Georgia Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) Program

What the GRG Program Provides

Georgia's Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) program is a specialized DFCS benefit that stacks on top of child-only TANF. It has two components:

GRG Monthly Subsidy Payment (MSP): An ongoing cash supplement of $100 per child per month, paid directly to the grandparent. This is separate from and added to the regular TANF grant. A grandparent caring for two grandchildren and receiving $235 in child-only TANF would get an additional $200 per month through the MSP.

GRG Crisis Intervention Services Payment (CRISP): A one-time emergency grant for when a grandchild moves into the home unexpectedly. CRISP pays four times the maximum monthly TANF amount for the assistance unit, which includes only the grandchild or grandchildren for whom CRISP is requested. For a grandparent who suddenly takes in two grandchildren, that could mean a one-time payment of up to $940 (4 × $235) to cover immediate costs like bedding, clothes, and school supplies.

DFCS policy requires the caseworker to explain possible SNAP and Medicaid effects of the MSP. Ask the caseworker to explain how it may affect your household before deciding whether to receive it.

Who Qualifies

GRG eligibility is narrower than standard child-only TANF:

• Age or disability: The grandparent must be 55 years of age or older, or any age with a qualifying permanent disability documented through an eligible benefit, such as SSI or Social Security disability. In some cases, the grandparent's spouse may meet this requirement for the household. Aunts, uncles, and other relatives do not qualify for GRG — it is specifically a grandparent program.
• TANF case: The grandparent must receive or be approved to receive child-only TANF for the grandchild. GRG is a supplement, not a standalone benefit.
• Income ceiling: Total household income must fall below 160% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For a household of three in 2026, the limit is $3,643 per month in gross income.
• Parent not in the home: The child's mother, father, or minor parent must not live in the home.
• No foster care per diem: The grandchild must not be in an existing foster care program for which the caregiver receives per diem payments.
• Primary caretaker: The grandparent must be the child's primary day-to-day caregiver.

The income threshold at 160% FPL is generous enough that many grandparents on Social Security retirement or qualifying disability income will fall below it, especially if they are raising one or two grandchildren.

How to Access GRG Benefits

To request the GRG MSP or CRISP, submit the request on Form 297 or contact your county DFCS office orally. You may request the GRG payment while applying for TANF or after TANF approval.

If you are 55 or older (or have a qualifying disability) and receive TANF for a grandchild, ask your DFCS caseworker directly whether you qualify for the GRG Monthly Subsidy and whether a CRISP payment applies.

The relevant DFCS policy is found in the PAMMS Policy Manual Section 1210. You do not need to cite this to your caseworker, but knowing it exists gives you a reference point if there is any confusion about whether the program is still active.

When CRISP Applies

CRISP is designed for a specific scenario: a grandchild arrives with little warning — because of a parent's arrest, hospitalization, abandonment, or other crisis — and the grandparent faces immediate out-of-pocket costs they were not budgeting for. The payment is one-time per placement event, not recurring.

Apply for CRISP within a reasonable time after the emergency. DFCS's standard of promptness for completing a CRISP request is 10 days after the request is received. Other potential sources of assistance must be exhausted, and DFCS cannot duplicate services.

GRG Alongside Other Benefits

The GRG Monthly Subsidy Payment is separate from the child's TANF grant, but it may affect SNAP or Medicaid eligibility. DFCS must explain these possible effects and let the grandparent decide whether to accept the MSP. Other benefits may include:

• Child-only TANF ($155+ per month depending on the number of children)
• GRG Monthly Subsidy ($100 per child per month)
• SNAP (food assistance based on household income)
• Medicaid or PeachCare for the child
• CAPS childcare subsidies through DECAL

The Georgia Kinship Financial Help Guide maps out how these programs interact — including which income counts where — so you can check each program's effect before deciding what to apply for.

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