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

Last updated: 27 May 2026

Bottom line: Tennessee help is real, but it is split across several doors. Most grandparents should first get written authority for school and medical care, ask TDHS about a child-only Families First case, apply for health coverage for the child, and call the state kinship support program. If you also need senior help, start with our Tennessee senior benefits guide after you handle the child’s urgent needs.

Emergency help now

• If the child is in danger: call 911. If abuse or neglect may be involved, use Tennessee’s child abuse hotline at 1-877-237-0004.
• If a parent will sign: use the official Tennessee POA form. It can help with school enrollment and medical care.
• If money or food is urgent: use One DHS for Families First, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and some child care help.
• If the child has no health card: use TennCare Connect or call 1-855-259-0701.

Quick help and decision table

Start with the need that can cause the most trouble this week. You can work on the other pieces next.

Contents

• Choose the right care path
• Money help for kinship families
• School and medical authority
• Health, food, and child care
• Housing, respite, and support
• How to start
• Phone scripts
• Documents checklist
• Local Tennessee resources
• Denied or delayed
• FAQs

Choose the right care path

The kind of help you can get depends on how the child came to live with you. Tennessee has different rules for private family care, power of attorney, court custody, and foster care.

The Relative Caregiver Program is the main statewide kinship support door. DCS says the program serves relatives who have care and control of the child when the parent does not live in the caregiver’s home. It can help with referrals, support groups, respite, family advocacy, and some missing documents.

For broad help outside Tennessee, our national grandparent guide explains the common benefit paths many kinship families use.

Money help for kinship families

Child-only Families First cash help

Families First is Tennessee’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. A child-only case means the child is in the case, but the grandparent is not asking for adult TANF for themselves. The Families First rules say child-only cases are a special exemption when a child lives with a relative who is not the parent.

Who may qualify: the child must live in Tennessee with a qualifying relative. TDHS rules say a child is usually under 18, or under 19 if still finishing high school or certain training. The child must also meet basic citizenship or qualified non-citizen rules and other program rules.

How much it may pay: the current grant table still shows $244 for an assistance unit of 1, $343 for 2, and $387 for 3. Ask TDHS how your case is coded. One grandchild in a true child-only case is often one assistance unit.

Reality check: delays often happen when the case is not coded child-only. Say the words clearly: “The child lives with me, I am the grandparent, and I want the worker to screen a child-only Families First case.” Our benefits portals guide explains One DHS and TennCare Connect in plain steps.

Relative caregiver stipend

The DCS stipend is different from a child-only TANF grant. The 2025 stipend report says Tennessee paid $20,720,703.10 in stipend payments for 3,893 children during 2025. That shows the program is active, but it also has rules.

Who may qualify: in most cases, the caregiver must be related by blood, marriage, or adoption, be age 21 or older, have a court order giving custody, have the parent out of the home, and cooperate with child support. A 2024 law change broadened the rule starting July 1, 2024. Older Tennessee handouts may still repeat old limits.

How much it may pay: Tennessee law uses 50% of the full foster care board rate. The current DCS board rates list regular foster board rates of $32.62 per day for ages 0-11 and $37.40 per day for ages 12 and older. That makes the relative caregiver stipend about $16.31 per day for ages 0-11 and $18.70 per day for ages 12 and older, unless DCS applies a different case rule.

Reality check: ask the regional provider to confirm the exact rate and start date. Do not use older articles that say the income cap or final juvenile-court-only wording is still the full rule.

Kinship foster care and subsidized guardianship

If DCS has legal custody, a grandparent may become a kinship foster parent. Before full foster-home approval, Tennessee lists a temporary kinship foster care rate of $15.37 per day. After approval, payment is based on the child’s age and case type.

If the child is in an approved kin foster home and cannot safely return to a parent, ask DCS about subsidized guardianship. This is not the same as private guardianship through court.

School and medical authority

School and medical authority can be the first problem a grandparent hits. A family note may not be enough for a hospital, specialist, school office, or mental health provider.

If the parent will sign: use the Tennessee Power of Attorney for Care of a Minor Child. The form says proper signatures are enough to authorize school enrollment and medical treatment, but a school may still ask for extra records or proof of address.

If the parent will not sign: call the juvenile, chancery, or circuit court clerk in your county and ask which court handles custody or guardianship filings. Help4TN has a custody help page, and the courts list Tennessee court forms.

If housing is unstable: ask the school for the homeless-student liaison. Tennessee’s homeless-student page says districts must provide needed services to homeless children. This can help with fast enrollment while records are missing.

Health coverage, food, and child care

The TennCare eligibility guide lists child coverage groups by age and income. If the child does not qualify for TennCare, CoverKids may help children age 18 and younger and some pregnant women. CoverKids uses a 250% federal poverty level limit for many children.

SNAP can reduce grocery pressure. Tennessee’s SNAP eligibility page says households with an elderly or disabled member are treated differently and may report medical costs over $35. Our SNAP for seniors guide explains the senior side of food help.

Working grandparents should also ask about the Child Care Certificate program. Tennessee says At-Risk Child Only child care can serve guardians in Families First child-only cases who work or attend school. The work, school, or training rule is generally 30 hours a week.

Housing, respite, and older caregiver support

Tennessee does not have one housing voucher only for grandparents raising grandchildren. Most families use normal rental help, local housing authorities, utility help, or emergency programs.

The THDA voucher page explains the Housing Choice Voucher program for very low-income households, older adults, and people with disabilities in many Tennessee counties. Use the voucher instructions to watch for open waiting lists. Larger metro areas may use their own housing authorities.

For a deeper housing path, see our housing help guide. If the family is in a shutoff, eviction, food, or safety crisis, our emergency help guide may help you find faster local options.

Older caregivers should call the nearest Area Agency on Aging and Disability. The AAAD finder lists the statewide line, 1-866-836-6678. The caregiver support page says grandparent or relative caregivers age 55 or older may be served when caring for a minor child. Services can include support groups, training, respite, homemaker help, personal care, and adult day services. Availability can vary by area.

If you are trying to be paid for caring for an older adult in the home, that is a different issue. Start with our paid caregiver guide.

How to start without wasting time

• Open one folder: keep court papers, school papers, worker names, fax receipts, portal uploads, and screenshots.
• Use two benefit doors: use One DHS for Families First, SNAP, and some child care. Use TennCare Connect for TennCare or CoverKids.
• Say child-only: do not let the case drift into a regular adult TANF case if you only want help for the child.
• Ask the right court: if the parent will not sign a POA, ask the county clerk which court handles emergency custody or guardianship.
• Call DCS and TDHS in the same week: TANF and the Relative Caregiver Program are not the same program.
• Use one local senior door: the Area Agencies guide can help older caregivers find the right regional aging office.

Phone scripts

TDHS child-only script: “I am the child’s grandparent. The child lives with me in Tennessee. I want to apply for a child-only Families First case and SNAP. Please tell me what proof you need and where I should upload it.”

DCS kinship script: “I am caring for my relative child. The parent does not live in my home. I need the Relative Caregiver Program, support services, and a stipend screening if we meet the court-order rules.”

School script: “I am the child’s grandparent caregiver. I have a POA or I am trying to get one. What papers do you need today to enroll the child, and who is the homeless-student liaison if records are missing?”

TennCare script: “The child now lives with me. I need to apply for TennCare or CoverKids for the child. Please tell me how to report the child’s address and what documents you need from a grandparent caregiver.”

Documents checklist

• ☐ Your photo ID
• ☐ Child’s full name, date of birth, and Social Security number if known
• ☐ Birth certificate, school record, or other proof of who the child is
• ☐ Court order, DCS paper, or POA if you have one
• ☐ Proof the child lives with you now
• ☐ Medicine list, doctor name, insurance card, and shot record
• ☐ School name, grade, report card, and Individualized Education Program if any
• ☐ Your income proof if a program asks for it
• ☐ Rent, mortgage, and utility bills
• ☐ Notes with dates, names, phone numbers, and next steps

Local Tennessee resources

If you have a custody order and need help from the parent, use the Child Support locator to find the right office.

County lines can be confusing. If your county is near a region line, use the official county flyer to double-check the right provider.

Reality checks and mistakes to avoid

• Old stipend rules may still appear online: ask DCS or the regional provider to use current rules.
• Kinship care is not automatic foster pay: DCS custody is the key difference.
• A POA is useful but not permanent: it is faster than court, but it is weaker than a court order.
• Housing help is often slow: voucher waitlists open and close, and metro areas may have separate systems.
• Applications need proof: finishing the first online screen may not be enough if proof is missing.
• Mail problems can hurt cases: update the child’s address with the school, TennCare, TDHS, and doctors.
• Do not wait for perfect papers: start applications and ask what can be accepted while records are gathered.

What to do if denied or delayed

• Ask what is missing: say, “Is this denied, pending, or waiting for proof?”
• Get the deadline: ask for the exact date to send proof or appeal.
• Use appeals: the TDHS appeal page explains appeals for SNAP, Families First, and child care.
• Escalate kinship problems: ask the provider supervisor first. If the problem involves DCS, kinship care, or foster care, the TCCY Ombudsman may be able to review it.
• Keep backup proof: save screenshots, upload receipts, fax confirmations, and the names of workers.

Backup options while cases are pending

• Use SNAP and school meals while TANF or stipend questions are still pending.
• Ask the Relative Caregiver Program for services even if you do not qualify for the stipend yet.
• Use the school homeless liaison if the child lacks records or stable housing.
• Call the Area Agency on Aging and Disability if you are 55 or older and burned out.
• Ask the school about counseling, special education records, or an evaluation if the child is struggling.
• Read our grandparent grants guide for other common cash, food, housing, and legal help paths.

Resumen en español

Si usted es abuelo, abuela, o familiar criando a un niño en Tennessee, empiece con tres pasos. Primero, trate de conseguir autoridad por escrito para la escuela y el médico. Si el padre puede firmar, use el poder legal de Tennessee para cuidar a un menor. Si el padre no firma, pregunte al tribunal local sobre custodia o tutela.

Segundo, pida ayuda económica para el niño. En One DHS, diga que quiere un caso de Families First “child-only” porque el niño vive con un familiar. También puede pedir SNAP para comida. Tercero, solicite seguro médico para el niño por TennCare o CoverKids. Su propio Medicare o Seguro Social no decide automáticamente el caso del niño.

Tennessee también tiene el Relative Caregiver Program de DCS. Este programa puede dar apoyo, grupos, respiro, ayuda con documentos, y en algunos casos un estipendio. Si usted tiene 55 años o más y cuida a un menor, llame al 1-866-836-6678 para preguntar por apoyo para cuidadores y respiro.

Frequently asked questions

Do grandparents need legal custody to get child-only TANF in Tennessee?

Not always. Tennessee allows child-only Families First cases when a child lives with a qualifying relative and the caregiver is left out of the case. A court order can help, but you should still apply if the child is already living with you.

How much is the Tennessee child-only grant?

The current TDHS table shows $244 for an assistance unit of 1, $343 for 2, and $387 for 3. Ask TDHS to confirm how your case is counted.

How much is the Tennessee relative caregiver stipend?

Tennessee law uses 50% of the full foster care board rate. Using the current regular board rates, that is about $16.31 per day for ages 0-11 and $18.70 per day for ages 12 and older. Confirm the exact amount with your regional provider.

Can grandparents get foster care payments?

Yes, but only if DCS has custody and you become a kinship foster parent. Private family care does not usually bring full foster care payments.

What if the parent will not sign the POA?

Ask the right court about emergency custody or guardianship. The court path can take longer, but it gives stronger authority than a family note.

Can the child get TennCare or CoverKids if I get Medicare?

Possibly. Your Medicare does not automatically block the child. Apply for the child and let TennCare decide the right coverage group.

Who helps if DCS or the kinship program will not respond?

Ask for a supervisor first. If the issue still is not fixed, the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth Ombudsman may be able to review some DCS, kinship, CPS, or foster care problems.

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 27 May 2026, next review 27 August 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: 27 May 2026

Next review: 27 August 2026