Financial Help for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Alabama

The Benefits Nobody Told You About

More than 100,000 children in Alabama live with a grandparent or other relative instead of a parent. Most of those caregivers don't realize they're eligible for cash assistance, food benefits, health coverage, and childcare help — programs designed to support exactly their situation.

Here's a map of every major program, what it provides, and where to start.

Cash Assistance: Child-Only Family Assistance

Alabama's Family Assistance program (TANF) offers a "child-only" grant for relatives raising children without the parents in the home. Your income, savings, retirement, and Social Security are excluded from the eligibility calculation — only the child's own income counts.

Monthly amounts: $165 for one child, $190 for two, $215 for three. No court order required. Apply through MyDHR at mydhr.alabama.gov or at your county DHR office using Form DHR-FAD 690. Processing takes up to 30 days.

Food Assistance: SNAP

SNAP (food stamps) provides monthly benefits on an EBT card based on household size and income. Unlike the child-only cash grant, SNAP counts the entire household's income. But deductions for shelter costs, medical expenses (for those 60+ or disabled), and childcare can significantly reduce the countable amount.

Expedited processing within 7 days is available for households with very low income or resources. Applying for SNAP also triggers an automatic cross-screen for Medicaid.

Health Coverage: Medicaid and ALL Kids

Children can be enrolled in Medicaid (income up to 141% FPL) or ALL Kids/CHIP (141% to 312% FPL) without a custody order. When the grandparent doesn't claim the child as a tax dependent, the child is evaluated as a household of one — and most children in kinship care qualify because their own income is zero.

No asset test applies. Apply through the Alabama Medicaid Gateway, InsureAlabama.org, or let the MyDHR cross-screen pick it up automatically. Coverage renews annually, often automatically through electronic verification.

Childcare Subsidies

DHR provides income-based childcare subsidies through regional Child Care Management Agencies. Entry threshold: household income at or below 130% FPL. Grandparents who are retired, 60+, or receiving disability benefits are exempt from the 30-hour-per-week work requirement.

Since May 8, 2026, new applications go on a statewide waitlist — but "TANF – Other Relative" cases keep priority access. If you're receiving child-only Family Assistance, the child may qualify for priority enrollment.

Caregiver Support Programs

Alabama Cares (Title III-E): For caregivers 55 and older — respite vouchers, school supply stipends, emergency clothing help, and tutoring grants. Call 1-800-AGE-LINE (1-800-243-5463).

Kids & Kin Program: Support groups, parenting education, and emergency supplies through the Family Guidance Center. Call 1-800-499-6597.

Alabama Kinship Navigator: Statewide referral network connecting you to local resources. Call 1-844-425-2546 or visit navigator.alabama.gov.

WIC and School Meals

WIC provides nutritional support for children under 5 in households at or below 185% FPL. Children already on SNAP, Family Assistance, or Medicaid automatically meet the income test. School meals are directly certified for children on SNAP or Family Assistance — no separate school application needed.

Where to Start

File through MyDHR for Family Assistance and SNAP first. One application screens for both programs and cross-checks Medicaid. Then contact your regional Child Care Management Agency for childcare, and call Alabama Cares if you're 55 or older.

The Alabama Financial Help for Kinship Caregivers guide organizes the full application sequence, documents, and deadlines into one reference — from the first call to DHR through renewals and appeals.

See more Alabama guides →