Alaska ATAP Child-Only Grant for Relative Caregivers

Many grandparents assume their retirement income disqualifies the grandchild in their care from state cash assistance. In Alaska, that assumption costs families hundreds of dollars a month. The ATAP child-only grant exists specifically so that a non-needy caretaker relative's income never enters the equation.

How the Child-Only Unit Works

Under Alaska's ATAP program (7 AAC 45.335), a qualifying caretaker relative can elect to form a child-only assistance unit. You apply on the child's behalf and receive the payment as the payee, but you're not a member of the unit itself.

That distinction matters because it means:

• Your Social Security, pension, wages, or savings are completely excluded from the eligibility determination
• You face no work participation requirements
• Months of benefits don't count against the federal 60-month TANF lifetime limit
• You don't need to include your other income sources on the eligibility calculation at all

The child's own income and assets are what DPA evaluates. For most grandchildren living with relatives, that means little to no countable income.

Who Qualifies as a Caretaker Relative

Alaska defines a caretaker relative under 7 AAC 45.990(a)(8) as someone related to the child by blood or legal adoption up to the fifth degree of consanguinity. That includes grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles, siblings, nieces, nephews, and first cousins once removed. Stepparents, step-siblings, and spouses (or former spouses) of any qualifying relative also count.

The key exclusion: biological or adoptive parents cannot file a child-only case. And unrelated caregivers — family friends, godparents, second cousins — don't meet the regulatory definition either.

Monthly Payment Amounts

Maximum ATAP child-only payments for a household with zero countable child income:

• 1 child: up to $452 per month
• 2 children: up to $554 per month

If the child receives income directly — such as child support collected by the state or Social Security survivor benefits — the ATAP payment is reduced by that amount after applicable disregards. Countable resources must be below $2,000, or below $3,000 if the family includes a person age 60 or older.

The Child Support Cooperation Requirement

When you apply for ATAP, DPA requires cooperation with the Child Support Services Division to identify non-custodial parents, establish paternity, and enforce support orders. Child support rights are assigned to the state while receiving ATAP.

If cooperation would put the child or caregiver at risk — domestic violence, cases involving rape or incest, or pending adoption proceedings — you can claim a Good Cause exemption under 7 AAC 45.250 without penalty.

How to Apply

File through the Alaska Connect portal online, or call DPA's Virtual Contact Center at 800-478-7778. The unified Application for Services (paper form GEN 50C) lets you apply for ATAP, SNAP, Denali KidCare, and General Relief Assistance at the same time. Standard processing takes up to 30 calendar days.

Our Alaska Kinship Financial Help guide includes a complete document checklist for child-only ATAP applications and a tracking log for following up with DPA.

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