Indiana Kinship Care Resources and Financial Help for Relative Caregivers

The Money and Support That Exists — and Who Actually Qualifies

Raising a relative's child costs money that most families did not budget for. Indiana has several financial assistance programs and support services for kinship caregivers, but eligibility rules vary sharply depending on whether the child came through DCS or arrived at your door through a private family arrangement.

Indiana Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP)

Indiana's Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP) can provide ongoing monthly assistance to eligible relatives who become guardians of children in DCS or Juvenile Delinquency/Juvenile Status (JDJS) care. Medicaid eligibility depends on the funding: a Title IV-E GAP payment is required for Medicaid, while state-funded GAP requires a separate Medicaid eligibility determination. Payments can continue through age 18, or up to age 21 in limited cases.

The eligibility requirements are strict:

• The child must be a DCS or JD/JS ward. The youth generally must be at least 13 and consulted. A younger sibling placed in the same home as an eligible child may also qualify if DCS and the guardian agree; a younger child with a medical condition or disability confirmed by a licensed physician or psychiatrist and approved through DCS's Severe Impairment Determination process may also qualify
• The child must have lived in a licensed relative home for at least six consecutive months, and the prospective guardian must be a licensed foster parent
• The child must have a strong attachment to the prospective relative guardian, and the court must state compelling reasons for guardianship in its order
• Reunification and adoption must be ruled out as permanency options
• The GAP agreement must be signed by all required parties before the guardianship order is entered

The critical point: a private guardianship petition started without DCS or JDJS wardship and the required licensed relative placement does not qualify for GAP.

DCS Unlicensed Relative Allowances

If DCS places a child with you as an unlicensed relative, examples of assistance under current DCS guidance include:

• An initial clothing and personal items allowance up to $200 per child within 60 days of placement (with caseworker approval)
• A one-time bedding allowance up to $400 per child if needed and approved by DCS
• An annual Personal Allowance up to $300 starting on the eighth consecutive day of placement
• An Unlicensed Kinship Stipend of $300 per month for each child placed by DCS, or $150 for a partial month of care lasting fewer than 15 days

These are DCS-administered — your Family Case Manager handles the requests.

Child-Only TANF

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) offers monthly cash assistance to qualifying children under 18 who live with a parent or relative. Indiana has a separate children-only assistance group; a non-parent caretaker may be a non-participating member while qualifying children receive the benefit. DFR evaluates the assistance group's countable income and other eligibility criteria. The current maximum for a three-person children-only assistance group with no countable income is $513 per month.

Apply through the FSSA Division of Family Resources portal at fssabenefits.in.gov. DFR requires accurate information about the child, parents, and household members whose income and needs it will assess.

Hoosier Healthwise (Medicaid)

Children living with relative caregivers can qualify for Hoosier Healthwise, Indiana's Medicaid program for children up to age 19. It covers medical, dental, and vision care. Apply through the same FSSA portal. Have each household member's name, date of birth, Social Security number, income, current benefits, resources, and other health coverage information available; DFR may request verification based on the case.

SNAP Benefits

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides monthly food assistance loaded onto an EBT card. Eligibility considers household size and gross monthly income against federal poverty guidelines, though households with an elderly or disabled member follow different rules.

Support Services

Kinship Indiana Support Services (KISS) — operated through DCS, KISS connects relative caregivers with community resources, legal information, and financial supports. Contact: [email protected].

Indiana 211 — a free statewide helpline. Call 2-1-1 to speak with a community navigator Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET; the online resource search is available 24/7. It connects kinship families with local housing, food, utility, and caregiving assistance.

The Villages Family Connection Network — offers kinship support services, case management for caregivers aged 55 and older, support groups, and referral-based financial assistance across Indiana counties. Contact: [email protected] or 317-775-6500.

Getting the Legal Authority You Need

Many benefit programs and school districts require proof of legal authority before they will process applications or enroll a child. The Indiana Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide walks through the full court process — from choosing between guardianship and custody to obtaining Letters of Guardianship — so you can get the documentation these agencies require.

See more Indiana guides →