Hawaii Child-Only TANF for Grandparents: Income Rules and How to Apply

How the Child-Only Grant Protects Your Retirement Income

Hawaii's TANF program has a provision that most grandparents never hear about until someone explains it directly: the child-only grant. When a relative caregiver applies for cash assistance on behalf of a child and the caregiver is not included in the assistance unit, BESSD — the Benefit, Employment & Support Services Division of the Department of Human Services — disregards the caregiver's income and assets completely.

That means your Social Security checks, your pension, your wages, your savings account — none of it matters for the child's eligibility. BESSD evaluates only the child's own countable income, which in most informal kinship arrangements is zero or close to it.

Grant Amounts Under the 62% MAA

Hawaii calculates cash grants using a percentage of its Standard of Need. The current Monthly Assistance Allowance (MAA) is set at 62%. Here is what that looks like:

• 1 child: up to $582 per month
• 2 children: up to $784 per month
• 3 children: up to $985 per month
• 4 children: up to $1,187 per month

If the child has countable income — say $100 a month in survivor benefits — BESSD subtracts that from the maximum. A one-child unit with $100 in child income would receive $482.

Hawaii TANF also disregards all assets. There is no savings limit, no vehicle test, no property threshold. BESSD applies no asset test to TANF applications.

The 60-Month Exemption and No Work Requirements

Standard TANF households face a federal 60-month lifetime benefit limit and mandatory participation in Hawaii's First-To-Work program. Neither applies to child-only grants. The relative caregiver is not a recipient of the benefit — the child is — so there is no clock ticking and no requirement to attend job training, do community service hours, or submit employment verification.

This is true whether the child-only case runs for six months or six years.

TANF vs. TAONF

Hawaii also funds Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF) using state dollars for households that do not meet federal TANF citizenship or immigration criteria. The child-only rules work similarly under TAONF — caregiver income is still disregarded and the grants follow the same structure. If the child's immigration status affects federal TANF eligibility, BESSD evaluates TAONF automatically.

How to Apply

You can apply online through the PAIS portal at pais-benefits.dhs.hawaii.gov, or submit a paper Form DHS 1240 at any county processing center. The form requires signatures on pages 1 and 11. Bring proof of the child's identity (birth certificate or alternative), your own ID, proof of Hawaii residency, and documentation of any income the child receives.

Applications can be mailed, faxed, or dropped off at the nearest processing center. DHS must make a disposition on a TANF application within 45 days after receiving a signed application that includes the applicant's full name and address.

The Child Support Referral

Applying for TANF triggers an automatic referral to the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). BESSD requires the caregiver to assign child support rights to the state so it can seek reimbursement from the absent parent. If pursuing child support would put the child or caregiver at risk — domestic violence, incest, or sexual assault — you can request a Good Cause exemption. Inform the Processing Center when you apply; DHS Form 1247 explains the cooperation requirement and your right to claim good cause.

While a Good Cause claim is pending, DHS cannot deny, delay, or discontinue the child's financial assistance if the caregiver provides the required evidence and the household meets all other eligibility requirements.

For a complete walkthrough of every step — including the document checklist, the income calculation worksheet, and what to do if BESSD denies the application — see the Hawaii kinship financial help guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a grandparent's homeownership disqualify the grandchild? No. Hawaii TANF disregards all assets, including real property, vehicles, and savings accounts. Only the child's own income is evaluated.

Does the child-only grant affect my Social Security benefits? No. TANF child-only payments go to the child's assistance unit and are not counted as income for the caregiver's Social Security or SSI purposes.

What if both parents are still alive but unable to care for the child? The child-only grant does not require that a parent be deceased. Under Hawaii's TANF plan, a specified relative may apply when the child's parents are absent from the household; the reason for their absence is not listed as a separate eligibility requirement.

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