it helps: It points families to SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, legal fact sheets, Louisiana 211, and community resources.
• How to apply or use it: Start with the Kinship Navigator page, download the guide for offline use, or contact DCFS at DCFS.kinshipcare@la.gov.
• What to gather or know first: This is a support tool, not a benefit determination. You still apply for money and food help through LDH.

Fast local help: Louisiana also partners with 211. You can dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 for parish-level help with food, clothing, utilities, and other local services.

Guardianship assistance for older caregivers

Provisional Custody by Mandate

• What it is: A provisional custody by mandate is a written delegation from a parent or other person with parental authority to another adult.
• Who can get it or use it: Families where the parent is willing and able to sign. It can be a very practical first step for grandparents.
• How it helps: Louisiana law says the mandate can authorize medical care, school enrollment, and other acts needed for the child’s health, education, and welfare.
• How to apply or use it: Use the statutory form or a reliable legal form based on the statute, and have it properly executed.
• What to gather or know first: Under Louisiana law, it lasts no more than one year and can be revoked earlier by a person with parental authority. It is temporary, not permanent custody.

Non-Legal Custodian Affidavit

• What it is: Louisiana’s non-legal custodian affidavit law lets an adult who is not the legal custodian authorize some educational and medical services.
• Who can get it or use it: A grandparent or other adult caring for a child who is not a foster parent for a child in Office of Community Services custody.
• How it helps: Items 1 through 4 and the signature are enough for educational services and school-related medical services. To authorize other medical services, the affidavit must also complete items 5 through 8.
• How to apply or use it: Use the form built into the statute. Give copies to the school and health providers that need it.
• What to gather or know first: The affidavit is valid for no more than one year. It does not give you legal custody, and it does not make the child your dependent for health insurance coverage. A school district may still ask for reasonable proof that you live at the address listed.

Court custody, tutorship, and Child in Need of Care guardianship

• What it is: In private family cases, Louisiana often uses custody or tutorship. DCFS explains that tutorship is the Louisiana term closest to what many other states call guardianship. In Louisiana, someone is officially called a guardian only in a Child in Need of Care case.
• Who can get it or use it: Grandparents who need long-term decision-making power, especially when the parent will not sign temporary papers or when a juvenile court case is already open.
• How it helps: Court papers are stronger for school, medical, and long-term stability. In a Child in Need of Care guardianship case, the guardian has the same rights and duties as legal custody, including education and medical decisions.
• How to apply or use it: Use the LouisianaLawHelp custody materials and, if possible, speak with a lawyer. If DCFS already has custody, ask whether the child may move toward guardianship.
• What to gather or know first: Tutorship is complicated, and DCFS warns that court costs vary from court to court. In a Child in Need of Care case, the DCFS guardianship fact sheet says there are no court costs for you, parents still owe support, and if you have been the child’s certified foster parent for six months the child may qualify for guardianship subsidy assistance. That subsidy must be approved before the court grants guardianship.

School enrollment and medical consent issues

Most parish school systems want two things: proof that the child lives in the parish and proof that the adult enrolling the child has authority to do it. Louisiana does not have one simple statewide grandparent school form that solves every case. In practice, schools may accept court custody papers, tutorship, a provisional custody by mandate, or a non-legal custodian affidavit, but the exact checklist is usually parish-based.

• For school tomorrow: The non-legal custodian affidavit was written to authorize educational services quickly.
• For broader authority: A provisional custody by mandate usually carries more practical weight because it can cover school and medical decisions together.
• For long-term stability: Court custody or tutorship is usually stronger than temporary papers.
• If the child is already in foster care: Louisiana school law protects some children in foster care from being forced to leave their current public school when DCFS decides staying is in the child’s best interest.
• Where to find your system: Use the Louisiana Schools finder or call the Louisiana Department of Education at 1-877-453-2721.

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

• What it is: Louisiana children may qualify for Medicaid or LaCHIP, even if the grandparent caregiver has different coverage.
• Who can get it or use it: Children under 19, children with disabilities, and some children in specialized coverage categories such as the Family Opportunity Act Medicaid program or the Act 421 Children’s Medicaid Option.
• How it helps: It covers doctor care, prescriptions, mental health care, and other medical needs. In Healthy Louisiana managed care, if you do not choose a plan, one may be assigned for you.
• How to apply or use it: Apply online through the Medicaid Self-Service Portal, call 1-888-342-6207, mail a paper application, or go to a regional office. Medicaid regional offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and some application centers require appointments, so call ahead.
• What to gather or know first: Gather Social Security numbers or immigration document numbers, income proof, insurance information, and anything showing the child’s living arrangement. If the child has a disability, also check the Family Opportunity Act and Act 421 pages so you do not miss a better path.

Food help and child benefits for kinship families

• SNAP: Louisiana’s SNAP eligibility page is worth reading closely if you are a senior caregiver. If your household includes someone age 60 or older or a disabled member, the household only has to meet the net income test. If your household is not otherwise exempt, the resource limit is $4,500 for households with an older or disabled member.
• SNAP resource rule that helps many kinship families: Households that include someone getting FITAP, KCSP, or STEP are exempt from the SNAP resource limit.
• WIC for younger grandchildren: If the child is under age 5, Louisiana WIC can help with formula, food, and nutrition support. Call 1-800-251-2229 to find a clinic.
• SUN Bucks for summer food: Louisiana SUN Bucks gives a one-time summer grocery benefit of $120 per eligible school-aged child. Many children on SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or income-based Medicaid are automatically eligible, but seasonal deadlines can change each year.
• Child support: If the parents can pay support, the Louisiana Child Support Program may help establish or redirect payments. If you are not receiving FITAP, KCSP, or Medicaid, Louisiana may charge a nonrefundable $25 application fee.

Housing help for seniors raising grandchildren

Plain answer: Louisiana does not appear to post a separate statewide housing subsidy just for grandparents raising grandchildren. The real options are the state’s general affordable housing and emergency-help systems.

• What it is: The closest statewide options are resources through the Louisiana Housing Corporation, parish-level emergency assistance found through Louisiana 211, and the housing programs listed on the LDH Family Support Resources page.
• Who can get it or use it: Low-income households, older adults, renters, and some rural homeowners depending on the program.
• How it helps: It can connect you to affordable rental options, rural rental help, and home repair resources.
• How to apply or use it: Start with the Louisiana Housing Corporation website, then use 211 for parish-specific rent, utility, and emergency referrals.
• What to gather or know first: Have proof of income, lease or housing papers, utility bills, and the child’s living arrangement. Housing programs usually have separate waitlists and local rules.

Legal custody vs kinship care vs informal caregiving

Informal caregiving means the child lives with you, but there is no court order and maybe no signed paper. Kinship care is the broad term for relatives raising children. It can be informal, private with temporary paperwork, or formal through DCFS. Legal custody, tutorship, or guardianship in a Child in Need of Care case gives much stronger decision-making power.

In real life, the difference matters most when you try to apply for money, enroll the child in school, consent to treatment, or fight off a parent’s sudden change of mind. A temporary paper can solve today’s problem. A court order is usually better for next year’s problems.

What documents grandparents need

• ☐ Your photo identification
• ☐ The child’s birth certificate, baptismal record, or other proof of age and relationship
• ☐ Any court custody order, tutorship order, foster placement paper, or signed provisional custody by mandate
• ☐ If needed, a completed non-legal custodian affidavit
• ☐ Social Security numbers for the child and household members, or proof that you applied for one if required
• ☐ Proof of Louisiana address, such as a lease, bill, or official mail
• ☐ Income proof for everyone whose income counts, including Social Security, pensions, wages, veterans benefits, or child income
• ☐ Health insurance cards, Medicaid notices, or LaCHIP notices if any
• ☐ School records, immunization records, and the child’s prior school information
• ☐ Any DCFS case number, juvenile court notice, or child support order

Support groups and respite help for older caregivers

Be careful with promises here: Louisiana’s current public kinship pages do not show one big statewide respite benefit just for grandparents raising grandchildren. Most families piece support together from statewide guides, kinship navigation, and local groups.

• Best statewide starting points: The Kinship Navigator, Louisiana 211, and the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center of Louisiana.
• Official senior-facing guide: The Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs Grandparent Resource Guide is a useful Louisiana-specific starting point.
• If you are a certified foster caregiver: DCFS also posts foster caregiver resources, mentorship options, and regional advisory opportunities.

How grandparents can apply for benefits in this state

• Use one family support entry point for KCSP, FITAP, and SNAP: Louisiana’s Family Support page is the current home base.
• Online: Use the CAFÉ portal.
• By phone: Call 1-888-524-3578. Louisiana says you can complete a new-application interview by phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• By paper application: The Family Support page posts applications in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and large print.
• By fax or mail: Louisiana says completed applications can be faxed to 225-663-3164 or mailed to LDH ES Document Processing Center, P.O. Box 260031, Baton Rouge, LA 70826.
• For Medicaid: Use Get Covered, the Medicaid Self-Service Portal, or call 1-888-342-6207.
• For schools: Find the parish system through Louisiana Schools and then call the registrar for that parish.

Time-saving tip: CAFÉ accepts scanned PDFs and common image files. A clear phone photo of a document can be better than waiting days to find a scanner.

How to apply or use these programs without wasting time

• Decide your lane before you call. Say clearly whether this is a private kinship case or a DCFS foster care case.
• Lead with the child’s facts, not the whole family story. Tell the worker the child’s name, age, who the parents are, where the child sleeps, and whether the parents live in your home.
• Ask the right cash question. Say: “I am a grandparent raising my grandchild in Louisiana. Should I be screened for KCSP, child-only FITAP, SNAP, and Medicaid?”
• Ask how the assistance unit is being built. This matters most in FITAP.
• Upload or hand in papers the same day if you can. Louisiana says benefits can be paid back to the date of application if you are found eligible.
• Keep copies of everything. Save the confirmation page, screenshots, fax receipts, and the date you called.
• Use phone backup when the portal fails. If CAFÉ stalls, call 1-888-524-3578. If Medicaid stalls, call 1-888-342-6207.

Reality checks

• KCSP is strong, but narrow. The fixed monthly amount is helpful, but the rules are strict. The child’s parents cannot live in your home, and the child cannot already be on SSI or foster care pay.

• School problems are often paper problems. Grandparents often do the actual parenting long before the paperwork catches up. In Louisiana, that delay can block school and medical decisions.

• Old web pages can mislead you. Older DCFS benefit pages still show up online. For cash benefits, use the current LDH pages first.

• Parish and office variation is real. School registration steps, local legal resources, and how fast offices move can vary. Always ask what exact document is missing.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying for FITAP without asking whether KCSP fits better
• Assuming informal caregiving automatically gives school and medical authority
• Forgetting that KCSP requires the parents to live elsewhere
• Ignoring child support paperwork tied to KCSP or FITAP
• Waiting on court papers before applying for Medicaid, SNAP, or school enrollment help
• Sending documents without keeping a copy or proof of delivery

Best options by need

• I need monthly cash help now: Check KCSP first, then ask about child-only FITAP.
• I need school enrollment this week: Use a non-legal custodian affidavit or provisional custody by mandate, then call the parish registrar.
• I need medical care today: Use the strongest paper you have and apply for Medicaid/LaCHIP right away.
• The child is already in DCFS custody: Ask for relative placement, certification, and information on foster board payments and later guardianship options.
• I need food and summer grocery help: Apply for SNAP, check SUN Bucks, and use WIC if the child is under 5.
• I need a lawyer but cannot pay one: Start with LouisianaLawHelp and the GRG Information Center.

What to do if denied, delayed, or blocked

• If KCSP or FITAP is delayed: Call 1-888-524-3578, ask for the status, and ask what exact verification is missing.
• If you believe the decision is wrong: KCSP says you can ask for a fair hearing or a discussion with a supervisor.
• If CAFÉ shows no movement: Log in, check notices, and if you already have a case you can use CAFÉ messaging for case questions. Louisiana says caseworker replies can take up to two business days.
• If Medicaid is denied: Call 1-888-342-6207 and review the state’s Medicaid appeal information if needed.
• If a school says no: Ask the registrar to write down which specific document is missing. Then contact the school system office and, if needed, the Louisiana Department of Education at 1-877-453-2721.
• If you are blocked by cost or court confusion: Use LouisianaLawHelp, GRGICL, and 211 as backup paths.

Plan B / backup options

• If you do not qualify for KCSP, ask whether a child-only FITAP case makes more sense.
• If you cannot get a parent to sign a provisional custody by mandate, check whether the non-legal custodian affidavit will cover school and urgent care needs while you plan a court case.
• If you cannot manage the process online, use paper, mail, fax, or phone options.
• If court action feels too expensive, start with LouisianaLawHelp and ask 211 for free or low-cost legal services in your parish.
• If you are over income for one program, still apply for the child’s Medicaid, SNAP screening, WIC, or school-related help. One denial does not deny everything.

Local resources

• LDH Family Support: current home for KCSP, FITAP, and SNAP; call 1-888-524-3578.
• Louisiana Medicaid: Get Covered; call 1-888-342-6207.
• DCFS Kinship Navigator: state kinship support hub.
• Louisiana 211: local food, shelter, utility, and nonprofit referrals; dial 211.
• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center of Louisiana: statewide nonprofit support for grandfamilies and kinship caregivers.
• LouisianaLawHelp: free legal information on custody and family law.
• GOEA Grandparent Guide: official resource guide for Louisiana grandparents.
• WIC: Louisiana WIC; call 1-800-251-2229.

Diverse communities

Seniors with Disabilities

If you need phone-based help or cannot use a computer easily, use the Family Support phone line at 1-888-524-3578 and the Medicaid line at 1-888-342-6207. Louisiana posts a large-print family support application, and children with disabilities may have extra coverage paths through the Family Opportunity Act or Act 421.

Immigrant and Refugee Seniors

Louisiana posts family support applications in Spanish and Vietnamese, and Medicaid also posts paper applications in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. If you are in Orleans Parish and want language-access help with benefits, VIET is listed by the state as an approved application center for SNAP, FITAP, and KCSP.

Rural Seniors with Limited Access

If you live far from an office, use mail, fax, and phone instead of waiting for a ride. Louisiana lets you apply for family support benefits by fax or mail, and Medicaid says some application centers require appointments, so call before you drive. The Kinship Navigator guide is also downloadable for offline use.

Frequently asked questions

Does Louisiana have a kinship care payment for grandparents?

Yes. Louisiana’s Kinship Care Subsidy Program pays $450 a month for each eligible child living with a qualified relative other than a parent. But it is not automatic. The child must meet the age and income rules, the parents cannot live in your home, the child cannot receive SSI or foster care payments, and you must have custody or get it within the allowed time. This is the main Louisiana cash program most grandparents should screen for first.

What is the difference between KCSP and child-only TANF in Louisiana?

KCSP is Louisiana’s fixed kinship subsidy for eligible relative caregivers, and it pays the same amount per eligible child. FITAP is Louisiana’s TANF cash program, and the amount depends on the assistance unit and countable income. In real life, grandparents often compare the two. KCSP is usually stronger when you clearly meet the kinship rules. FITAP can be the fallback when KCSP does not fit. Ask the worker whether your FITAP case is being built as child-only.

Can a Louisiana grandparent get foster care payments without giving DCFS custody?

Usually no. A grandparent can get foster care board payments only when the child is in state custody and the grandparent becomes a certified relative/kin foster caregiver through DCFS. If you took the child in privately, even for good reasons, that does not create foster care pay by itself. In those private-care situations, the main cash programs are usually KCSP or FITAP.

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

Not always, but court papers are stronger. Louisiana’s non-legal custodian affidavit can authorize educational services and some medical decisions, and a provisional custody by mandate can also cover school and medical issues. Still, parish schools and medical offices may ask for different documents. If you need long-term stability, court custody or tutorship is usually safer than relying on temporary forms.

Can my grandchild get Medicaid or LaCHIP if I am on Medicare or Social Security?

Yes, the child should still be screened. Louisiana children’s coverage goes through Medicaid and LaCHIP, and the child may have a very different eligibility path than the grandparent caregiver. Apply instead of guessing. If the child has a disability, also review the Family Opportunity Act and Act 421 options.

What if the child’s parents still live with me?

That is one of the biggest Louisiana rule traps. KCSP specifically requires that the child’s parent or parents not live in the qualified relative’s home. If the parents are still there, do not assume you qualify for kinship subsidy. You should still ask LDH about FITAP, SNAP, and Medicaid, because those paths may be different.

What if my application is denied or it takes too long?

Call the right office first and ask what exact proof is missing. For KCSP, Louisiana says you have a right to a decision within 30 days and a right to ask for a fair hearing or supervisor review. If the problem is Medicaid, call 1-888-342-6207. If the problem is school enrollment, ask the school system to name the missing document and, if needed, call LDOE at 1-877-453-2721.

Where can I get Louisiana-specific legal help if I cannot afford a private lawyer?

Start with LouisianaLawHelp for custody, tutorship, and family law information written for Louisiana. Also use the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center of Louisiana and Louisiana 211 to find local legal clinics, support programs, and other community help.

Resumen en español

Louisiana sí tiene una ayuda importante para abuelos que están criando nietos: el Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP). Ese programa paga $450 al mes por cada menor elegible, pero tiene reglas estrictas. Los padres no pueden vivir en la misma casa, y el niño no puede recibir SSI ni pagos de foster care. Para solicitarlo, puede usar el portal CAFÉ o llamar al 1-888-524-3578.

Si usted todavía no tiene custodia legal, Louisiana ofrece dos herramientas temporales que pueden ayudar: la provisional custody by mandate y la non-legal custodian affidavit. Estas formas pueden servir para escuela y algunas decisiones médicas, pero no sustituyen una orden judicial permanente. Para seguro médico del menor, use Louisiana Medicaid o LaCHIP o llame al 1-888-342-6207.

Si necesita comida, ropa, renta, ayuda legal o servicios locales, marque 211 o visite Louisiana 211. También puede usar el Kinship Navigator de Louisiana y el Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center of Louisiana para apoyo y orientación. Si el menor está en peligro, llame de inmediato a la línea de abuso y negligencia infantil al 1-855-452-5437.

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 program before acting.