How Much Does K-TAP Pay Per Child in Kentucky?

If a grandchild in your care has zero independent income — no child support, no survivor benefits — Kentucky pays the full K-TAP payment maximum for your benefit group size. For one child, that is $372 per month. For two children, $450. The amounts scale up from there.

Here are the current K-TAP payment maximums under 921 KAR 2:016 Section 9:

These figures are indexed to annual Social Security Administration Cost-of-Living Adjustments, so they increase slightly over time.

How the Calculation Works When the Child Has Income

If the child receives income — typically court-ordered child support or Social Security survivor benefits — the grant amount is reduced through a specific formula:

1. Gross income test: the child's countable income must be at or below 185% of the Standard of Need for the benefit group size. For one child, that gross income limit is $890 per month.
2. Income deficit: subtract the child's countable income from the Standard of Need ($481 for one child).
3. Ratable reduction: multiply the deficit by 0.55 (the state applies a 45% ratable reduction).
4. Final payment: the lesser of the calculated amount or the payment maximum.

A practical example: two siblings live with their grandmother. One child receives $150 per month in child support; the other receives nothing. DCBS disregards the first $50 of monthly child support, so countable income is $100. The two-child Standard of Need is $552. Subtracting $100 leaves a deficit of $452. Multiplied by 0.55, the calculated grant is $248.60 — below the two-child maximum of $450, so the grandmother receives $248.60 per month.

When a child has zero income, the formula still applies but the deficit equals the full Standard of Need. However, state rules pay the full payment maximum when countable income is zero, so the actual check is $372 (not the reduced formula result of $264.55).

No 60-Month Limit on Child-Only Cases

The federal 60-month TANF lifetime limit does not apply to child-only K-TAP grants. The caregiver is also exempt from work registration and job search requirements under the Kentucky Works Program. These exemptions exist because the caregiver is not the recipient — the child is.

Recertification

K-TAP requires periodic recertification. You must report certain changes within 10 calendar days: increases in the child's earned or unearned income, address changes, or a child absent from the home for more than 30 consecutive days. Failure to report can trigger overpayment claims and recoupment under 921 KAR 2:016 Section 11.

The Financial Help for Grandparents and Relatives Raising a Child in Kentucky guide includes a benefit calculation worksheet so you can estimate your grant before applying, plus a change-reporting checklist so recertification does not catch you off guard.

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