Georgia Kinship Benefits Comparison Chart: TANF vs Foster Care vs Guardianship
Georgia offers several different payment programs for relatives raising children, and the amounts vary dramatically — from $155 per month under TANF to over $850 per month under foster care per diem. The program you qualify for depends almost entirely on your legal relationship to the child and how the child came into your care.
The Comparison at a Glance
| Program | Monthly Payment (1 child) | Who Qualifies | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| TANF Child-Only | $155 | Any specified-degree relative | Child lives with relative; child income below limit; no foster care involvement needed |
| GRG Monthly Subsidy | $50 per child | Low-income grandparents aged 60+ who are primary caretakers | Contact DFCS about program eligibility |
| Enhanced Relative Rate | Higher than TANF, lower than full per diem | Relatives with pending foster approval | Child in DFCS custody; relative approved but not yet fully licensed |
| Kinship Foster Care Per Diem | $741–$854 (by age) | Licensed relative foster parents | Child in DFCS custody; relative is fully licensed foster parent |
| KinGAP Guardianship Assistance | $741–$854 (matches foster rate) | Relative guardians (post-foster care) | Child was in foster care 6+ months; guardianship agreement signed before court order |
The gap between TANF ($155) and foster care per diem ($741+) is the single biggest financial reality in Georgia kinship care. The difference isn't about the child's needs — it's about whether the state placed the child through the child welfare system or the family arranged care privately.
Program Details
TANF Child-Only
Available to any relative caregiver — grandparent, aunt, uncle, adult sibling — without any involvement from DFCS child welfare. You apply through Georgia Gateway, and your income as the caregiver is excluded from the calculation. The grant covers only the child's countable income.
Payment is fixed and hasn't changed since 1996: $155 for one child, $235 for two, $280 for three. No work requirements apply to non-needy caretaker relatives, and there's no 48-month time limit on child-only cases.
GRG Monthly Subsidy
Low-income grandparents aged 60 or older who are the primary caretakers of their grandchildren may receive a $50-per-child monthly subsidy through DFCS. DFCS also describes a one-time GRG emergency payment equal to three times the standard monthly TANF grant for the assistance unit.
Enhanced Relative Rate
When DFCS places a child with a relative through the child welfare system, but the relative hasn't completed full foster parent licensing yet, the state pays an enhanced relative rate. This is higher than TANF but lower than the full foster care per diem. The rate bridges the gap while the licensing process is underway.
Kinship Foster Care Per Diem
Once a relative completes foster parent licensing and the child remains in DFCS custody, the state pays the full foster care per diem. As of SFY 2026, rates are $29.20/day for ages 0–5 ($741/month), $31.51/day for ages 6–12 ($793/month), and $34.27/day for ages 13+ ($854/month). An additional $3.44/day per child applies for sibling groups of three or more.
KinGAP Guardianship Assistance
After a child has been in foster care with a licensed relative for at least six consecutive months, and DFCS determines that reunification and adoption aren't appropriate, the relative can assume permanent guardianship through KinGAP. Monthly payments match the foster care per diem rate and continue until the child turns 18 (or 21 if the agreement was executed after age 16 and the youth meets educational or vocational requirements).
The critical sequencing rule: the Subsidized Guardianship Agreement must be signed before the court finalizes the guardianship order. If the court order comes first, the family permanently loses KinGAP eligibility.
Which Path Applies to You
Most grandparents and relatives raising children in Georgia are in informal or private arrangements — no DFCS involvement. That means TANF child-only (plus GRG if you qualify) is the primary cash benefit. The foster care and KinGAP payments require the child to have entered the state child welfare system through a formal DFCS removal.
If DFCS is currently involved with the child, ask your caseworker specifically about relative foster care licensing and whether KinGAP may become an option. The difference between $155 and $741 per month is substantial enough to justify understanding every available pathway.
Our Georgia kinship financial help guide maps every program side by side with an eligibility matrix that shows exactly which benefits your specific care arrangement unlocks — informal, POA, guardianship, or foster placement.
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