DC Grandparent Caregivers Program and Close Relative Caregivers Program

Two Programs, One Portal

The District of Columbia runs two locally funded kinship subsidy programs through the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA): the Grandparent Caregivers Program (GCP) and the Close Relative Caregivers Program (CRCP). Both pay monthly cash to relatives raising children who would otherwise enter foster care — and in calendar year 2025, zero children receiving these subsidies entered the foster system.

GCP covers grandparents, great-grandparents, great-aunts, and great-uncles. CRCP covers adult siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and godparents. Both applications go through CFSA's centralized kinship portal at kinshipdc.org.

Eligibility Rules

The core requirements are the same for both programs:

Income limit: Household income must be under 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). SSI is excluded, and D.C. law also directs CFSA to exclude financial assistance received from benefit programs such as TANF and SNAP for a period of up to 60 months. Gross household income otherwise includes wages, pensions, disability benefits, and earnings from adult household members.

Parental absence: The child's parent generally must not have lived in your home for the previous six months. Exceptions apply if you are the child's standby guardian, the parent is a minor under 21 enrolled in school, or the parent has a medically verifiable disability that prevents caregiving.

Residency: You generally must be a DC resident, though exceptions exist when the child recently lived in the District and the parent meets specified conditions.

No court order required. You do not need legal custody or guardianship. CFSA accepts a custody, standby-guardianship, or adoption order; if none exists, submit the application checklist about why the parents cannot care for the child and one alternative proof, such as a recent school record, medical or immunization record no more than two years old, proof of TANF or SSI for the child, or a notarized letter from a relevant professional or landlord describing your caregiving role.

What Changed in November 2024

In November 2024, CFSA removed the requirement that a grandparent obtain a TANF eligibility determination before applying for GCP. D.C. law still requires a TANF application for the child for both GCP and CRCP, but you can submit that application at the same time as the CFSA subsidy application.

If you do receive child-only TANF, your GCP or CRCP payment is reduced dollar-for-dollar by the TANF amount. In CY2025, 830 children receiving GCP or CRCP subsidies were also enrolled in TANF — the programs stack by design.

Payment Rates

The daily subsidy rate is set at 66% to 105% of the regular daily rate of the Level 1 long-term permanent guardianship subsidy. The exact amount depends on the child's age and care level. After approval and signing the subsidy agreement, payments are loaded monthly onto a debit card; CFSA's FAQ says direct deposit is not available.

With the $6.5 million FY2025 budget, CFSA served an average of 707 children across 446 families monthly. Wards 7 and 8 — the East of the River communities — account for more than half of all enrollees.

How to Apply

Go to kinshipdc.org and complete the application. You will need to submit proof of caregiving, and all household adults age 18 and older must complete FBI and MPD criminal background checks and a Child Protection Register check covering the past five years.

Subsidies are not retroactive to your application date — payments begin only after all verifications clear and you sign the formal Subsidy Agreement with CFSA. Annual recertification is required to keep benefits active.

If the primary caregiver dies or becomes permanently incapacitated, the subsidy can transfer to another relative who takes over care of the child.

When Funding Runs Out

Both programs are subject to DC Council budget appropriation and operate on a first-come, first-served basis when the budget cap is reached. If the program is capped when you apply, you are placed on a waiting list. Applying early — especially before the start of a new fiscal year in October — improves your chances.

For the full application walkthrough, document checklists, and a breakdown of how GCP/CRCP stacks with TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, and childcare vouchers, see the DC Kinship Financial Help Guide.

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