Does Grandparent Income Count for Child Benefits in NH?

You're collecting Social Security or working part-time, and you've just taken in a grandchild. The first question most grandparents ask: will my income disqualify the child from getting help? The answer depends entirely on which program you're applying for — and for the two biggest ones, your income doesn't count at all.

FANF Cash Grant: Your Income Is Excluded

Under the FANF child-only pathway (the Family Assistance Program for non-needy caretaker relatives), the Bureau of Family Assistance completely excludes the personal income and resources of the relative caregiver and their spouse. FANF also applies its resource rules to the assistance group. The income test looks at the child's countable income, such as child support or Social Security survivor benefits; SSI received by a dependent child is excluded.

A grandmother with $2,200 per month in Social Security retirement caring for a grandchild with zero income: the grandmother's $2,200 is excluded, the child's countable income is $0, and the child receives the maximum FANF grant of $798 per month.

Children's Medicaid: Your Income Is Excluded

Children's Medicaid uses MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) household rules. A non-parent grandparent is not included in the child's household just because the child lives with them. The child's eligibility is based on the income of household members counted under the federal tax-filer and non-filer rules.

Children's Medicaid covers children with income up to 196% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (about $2,607/month for a one-child household). Expanded Children's Medicaid extends to 318% FPG. Since most children in kinship care have minimal or zero personal income, they qualify easily.

Applying for your own Medicaid on the same application does not by itself make your income count for the child. A grandchild claimed by a grandparent is treated under the federal non-filer household rules; for a child under 19, those rules include the child's parents and siblings who live with the child, not the grandparent.

SNAP: Your Income Counts

This is where it changes. SNAP uses federal "purchase and prepare" rules — if you live with the child and share meals, you're a single household. Your Social Security, wages, pension, and other income all count toward the household total.

But SNAP has deductions that work in your favor. If you're 60 or older, unreimbursed medical expenses over $35/month (prescriptions, Medicare premiums, copays) are deducted from your countable income. You're also exempt from the gross income test, so you only need to pass the net income standard after all deductions.

Other SNAP deductions: 20% of earned income, dependent care costs, and excess shelter costs above 50% of adjusted income.

Child Care Scholarship: Your Income Counts

Child Care Scholarship income rules differ for relative caregivers. DHHS excludes a grandparent's income when three generations live in the household. It also excludes the income of a caretaker relative or legal guardian and the legal guardian's spouse unless the caregiver is also applying for child care for their own child. The ceiling is 85% of State Median Income. There's also an activity requirement — you must be working, looking for work (up to 92 calendar days if it is your only activity), in school, or in job training.

The SSI Exception

If you personally receive SSI (not Social Security retirement — SSI is the separate disability/needs-based program), there's a special rule. Under DHHS Supervisory Release SR 12-09, your SSI income must be included in the FANF assistance group calculation. You'd be counted as part of the group, which changes the group size and the grant calculation. This doesn't eliminate the grant — it adjusts the math.

This only applies to SSI recipients. Social Security retirement and SSDI are excluded under the standard non-needy caretaker relative rules. Current FANF rules exclude SSI when the recipient is a dependent child.

Bottom Line

For the two programs that matter most to kinship caregivers — monthly cash and health coverage — your income is invisible. That's the core design of the child-only pathway: the money follows the child, not the caregiver's financial situation.

The complete New Hampshire kinship financial help guide walks through every program's income rules side by side, with worked examples for different household situations.

See more New Hampshire guides →