Kinship-ND $800 Reimbursement: Eligible Expenses and How to Claim

How the $800 Reimbursement Works

Kinship-ND provides up to $800 in lifetime expense reimbursement per kinship child. This isn't a monthly stipend — it's a one-time pool of money you draw from by submitting receipts for out-of-pocket costs you've already paid. Once you've claimed the full $800 for a particular child, that fund is exhausted.

The program is run by the Children and Family Services Division of North Dakota HHS. You don't need a court order, a formal guardianship, or a child welfare case to access it. Informal caregivers, relatives with a Power of Attorney, and legal guardians all qualify as long as they meet the basic Kinship-ND criteria.

What Expenses Qualify

Eligible expenses cover the immediate needs of getting a child settled in your home. The reimbursement categories include:

• Bedding and furniture — a bed, crib, mattress, or bedding set for the child
• Clothing — everyday clothes, shoes, coats, school uniforms
• Basic child needs — car seats, diapers, formula, hygiene items
• Licensed childcare — fees paid to a licensed childcare provider

The common thread: expenses directly tied to the child's care that you paid for yourself. Keep every receipt — the program reimburses based on documented proof of purchase, not estimates.

How Far Back Receipts Count

Kinship-ND accepts receipts for eligible expenses incurred up to two months before your application date. If you spent money getting the child settled before you knew about the program, those purchases may still count as long as they fall within the two-month window and you have the receipts.

How to Apply

Start by submitting State Form Number (SFN) 408, the Kinship Navigation Services Application. You can reach Kinship-ND directly at (701) 328-1453 or [email protected]. Once you're enrolled in navigation services, a Kinship Navigator will walk you through the reimbursement process — which receipts to gather, how to submit them, and when to expect payment.

The reimbursement is either paid directly to you after receipt submission or made as a vendor payment to the provider. Your navigator will explain which method applies to your situation.

One Rule That Trips People Up

You must be enrolled in Kinship-ND navigation services before submitting reimbursement claims. The $800 fund is not retroactive for caregivers who completed their purchases and never enrolled. If you're caring for a relative's child in North Dakota right now, filing SFN 408 early protects your ability to claim expenses going forward.

What This Doesn't Cover

The $800 reimbursement is separate from the monthly TANF child-only cash grant, SNAP food assistance, and Medicaid. You can receive all of those at the same time — there's no non-duplication rule between the $800 Kinship-ND reimbursement and standard public assistance programs.

It also doesn't cover legal fees for guardianship. That's a different Kinship-ND fund — the $2,500 guardianship establishment grant, which has its own application process.

For a full breakdown of every program, the application documents, and a receipt-tracking worksheet, the North Dakota Kinship Financial Help guide lays out each fund side by side with exactly what to bring to your appointment.

See more North Dakota guides →