Documents Needed for a Child-Only Grant in New York

The Documents That Actually Matter

When you walk into a county DSS office or prepare an ACCESS HRA upload for a child-only grant, the paperwork centers on the child — not on you. That distinction is the most important thing to understand before your appointment. You are applying for the child's benefit, and the verification requirements reflect that.

Here is what you need, in order of priority.

Child Identity and Age

Primary: The child's birth certificate. An official or certified copy from Vital Records is ideal.

Alternatives: A valid passport, hospital birth record, adoption decree, school records showing date of birth, or a baptismal certificate. If you cannot get the birth certificate because the parent has it and is not cooperating, tell the caseworker — the agency is required to assist you in obtaining one if the cost is a barrier.

Child's Social Security Number

Primary: The child's Social Security card or an official SSA letter showing the number.

Alternative: If the child does not have a number yet (common when a child arrives suddenly), file Form SS-5 with your local Social Security office and bring the SSA-5028 receipt showing the application was submitted. The receipt satisfies the initial eligibility requirement while the card is processed.

Your Identification

Primary: A New York State driver's license, non-driver ID card, or US passport.

Alternatives: An employer ID, benefit card with photo, or US military ID. You need to prove who you are, not your income or finances.

Proof of Address

Primary: A current lease, deed, utility bill, or mortgage statement showing your name and the address where the child lives.

Alternatives: A letter from your landlord confirming your tenancy, a school enrollment record showing the address, or a shelter placement letter. If you are homeless or staying in an informal shelter, OTDA emergency protocols allow self-attestation of address.

Proof of Relationship

You need to show you are related to the child within the statutory degree. Birth certificates linking the generations are the simplest proof — your birth certificate plus the child's, showing the connecting parent. Marriage certificates help when the link runs through a spouse. If the paper trail is complicated, a sworn affidavit of consanguinity can work, though caseworkers may verify further.

Child's Income (If Any)

If the child receives any income — Social Security survivor benefits, SSI, or child support payments — bring the most recent award letter or payment stub. This income counts against the grant amount dollar for dollar. If the child has no income, you simply state that at the interview.

Wages earned by a child who is a full-time student are fully disregarded under 18 NYCRR § 352.20, so a teenager's summer job does not affect eligibility.

What You Do NOT Need to Bring

This is where kinship caregivers get tripped up. For a child-only case, you should not need:

• Your pay stubs, pension statements, or tax returns
• Your bank statements or asset documentation
• Proof of your employment or work history
• Documentation of your household expenses

Your income and resources are excluded from a child-only case. If the caseworker asks for these, you can note that you are filing as a non-needy caretaker under 18 NYCRR Parts 350-352 and that your income should not be part of the budgeting unit. If they insist, provide the documents — refusing can stall the application — but follow up with a supervisor or call the NYS Kinship Navigator at 1-877-454-6463.

Immigration and Legal Status

For a child-only grant, only the child's immigration status is verified. The caregiver's immigration status is not evaluated. If the child is a US citizen or has qualifying immigration status, they are eligible regardless of the caregiver's status.

Organizing Before the Appointment

Make copies of everything before you hand originals to the caseworker. Label each document clearly. If you are uploading through ACCESS HRA or myBenefits, scan or photograph each page at a readable resolution — unclear uploads can prompt a request for a better copy and delay review.

The New York Kinship Financial Help Guide includes a pre-filled document collection tracker you can print and check off as you gather each item, organized by program so nothing falls through the cracks.

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