Maine TANF Child-Only Grant for Grandparents and Relatives

What a Child-Only TANF Grant Actually Is

When a grandparent or relative raises a child in Maine, the state does not make the adult prove they are poor before helping the child. That is the entire point of the child-only TANF grant: the caregiver applies as a "non-needy caretaker relative" and is excluded from the assistance unit. If an excluded specified relative claims the child as a tax dependent, Maine counts half the child's full need standard as unearned income when calculating the grant.

This matters enormously for retired grandparents who would never qualify for regular TANF but whose grandchild needs food, clothing, and school supplies.

Who Qualifies as a Caretaker Relative

Maine defines "specified caretaker relative" broadly: grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, nieces, nephews, and first cousins — including half-blood and step-relationships. You do not need a court order, guardianship, or power of attorney. Informal care arrangements qualify.

The child must live with you in Maine and have a Social Security number or proof of an application for one. In a child-only case, the non-needy caretaker is outside the assistance unit, so the caretaker's citizenship status is not used to determine the child's eligibility. Maine's manual still requires every individual applying for or receiving TANF/PaS to provide an SSN or proof of application.

Current Grant Amounts

Under TANF Rule #127A (effective October 2026), monthly maximums are:

• 1 child: $384
• 2 children: $565
• 3 children: $744
• 4 children: $918
• Each additional child: +$162

The actual payment equals the maximum minus any countable net income belonging to the child — things like child support received for the child (with a $50 disregard) or Social Security survivor benefits paid directly to the child. A child eligible for both TANF/PaS and SSI or State Supplement may receive one or the other, but not both; if the child chooses SSI or State Supplement, the otherwise eligible specified relative may still receive TANF/PaS.

No Work Requirements, No Time Limit

Child-only TANF grants are completely exempt from Maine's ASPIRE work program. Nobody will ask you to attend job training or log work hours. The grant is also exempt from the federal and state 60-month lifetime limit. You can receive it for as long as the child lives with you and remains eligible.

How to Apply

Three routes:

1. Online: MyMaineConnection.gov — create an account and complete the application
2. Paper: Mail or fax to OFI's Farmington processing center (114 Corn Shop Lane, Farmington, ME 04938; fax 207-778-8429)
3. Phone: Call 1-855-797-4357
4. In person: Any regional OFI district office (Augusta, Bangor, Portland, Lewiston, and ten others)

When filling out the application, you are applying on behalf of the child only. The sections asking about the adult's income, employment, and assets do not apply to you as a non-needy caretaker.

Documents to Bring

• Child's birth certificate or hospital record
• Child's Social Security card (or SSA application receipt)
• Proof you live in Maine (utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement)
• Proof of your relationship to the child (birth or marriage certificates tracing the connection, or a sworn affidavit)
• Any income the child receives (child support stubs, SSA award letters)

If you are missing documents, OFI eligibility workers are required by regulation to help you obtain them. Do not let a missing piece of paper stop you from applying.

Child Support Cooperation

Maine requires TANF recipients to cooperate with the Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery (DSER) to pursue child support from the biological parents. If cooperation would put you or the child at risk of harm, you can request a "good cause" exemption. Caregivers fleeing domestic violence may apply to the Secretary of State's Address Confidentiality Program through a registered application assistant. If certified, they can use a designated address with state and local agencies, which must generally accept it; the Secretary may grant exceptions for statutory, administrative, or law-enforcement needs.

What Happens if You Get Denied

You have 30 days from the date of action to request an Administrative Fair Hearing. If you request within 10 days of a termination or reduction notice, benefits are restored to the immediate prior amount unless you waive restoration. Continued benefits may stop if the hearing officer finds the only issue is a policy question or if another change affects the grant. Contact Pine Tree Legal Assistance at (207) 942-8322 for free help with the appeal.

Chapter I of the TANF manual separately says a request within 12 days of a notice can continue prior benefits. The manual's Chapter I and Chapter VI give different windows; file as soon as possible and check the notice.

The complete Maine kinship financial help guide includes a step-by-step TANF application walkthrough, a document-gathering checklist, and a recertification tracker so you never miss a deadline.

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