Grandparent Raising Grandchild Benefits New York — Full Program List
The Programs Available to You
New York has more financial supports for kinship caregivers than most states. The challenge is that they are scattered across different agencies, different applications, and different income rules. Here is the full list, with what each one pays and which agency runs it.
Child-Only Cash Assistance (TANF)
A monthly cash grant paid directly for the child. Your income as the caregiver is not counted — only the child's own income (survivor benefits, child support, SSI) offsets the grant.
- NYC: up to $439.70/month for one child, $595 for two
- Suburban counties (Suffolk, Nassau): up to $511.70 for one child
- Upstate counties: up to $411.70 for one child
- Agency: OTDA, administered by your local DSS or NYC HRA
- Apply with: Form LDSS-2921
These are sample maximums for 2026–27; actual grants follow local district schedules and the child's countable income.
No court order required. No work requirements. No time limit.
SNAP (Food Stamps)
Monthly food benefits loaded onto an EBT card. Unlike the cash grant, SNAP evaluates total household income if you purchase and prepare food together.
Grandparents aged 60+ or receiving SSI/SSDI qualify for higher income limits (200% FPL) and can deduct medical expenses over $35/month. A one-person child household can receive up to $306/month; a two-person household up to $562.
These are maximum allotments for Federal Fiscal Year 2027, October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Expedited processing: If liquid resources are under $100 and monthly income under $150, the district must issue SNAP within 7 days.
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Medicaid and Child Health Plus
Health coverage for the child. If you do not claim the child as a tax dependent, the child is evaluated as a household of one — and most children in kinship care have little or no personal income, which means they qualify for full Medicaid.
If the child's income exceeds Medicaid limits, Child Health Plus (CHP) covers children under 19 at tiered premiums starting at $0 (below 222% FPL) up to $60/month per child (376–400% FPL) for applications processed on or after February 17, 2026. CHP covers all children regardless of immigration status.
Apply through: NY State of Health at nystateofhealth.ny.gov or as part of the LDSS-2921 application.
CCAP Childcare Subsidy
The Child Care Assistance Program helps cover daycare, after-school, and summer care. From June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027, income eligibility is capped at 85% of State Median Income — $79,214.90 annually for a two-person household.
Caregivers receiving child-only cash assistance may qualify for CCAP without meeting independent work-hour requirements. Weekly copayments are capped at $15 statewide for qualifying households.
Apply through: Your county DSS or the OCFS CCAA portal.
KinGAP (Kinship Guardianship Assistance)
Monthly subsidies for relatives who become legal guardians of children who were in foster care. Payments are set at 75–100% of the local foster care boarding rate. Non-recurring guardianship expenses are reimbursed up to $2,000 per child.
The catch: The child must have spent at least six consecutive months in your home while you were a certified foster parent. Informal kinship care time does not count. And the KinGAP agreement must be signed before the court issues the guardianship order.
KinGAP is not available to informal caregivers or those with Article 6 custody only.
HEAP (Heating Assistance)
A seasonal benefit to help with heating costs. Receiving the $21 nominal HEAP benefit can qualify an eligible SNAP household for the full Heating and Cooling Standard Utility Allowance (HCSUA), which can increase its monthly SNAP allotment.
Empire State Child Credit
A refundable state tax credit — up to $1,000 per qualifying child under age 4, and up to $330 for children aged 4–16 for Tax Year 2025, increasing to $500 for Tax Year 2026. No minimum earned income required. Claimed on your NYS tax return using Form IT-213.
If you are a full-year New York State resident and can claim the child as a qualifying dependent, you may qualify for the credit regardless of your formal legal arrangement, subject to the other tax-credit rules.
WIC and School Meals
WIC provides nutritional support for children under 5. Income eligibility is 185% FPL, or automatic if the child receives Medicaid or SNAP.
Under the Community Eligibility Provision, participating New York public schools offer free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students. Children receiving child-only TANF, SNAP, or Medicaid are directly certified for free school meals. Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) provides $120 annually for each eligible school-age child.
Emergency Grants
One-time payments for crises:
- Emergency Safety Net Assistance: up to 125% FPL, for eviction prevention or utility arrears
- Emergency Assistance to Families: up to 200% FPL, for utility shut-offs or emergency housing
Where to Start
Form LDSS-2921 lets you apply for Temporary Assistance, SNAP, Medicaid, and CCAP together. It does not replace an NY State of Health marketplace filing when one is required, and programs may send separate determination notices. The complete New York kinship benefits guide walks through each program, its documents, and its income rules.
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