How to Get Child-Only TANF in Delaware Without Your Pension Counting

When a non-parent relative in Delaware applies for TANF solely for a child in their care, the caregiver's own income and resources are excluded from the eligibility calculation under DSSM 3000 series regulations. The grant amount is based on the applicable standard of need and countable income after disregards, looking only at income received by or for the child. Your Social Security, pension, SSDI, or SSI does not factor in. The problem is that the ASSIST portal does not clearly separate this child-only workflow from the standard household TANF application, and entering your income on the wrong screen can pull your retirement savings into the determination and trigger a denial.

This is the single most important financial protection for kinship caregivers in Delaware, and it is the one most frequently lost to a data-entry mistake on the application.

Why the Income Exclusion Exists

Federal TANF regulations allow states to operate a "child-only" case when the assistance unit includes only the child and the caretaker relative is not seeking benefits for themselves. Delaware implements this through its Division of Social Services Manual (DSSM) regulations. The logic is straightforward: the relative stepped in during a family crisis. Counting their retirement income against a child's need for cash assistance would penalise the very act of keeping the child out of foster care.

In a child-only case:

• The caregiver's earned income, Social Security, pension, SSDI, SSI, and other personal income are not counted
• The caregiver's assets (savings accounts, home equity, vehicles) are not counted
• The caregiver is not subject to TANF work requirements
• Only income received by or for the child is evaluated — child support, any earnings the child has, and similar sources

This is not a loophole or a special exemption. It is how Delaware's TANF programme is designed to work for non-parent relative caregivers.

Where the ASSIST Portal Creates Problems

The ASSIST portal at assist.dhss.delaware.gov is Delaware's unified application gateway for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, and other programmes. It collects income information in a standardised flow that covers all programme types simultaneously. There is no separate entry point labelled "child-only TANF" or "non-parent relative caregiver."

When a grandparent logs in and begins an application, the portal asks about household members, income sources, and resources in a sequence designed for a standard household application. If you enter your Social Security or pension as part of the household income (which the portal's questions seem to ask for), the system may process the application as though your income is relevant to the TANF determination. The result is a denial notice or a benefit amount calculated against income that should never have been in the calculation.

The practical steps to avoid this:

1. Apply specifically for the child — the TANF request should name the child as the person seeking assistance, with you as the caretaker relative
2. Identify yourself as a non-parent caregiver — this flags the application for child-only processing
3. Understand which screens collect household-wide income vs. child-specific income — the ASSIST portal does not always make this distinction clear, which is why the Financial Help for Grandparents and Relatives Raising a Child in Delaware guide walks through the portal flow step by step
4. Prepare your documentation before starting the application — proof of your relationship to the child, proof the child lives with you, and the child's identifying documents

What Child-Only TANF Actually Pays

The cash grant amount for a child-only TANF case is calculated using the applicable standard of need for the assistance unit size (typically one child, unless multiple children are in your care) and countable income after disregards. The payment is based on the child's needs, not yours.

The amount is modest — Delaware's TANF payment standards are not generous by any measure — but it is cash that arrives monthly and helps offset food, clothing, school supplies, and other costs that grandparents on fixed incomes are absorbing entirely from their retirement savings.

The grant can also open doors to other programmes. A TANF-eligible child cared for by a nonparent qualifies for a copayment waiver under Delaware's Purchase of Care childcare programme, which can save hundreds of dollars a month in childcare costs.

How This Differs from SNAP and Medicaid

The income exclusion for child-only TANF does not automatically apply to other programmes:

• SNAP uses different household rules. People who customarily purchase and prepare food together generally form one household. Federal rules also require a child under 18 who lives with and is under the parental control of a household member other than a parent to be included in that household, even if they purchase or prepare food separately. Ask DSS how the household rules apply before treating the child as a separate household.
• Medicaid and the Delaware Healthy Children Program have their own eligibility rules that focus on the child's circumstances. Income thresholds for children's Medicaid are generally more generous than for adult coverage.
• The Kinship Care Program requires household income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level — this does count the caregiver's income, but the threshold is higher than standard TANF.

Each programme has its own rules about whose income counts and how. The common mistake is assuming they all work the same way — they do not.

Who This Is For

• Grandparents on Social Security, a pension, or SSDI who have been told (or assumed) that their income disqualifies the child from TANF cash assistance
• Relatives who started a TANF application on the ASSIST portal, entered their own income, and received a denial — the child-only application may produce a different result
• Caregivers who have not yet applied because they believe their savings or retirement income makes the child ineligible
• Adult children or advocates helping an older relative navigate the application process

Who This Is NOT For

• Parents applying for their own TANF benefits — the standard household rules apply to parent-applicants, and the caregiver income exclusion does not apply
• Relatives seeking advice on whether to apply for TANF — this page explains the mechanics of the income exclusion, not whether applying is right for your situation
• Caregivers in a state other than Delaware — child-only TANF rules vary by state

Common Mistakes That Get Caregivers Denied

Mistake 1: Entering your Social Security on the household income screen. The ASSIST portal collects income for all household members in what appears to be a required sequence. For a child-only case, the caregiver's income should not factor into the TANF determination, but the portal's flow does not make this obvious.

Mistake 2: Not identifying yourself as a non-parent relative. If the application does not clearly establish that you are not the child's parent and that you are not seeking assistance for yourself, the system may process it as a standard household case.

Mistake 3: Assuming a denial is final. If you receive a denial that appears to have counted your income, you have the right to request a fair hearing. You can file the request by email at [email protected]. You also have the right to inspect and copy the records the State will use at the hearing.

Mistake 4: Waiting too long to apply. While child-only TANF does not have a 180-day window like the Kinship Care Program, every month without the grant is a month the grandparent absorbs the full cost from retirement savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does applying for child-only TANF trigger a child protective services investigation?

No. Applying for TANF is an application for financial assistance, not a report of abuse or neglect. The Division of Social Services processes benefit applications separately from the Division of Family Services, which handles child welfare investigations.

Can I apply for child-only TANF if the child's parent is still alive?

Yes. Child-only TANF is based on the child living with and being cared for by a non-parent relative. The biological parent does not need to be deceased. Common situations include parental incarceration, substance use treatment, hospitalisation, and voluntary placement with a relative.

What happens if DSS counts my income anyway?

Request a fair hearing. Delaware gives you the right to challenge a benefit determination. The hearing examines whether DSS correctly applied the child-only income exclusion rules. You can email your hearing request to [email protected] and you have the right to inspect and copy all records the State will use.

Do I need a court order or guardianship to apply?

No. Non-parent relatives can apply for child-only TANF without a court custody order or formal guardianship. You need proof of your relationship to the child (birth certificates, school records) and proof the child lives with you. The Delaware guide includes the full document checklist.

Will the child-only TANF grant affect my own Social Security or SSI?

No. The child-only TANF grant is paid for the child, not for you. It does not count as income for your Social Security retirement benefits, and it does not affect your SSI eligibility or payment amount. The money is for the child's needs.

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