Maryland SNAP for Grandparents Raising a Grandchild

SNAP (the Food Supplement Program in Maryland) does not work like the TCA child-only grant. There is no child-only pathway for SNAP. If you and your grandchild live in the same home and share meals, federal rules require you to apply as a single household — and your income counts.

That sounds discouraging, but the deductions built into SNAP's benefit formula often make kinship households eligible even when gross income seems too high.

How the Household Budget Works

Maryland applies broad-based categorical eligibility, which sets the gross income limit at 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. For a two-person household (you and the child), the limit is $3,607 per month under Maryland's guidelines effective October 1, 2026.

After determining gross income, SNAP subtracts several deductions before calculating your benefit:

• Standard deduction based on household size
• Excess shelter costs — your rent, mortgage, property taxes, and the Standard Utility Allowance that exceed 50% of your remaining income after other deductions
• Dependent care — out-of-pocket childcare costs you pay to work or attend training
• Elderly/disabled medical expenses — if you are 60 or older, out-of-pocket medical costs exceeding $35 per month (including Medicare premiums, prescriptions, and dental)

That last deduction matters for many grandparents. If you are on Medicare and paying premiums, copays, and prescription costs, those expenses reduce your countable SNAP income dollar for dollar above the $35 floor.

What Income Counts

Your Social Security, pension, wages, and any other income enter the household total. The child's income also counts — including child-only TCA payments received on the child's behalf and any child support disbursed to you. SSI is generally counted as unearned income, and foster care payments can be excluded if the foster child is removed from the SNAP unit.

Mixed-Status Households

If the child is a U.S. citizen but a household member is a noncitizen who does not have a qualifying immigration status, SNAP uses prorated rules. The ineligible noncitizen's income is partially counted, and the benefit is prorated to cover only the eligible household members. The citizen child's eligibility is protected regardless of the caregiver's immigration status.

Expedited Benefits

If you apply and your gross monthly income is below $150 with $100 or less in liquid bank accounts, or if your combined gross income and liquid resources are less than your monthly rent or mortgage plus utilities, you qualify for expedited SNAP — benefits within 7 calendar days of filing.

Applying

Submit through MarylandBenefits.gov, or file Form DHS/FIA 9701 at your local DSS. You can apply for SNAP and TCA child-only on the same application. The processing standard for SNAP is 30 days (7 for expedited cases).

The Maryland Financial Help Guide breaks down the SNAP budget calculation for kinship households and includes a grant calculation worksheet — so you can estimate your benefit before the interview.

See more Maryland guides →