What Documents Do You Need for Kinship Care in Delaware

The Paperwork That Trips Up Every Kinship Caregiver

Walking into a Delaware State Service Center without the right documents means walking out with nothing but a follow-up appointment. For grandparents and relatives who suddenly have a child in their home, figuring out which papers each program requires — and which ones you can substitute — is often the hardest part of getting help.

Delaware agencies ask for two distinct things: proof that you are related to the child, and proof that you are actually providing day-to-day care. Missing either one stalls your application.

Documents Every Program Requires

Regardless of which benefit you are applying for, you will need these basics for the child:

• Birth certificate — establishes the child's identity and age. If you cannot get one immediately, a hospital birth record, baptismal certificate, or school ID may serve temporarily while you order an official copy.
• Social Security number or card — required for TANF, Medicaid, and SNAP. If the child does not have one yet, a receipt showing you have applied for a replacement card can be submitted while you wait.

And for yourself as the caregiver:

• Government-issued photo ID — your driver's license or state ID card.

Proving the Relationship

DSS needs to verify that you are a qualifying relative — grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, first cousin, or another person within the degree of kinship defined in Delaware's TANF regulations (DSSM 3004). Accepted documents include:

• Birth certificates showing the family chain (yours and the child's, and any connecting generation)
• Family court records or legal documents naming your relationship
• A written caregiver statement describing your relationship to the child

The strongest proof is a set of birth certificates that traces the family line. If you are a grandparent, that means the child's birth certificate (showing their parent) and your child's birth certificate (showing you). If intervening documents are missing, DSS may accept a sworn statement combined with other evidence.

Proving You Are Providing Care

This is where many applications stall. Agencies need to confirm the child actually lives with you and that you are providing day-to-day care. Accepted evidence includes:

• School enrollment records listing you as the responsible adult at your address
• Medical records or pediatrician letters showing the child receives care at your address
• Lease agreement or utility bill showing your name and address, combined with any record placing the child there
• A written caregiver statement — you can write and sign a statement attesting that the child lives in your home and that you provide daily care, food, and shelter

For a specified relative applying for child-only TANF, a formal court order is not required. For an adult applying as a custodian or in loco parentis, Delaware TANF rules require written acceptance of day-to-day care and legal responsibility, plus DFS review of the living arrangement by the next redetermination.

Program-Specific Requirements

TANF child-only: The child's income must be documented. If the child receives Social Security survivor benefits, child support, or trust income, bring the award letters or bank statements showing those deposits. Your own income as caregiver is not evaluated for child-only TANF.

SNAP: Unlike TANF, SNAP counts total household income when food is purchased and prepared together. Bring your last 30 days of pay stubs, pension statements, Social Security award letter, or other income documentation. If you pay rent or utilities and want those expenses considered for deductions, bring proof such as a rent receipt, mortgage statement, or utility bill.

Medicaid / DHCP: Health coverage uses child-only MAGI rules. There is no asset test — your savings, home equity, and vehicles do not matter. The primary documentation need is the child's identity and any income the child has directly.

Kinship Care Program (180-day transition): This program requires that the child moved into your home within the last 180 days, your household income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, the child's parents do not live in your home, and you have or are actively pursuing guardianship. You will need income verification similar to SNAP, plus documentation of when the child's placement began (a DFS letter, school transfer records, or a dated caregiver statement).

School enrollment: To enroll a child in public school without a court order, Delaware law (14 Del. C. § 202) allows relatives to use the Caregiver's School Authorization Affidavit. This requires a notarized form plus two different documents: one proving the relationship and one proving caregiving. DSAAPD's Forms and Publications page provides the official affidavit.

How to Prepare Before Your Visit

The ASSIST portal (assist.dhss.delaware.gov) lets you apply online for TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, and Purchase of Care childcare subsidies in one submission. You can upload scanned documents through the portal. If you prefer in-person help, Delaware has 19 State Service Center locations across New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties.

Before you go — whether online or in person — organize your documents into these categories:

1. Child's identity: birth certificate, Social Security card
2. Relationship proof: birth certificates showing the family chain, or court documents
3. Care proof: school records, medical records, or caregiver statement with your address
4. Income proof (for SNAP and POC): your pay stubs, pension letters, Social Security statement
5. Child's income proof (for TANF): survivor benefit letters, child support records

If you are missing a document, apply anyway. DSS allows temporary self-attestation for some items while official records are being obtained. For a paper application, DSS defines the filing date as when you complete, sign, and return at least the first page to the correct DSS location. The cash effective date for a new TANF case is when eligibility has been reviewed and verified and the payee has signed the application.

The Delaware Kinship Financial Help Guide includes printable document checklists organized by program, plus a tracking log for each application so you know exactly what has been submitted and what is still outstanding.

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