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Last updated: 18 September 2026
Grandparents raising grandchildren in South Dakota may be able to get financial help through cash assistance, food benefits, health coverage, child-care subsidies, foster-care payments, tax credits, and help with household bills. The right route depends on who is in the home, the child’s income, whether a public or tribal agency placed the child, and whether the grandparent is asking for help for the child or for the whole household.
Bottom Line
Financial help may be available even without a finished guardianship case. For many grandparents with no parent in the home, start by asking about child-only Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). South Dakota says the grandparent’s income and assets are not counted in that child-only case; only the child’s countable income and assets are considered. Also check SNAP, Medicaid or CHIP, child-care help, and—when child welfare is involved—licensed foster-care payments.
Need Financial Help Right Now?
If the household has no food, faces a heating shutoff, needs emergency shelter, or cannot meet another basic need tonight, call Helpline Center 211. If a child is unsafe or you need to report abuse or neglect, use South Dakota Child Protection Services or call 1-877-244-0864.
Start Here: 3 Benefit Actions
- Ask for child-only TANF. Call a DSS office and say you are a grandparent or other caretaker relative caring for a child whose parent is not in the home. Ask what income or assets belong to the child’s case and what proof DSS needs.
- Apply for food and health benefits. Use the state benefits portal for SNAP and Medical Assistance. A child can qualify for Medicaid or CHIP even when the grandparent has Medicare or does not qualify for Medicaid.
- Ask whether placement changes payments. If CPS, a tribe, or a licensed child-placement agency is involved, ask whether you can become a licensed kinship foster parent and what monthly support, medical coverage, child care, or permanency assistance may follow.
Use our grandparent financial-help hub for national benefit types. For help based on the grandparent’s own age or income, use the South Dakota benefits guide.
Financial Help Quick Reference
| Benefit or help | What it can pay for | Key eligibility issue | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child-only TANF | Basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, utilities, and household costs | Relative child lives with you; child’s income and assets count in child-only cases | DSS; TANF uses a paper application |
| Licensed foster care | Monthly support for a child placed in foster care | Child-welfare placement and foster-home licensing are required | CPS or foster inquiry coordinator |
| Adoption subsidy | Monthly financial help, Medicaid, and some qualifying adoption expenses | Limited to qualifying public-agency special-needs adoptions | DSS Adoption Services |
| SNAP | Groceries for the eligible household | Household composition, income, resources, and deductions | Online or local DSS office |
| Medicaid / CHIP | Child health care, prescriptions, dental, vision, and other covered care | Child’s age, South Dakota residency, household income, and coverage group | Online or local DSS office |
| Child Care Assistance | Part of eligible child-care costs paid to approved providers | Income plus work, school, or approved activity rules; copay may apply | DSS Child Care Assistance |
| Federal tax credits | May reduce federal tax or create a refund, depending on the credit | Qualifying-child, residency, income, filing, and tiebreaker rules | Federal tax return / IRS guidance |
| Heating and housing help | Heating costs, rent or housing emergencies, and related household costs | Income, bill responsibility, crisis status, and local program rules | DSS Energy Assistance, housing agencies, or 211 |
A payment for the child is not the same as a benefit based on the grandparent’s own age, disability, or income. Ask each program whose income, assets, and household members it counts.
What Has Changed
South Dakota’s current TANF benefit page now lists one caretaker-relative payment schedule. The monthly maximum shown for one child is $414, replacing the $389 figure carried in this article’s May 2026 version. The current page also clearly says the caretaker’s income and assets are not counted in a child-only TANF case. If the child was placed through child welfare, ask about foster licensing and foster payments as a separate route.
Cash Assistance: Child-Only TANF
South Dakota TANF is a key cash-assistance route when no parent is in the home. A non-parent caretaker relative may receive TANF for a related child. Eligible relatives include grandparents and several other close family relationships.
The key child-only rule is financial: the caretaker’s income and assets are not considered. DSS counts the child’s income and assets, including items such as child support, foster-care payments, Social Security, or accessible trust funds. The caregiver also is not required to join the TANF Parent Work program for a relative child not their own unless they also apply for TANF for their own child.
| Children in assistance unit | Maximum monthly amount |
|---|---|
| 1 | $414 |
| 2 | $486 |
| 3 | $557 |
| 4 | $627 |
| 5 | $697 |
| 6 | $767 |
These are maximums on the current DSS chart, not guaranteed payments. The actual amount can be lower based on the child’s case. Ask DSS what income or other benefits were counted.
For broader application routes, our South Dakota portal guide explains the main state systems. TANF itself still requires a paper application, while SNAP and Medical Assistance can be started online.
Kinship Care, Foster Payments, and Permanency Help
Informal kinship care does not automatically create a foster-care payment. South Dakota’s foster parent page says DSS provides monthly financial assistance to support children in foster care. Grandparents can be foster parents, but licensing matters. The basic requirements include being at least 21, having a safe home, passing required screenings, and completing foster-parent training.
If a child is already in a CPS, tribal, or licensed agency case, ask whether the placement can qualify as licensed kinship foster care. South Dakota’s placement services page confirms that relative families can provide foster care. Tell DSS about every payment the child receives because child-only TANF counts some child income and benefits.
LSS Kinship Services offers kinship home-study and navigation support and lists 605-601-3410 for kinship questions. This is a navigation service, not a guaranteed cash payment.
If adoption becomes the permanency plan, South Dakota’s adoption subsidy page says qualifying public-agency special-needs adoptions may receive monthly financial assistance, Medicaid, and some nonrecurring adoption-expense help. This is not a general subsidy for every relative adoption.
Food Benefits: SNAP
SNAP helps the eligible household buy groceries. South Dakota’s SNAP page says benefit amounts depend on household size, income, and expenses. The current chart shows a four-person gross monthly limit of $3,483 and a net monthly limit of $2,680. A household with a person age 60 or older or a person with a disability is subject only to the net-income test, and the page lists a higher resource limit for those households.
SNAP uses different household rules from child-only TANF. Report who lives and eats together so DSS can determine the SNAP household. Shelter costs, dependent care, child support paid out, and some medical costs for an older or disabled member can affect the calculation.
Our South Dakota SNAP guide explains the older-adult deductions and application steps in more detail.
Health Coverage for the Grandchild
A grandchild can qualify for South Dakota Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) even when the grandparent has Medicare or does not qualify for adult Medicaid. The state’s medical coverage page lists separate child and caretaker-family standards.
For CHIP, the child must be under 19 and live in South Dakota. The current four-person gross monthly limit is $5,748 for a child without private health insurance and $5,143 for a child who has private insurance. Those numbers are screening limits, not a promise of eligibility. Apply for the child and let DSS determine the correct coverage group.
If the grandparent also needs help with Medicare, Medicaid, prescriptions, or other senior costs, use the South Dakota AAA guide to find aging-network help without mixing the adult’s benefits with the child’s case.
Child-Care Help and Subsidies
South Dakota Child Care Assistance can reduce child-care costs for eligible families who meet income plus work, school, or approved-activity rules. The program pays participating providers and may require a copayment. The Child Care Assistance page lists 1-800-227-3020.
The current child-care eligibility chart, effective 1 March 2026, uses an adjusted monthly income ceiling equal to 209% of the federal poverty level. For a family size of four, the chart lists $5,748 per month. DSS also says foster-care payments, Supplemental Security Income disability payments, certain VA disability payments, Earned Income Tax Credit payments, and IRS refunds are among income types it does not count for this program.
Legal custody or child-support cooperation can affect some relative-caregiver child-care cases. Do not guess. Tell Child Care Assistance exactly how the child came to live with you, whether a parent is in the home, and what court or placement papers you have.
Tax Help for Grandparents
Federal tax credits can be meaningful financial help, but they are not automatic because a grandchild lives in the home. A grandparent may be able to claim a grandchild for the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), or another dependent-related tax benefit when all tax rules are met. Residency, age, relationship, Social Security number, support, filing status, and income rules can matter.
The IRS has special rules when both a parent and grandparent could claim the same child. The IRS EITC tiebreaker rules explain which taxpayer can use a qualifying child when more than one person is eligible. The IRS also identifies a grandchild as a possible qualifying child for the Child Tax Credit when the other requirements are met. Legal guardianship by itself does not decide every tax question, so ask a qualified tax preparer or use IRS tools before filing.
Housing, Utility, and Emergency Cost Help
Grandparents who suddenly add a child to the household may face rent, heating, furniture, transportation, or food pressure before other benefits start. South Dakota’s energy assistance page says Low Income Energy Assistance pays eligible heating help directly to the energy supplier. As of 13 September 2026, that page still displays 2025-2026 heating-season income limits, so verify the applicable season when you apply instead of relying on an old dollar threshold.
For rent, subsidized housing, or homelessness prevention, use our South Dakota housing help. If a shutoff, eviction, or no-food situation is urgent, use South Dakota emergency help. Community organizations may also help with beds, clothing, food, rides, or short-term bills; the South Dakota charities guide can help locate those backup routes.
Legal Help That Unlocks Benefits
Do not wait for guardianship before checking benefits. Child-only TANF, SNAP, or health coverage may be available while legal authority is still being sorted out. A court order can still matter for medical consent, child support, records, and some child-care or placement issues.
South Dakota Unified Judicial System (UJS) provides guardianship forms and lists a legal form helpline at 1-855-784-0004 for questions about UJS forms. UJS also maintains a legal help page for finding low-cost or no-cost legal assistance.
Child support is another possible source of money for the child. South Dakota’s child support offices can explain services and local contacts. Child support and custody are separate issues, so ask whether you need a court order before DSS can take the action you want.
Where to Apply for Benefits
- SNAP and Medical Assistance: Apply online through the state portal or contact a local DSS office.
- Child-only TANF: Use the DSS paper TANF/economic assistance application and ask specifically for caretaker-relative TANF.
- Child Care Assistance: Apply through DSS Child Care Assistance online, by paper application, or with help from the program.
- Foster or kinship licensing: Start with the child’s CPS/tribal worker when a case exists, or contact the foster inquiry coordinator.
- Adoption subsidy: Ask the DSS adoption specialist before an eligible public-agency adoption is finalized.
Use the DSS office finder to locate the right office. The state’s economic assistance application can be used for TANF and other listed programs, while the online portal handles SNAP and Medical Assistance.
Documents to Gather
- Your photo identification and contact information.
- The child’s name, birth date, Social Security number if available, and proof of relationship.
- Proof that the child lives with you, when requested.
- Any court order, CPS placement paper, tribal placement document, or signed parent authorization.
- Proof of the child’s income, including child support, Social Security, trust income, or foster payments.
- Household income and expense proof for SNAP, child care, energy help, or other household benefits.
- Rent or mortgage, utility, dependent-care, and medical-expense records that may affect benefit calculations.
- Current health-insurance information for the child.
- Every notice from DSS, including deadlines and case numbers.
Do not hold an application just because one document is missing. Ask the program whether you can file first and supply the missing proof later.
Reality Checks and Common Mistakes
One household can have several different eligibility tests. Child-only TANF can ignore the grandparent’s income and assets while SNAP, child care, heating help, and tax credits use different rules. Never assume approval in one program means approval in another.
- Do not call everything a grant. TANF and SNAP are benefits; foster support is tied to licensed foster care; child care is a subsidy; tax credits follow tax law; heating assistance may be paid to the utility.
- Do not assume kinship equals foster care. Informal relative care does not automatically create a monthly foster payment.
- Do not hide other child income. Child support, Social Security, foster payments, and some trust money can affect child-only TANF.
- Do not wait for perfect custody papers. Apply for benefits that can be screened now while you work on legal authority.
- Do not ignore written notices. Appeal deadlines can be short. Save the envelope, notice, case number, and any proof you submitted.
Denied, Delayed, or Overwhelmed
If DSS denies a benefit or you think the case is being handled under the wrong household or placement rule, ask for the decision in writing. Ask which rule was used, what proof is missing, and the exact appeal deadline. South Dakota’s fair hearing page says TANF hearing requests should be made within 30 days from the notice date, and within 10 days if continued TANF benefits are requested during the appeal. SNAP requests can also be made verbally.
If the first office cannot tell you which program fits, ask for a supervisor, a benefits specialist, or the worker assigned to the child’s placement. For an older grandparent who also needs navigation across senior programs, an Area Agency on Aging can help separate the adult’s benefits from the child’s benefits.
Phone Scripts for Benefit Calls
DSS — child-only TANF
“I am a grandparent raising my grandchild, and the child’s parent is not in my home. I want to apply for caretaker-relative child-only TANF. What is the current maximum for my assistance-unit size, whose income and assets will you count, and what documents do you need from me?”
CPS or foster licensing
“This child is living with me through a child-welfare or tribal case. Is this placement eligible for kinship foster licensing? If I become licensed, what monthly payment, medical coverage, child-care help, and other reimbursements can apply, and what steps are still missing?”
Child Care Assistance
“I am the relative caregiver for my grandchild. I need child care so I can work or attend school. What income limit applies to my household, what legal or placement papers do you require, will I have a copay, and which providers can be paid?”
Denial or delay
“Please tell me the exact reason for the denial or delay, the rule you used, any missing proof, and the appeal deadline. If I appeal, can benefits continue while the hearing is pending, and what do I need to file today?”
Resumen en español: ayuda financiera
En Dakota del Sur, los abuelos que crían a sus nietos pueden revisar varias formas de ayuda financiera. TANF “child-only” puede dar asistencia en efectivo para un menor que vive con un familiar. El estado indica que, en ese tipo de caso, no cuenta los ingresos ni los bienes del abuelo cuidador; cuenta los ingresos y bienes del menor. También conviene solicitar SNAP para alimentos y Medicaid o CHIP para la cobertura médica del niño.
Si CPS, una agencia tribal u otra agencia colocó al niño con usted, pregunte por licencia de foster care y pagos mensuales para el niño. La ayuda de adopción existe para ciertas adopciones de agencia pública. También puede haber subsidio de cuidado infantil, créditos federales de impuestos y ayuda para calefacción o vivienda. Las reglas son diferentes para cada programa; pregunte qué ingresos cuentan, qué documentos necesita y si hace falta una orden de custodia o colocación.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get child-only TANF without legal custody?
Possibly. South Dakota allows caretaker-relative TANF for a related child living with a non-parent caretaker when no parent is in the home. The caretaker’s income and assets are not counted in the child-only case, but DSS still verifies the child’s case. Legal custody can matter for other needs.
How much is child-only TANF in South Dakota?
The current DSS chart lists monthly maximums of $414 for one child, $486 for two, and $557 for three, with higher amounts for larger assistance units. These are maximums, not guaranteed payments; the child’s case can reduce the amount.
Can grandparents get kinship or foster payments?
Yes, when the child is in foster care and the home meets licensing requirements. Informal kinship care alone does not create a foster payment. Ask the child’s worker whether kinship foster licensing and monthly support apply.
Can my household get SNAP for a grandchild?
Yes, if the SNAP household meets program rules. SNAP uses different household, income, resource, and deduction rules from child-only TANF. Report who lives and eats together so DSS can determine the SNAP household.
Can my grandchild get Medicaid or CHIP?
Possibly. A child can qualify for South Dakota Medicaid or CHIP even when the grandparent has Medicare or does not qualify for adult Medicaid. CHIP covers eligible South Dakota residents under 19. Apply for the child so DSS can screen the correct coverage group.
Can I get child-care assistance for my grandchild?
Possibly. Child Care Assistance uses income plus work, school, or approved-activity rules and may require a copay. Relative-caregiver cases can also involve custody or placement questions, so explain how the child came to live with you.
Can I claim tax credits for my grandchild?
Maybe. A grandchild can be a qualifying child for federal credits when all tax rules are met. If both a parent and grandparent could claim the child, IRS tiebreaker rules may control. Custody papers alone do not decide the tax result.
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: 18 September 2026 · Next review: 18 January 2027
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