New York Child-Only Grant Amount — Monthly Payment by County
Monthly Amounts by Region
New York's child-only grant is calculated from three components: a basic needs allowance, a home energy allowance (HEA + SHEA), and a shelter allowance that varies by county. Because shelter costs differ across the state's 58 social services districts, the monthly total depends on where you live.
| Region | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $439.70 | $595.00 | $741.10 |
| Suffolk / Nassau | $511.70 | — | — |
| Upstate (Monroe, Erie, etc.) | $411.70 | $563.00 | — |
These are sample maximums for 2026–27. Actual grants follow the local district schedule and are reduced by the child's countable income.
The basic allowance ($183 for one child) and the energy component ($38.70) are the same statewide. What changes is the shelter piece — $218 in NYC, $290 in Suffolk/Nassau, $190 in many upstate counties.
These are the maximum amounts for a child with no countable income.
How Child Income Reduces the Grant
The child-only grant is the total statutory need minus the child's own countable income. Only income received in the child's name counts:
- Social Security survivor benefits
- Child support payments
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Trust distributions or other unearned income
If a child in NYC is eligible for the $439.70 maximum but receives $200/month in survivor benefits, the net grant is $239.70.
Wages earned by a child who is a full-time student are fully disregarded. Occasional gifts — birthday money, holiday presents — are excluded unless they form a regular, predictable stream.
Your income as the caregiver does not affect the amount at all.
Additional Children
Each additional child in the household increases the grant. The basic allowance rises from $183 (one child) to $291 (two children) to $389 (three). Energy and shelter components also scale upward.
For a household with several children, the district applies its grant-unit schedule and counts each child's countable income.
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The Grant Is Just the Cash Component
The dollar amount above covers cash assistance only. The same application (Form LDSS-2921) opens eligibility screening for SNAP, Medicaid, and childcare subsidies. A grandparent and two grandchildren who are all in the SNAP household have a three-person maximum SNAP allotment of $808; actual SNAP benefits depend on household income and deductions. The two children may also qualify for Medicaid.
The complete New York kinship benefits guide calculates the full picture for your situation, including every program, every agency, and every document you need to bring.
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