Informal Kinship Care Tennessee: What Benefits You Can Still Get

You Don't Need a Court Order to Get Help

A child lands in your home over a weekend. Maybe the parent was arrested, entered rehab, or simply left. You have no court papers, no written agreement, no legal custody. Just a child who needs to eat, sleep, get to school, and see a doctor.

Many grandparents and relatives in this exact position assume they can't access any government programs until they go through the courts. That's wrong. Several Tennessee programs are available to informal caregivers — and one of the most important ones specifically ignores your personal income.

Families First Child-Only Cash

Families First is Tennessee's TANF cash assistance program. In a child-only case, the caregiver applies on the child's behalf and excludes themselves from the assistance unit. Only the child's own income counts — not yours.

For informal care, TDHS accepts a written self-attestation or school enrollment verification showing the child lives with you. No court order, no Power of Attorney, no notarized documents required.

The Differential Grant Payment Amount for a child-only case is $240/month for one child, $292 for two, $332 for three. The caregiver's work requirements are waived, and the 60-month TANF time limit doesn't apply.

Apply through the ONE DHS Customer Portal at onedhs.tn.gov or at a local TDHS county office.

TennCare and CoverKids

The child's healthcare eligibility is evaluated independently of the caregiver's income under federal MAGI rules. When the caregiver doesn't claim the child as a tax dependent, the child's Medicaid household consists of just the child (and any biological siblings in the home). Children ages 6 through 18 qualify for TennCare Medicaid up to 133% FPL, children ages 1 through 5 up to 142% FPL, and infants under 1 at a higher income limit. CoverKids CHIP covers children up to 250% FPL.

Apply through TennCare Connect at tenncareconnect.tn.gov. Processing takes up to 45 calendar days.

SNAP

SNAP is available to your household regardless of legal arrangement. The difference from Families First: SNAP does count your income if you and the child purchase and prepare meals together (which is almost always the case). The gross income limit is 130% FPL for the household.

WIC

If the child is under 5, you can apply for WIC benefits at your county health department. The income limit is 185% FPL, and children already receiving SNAP, Families First, or TennCare are automatically income-eligible.

RCP Supportive Services

The DCS Relative Caregiver Program's supportive tier doesn't require a court order. With informal care, you can access family advocacy, short-term case management (1 to 6 months), support groups, respite care, and one-time emergency financial aid — help with beds, clothing, school supplies, or utility arrears. Household income must be at or below 200% FPL for emergency financial assistance.

The RCP monthly stipend, however, does require a court custody order. Supportive services do not.

Call the statewide RCP referral line at 833-984-1498 to connect with your regional agency.

Title III-E Caregiver Support (Age 55+)

If you're 55 or older, the National Family Caregiver Support Program through Tennessee's Area Agencies on Aging and Disability provides respite vouchers, counseling, support groups, and supplemental grants. These services are non-means-tested, though priority goes to low-income older caregivers.

Call 1-866-836-6678 to reach your regional AAAD office.

What You Can't Get Without Legal Papers

The RCP monthly stipend and Subsidized Permanent Guardianship (SPG) both require specific legal status. The stipend needs a court custody order; SPG requires the child to have exited DCS state custody through a formal guardianship finalization. These programs aren't available to informal caregivers.

But between Families First child-only cash, TennCare, SNAP, WIC, and RCP supportive services, informal caregivers have access to a meaningful foundation of support — often more than they realize.

The Tennessee Kinship Financial Help Guide maps every program to every legal arrangement — so whether you have informal care, a POA, or a court order, you can see exactly what's available right now and what changes might open up additional help later.

See more Tennessee guides →