NC Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP): Rates, Eligibility, and How It Works

What GAP Is — and Who It's For

The North Carolina Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP) is one of the most substantial financial supports available to kinship caregivers in the state. Its monthly maintenance payments are tied to standard foster care board rates of $702 to $810 depending on the child's age; the actual payment is negotiated with the county DSS. GAP also provides Medicaid coverage.

But GAP has a narrow eligibility path. It's designed specifically for relatives who are taking legal guardianship of a child who is already in the foster care system through a county DSS placement. If you're raising a grandchild under an informal arrangement or a private custody order, GAP doesn't apply — the Work First child-only grant and Medicaid are the programs to look at instead.

The Five Requirements

Every GAP agreement requires all five of these:

1. Prior DSS custody. The child must have been placed in the legal custody of a county DSS through a Chapter 7B juvenile court proceeding — meaning abuse, neglect, or dependency was adjudicated and the court gave custody to the county, not to you directly.

2. Licensed kinship foster placement. You must have been the child's licensed kinship foster parent, and the child must have lived in your licensed home for at least six consecutive months while in county DSS custody.

3. Permanency plan determination. The juvenile court must determine that returning the child home isn't appropriate and that adoption isn't the right plan — legal guardianship with you is the permanent arrangement.

4. Child's connection to you. The child must have a strong attachment to you. Children age 14 and older must be consulted about the guardianship arrangement.

5. Pre-order agreement execution. This is the requirement that catches people. The official GAP Agreement (Form DSS-5670) must be fully signed by you, the county DSS director, and NCDHHS before the court enters the guardianship order. If the judge signs the guardianship order first and the GAP paperwork comes after, the child permanently loses GAP eligibility. There's no fix for this.

Standard Monthly Board Rates

GAP maintenance payments are tied to the state's Standard Board Rates for foster care:

The actual GAP payment is negotiated between the caregiver and county DSS based on the child's needs, up to the applicable maximum. The standard rates are higher than the Work First child-only grant ($181 for one child).

GAP also covers up to $2,000 in nonrecurring expenses for obtaining the guardianship — court costs, attorney fees, and related legal expenses. If you have siblings in the same placement, they can be included in one agreement.

GAP payments are not counted as income when DSS evaluates your eligibility for Medicaid or Food and Nutrition Services.

Medicaid and Post-18 Extensions

Children on GAP receive categorical Medicaid eligibility — no separate application needed, no income test. If the guardianship was established after the child turned 16, GAP can extend past age 18 up to age 21 as long as the young adult is finishing high school, enrolled in post-secondary education, working at least 80 hours per month, participating in an employment-readiness program, or unable to do any of those due to a documented disability.

GAP agreements also require naming a successor guardian. If something happens to you, the named successor can continue receiving payments without interruption.

GAP vs. Work First Child-Only: The Key Difference

The difference comes down to how the child entered your care. GAP requires the full foster-care-to-guardianship pipeline: DSS custody, licensed foster placement, juvenile court permanency hearing, and the pre-order agreement. Its standard monthly board rates are $702–$810, with the actual payment negotiated with county DSS.

Work First child-only requires only that the child lives with a specified relative. No court involvement, no foster care history, no licensing. The maximum monthly grant is $181 for one child.

Many grandparents first hear about GAP rates and wonder if they should pursue that path. If the child is already in DSS custody and you're already a licensed kinship foster parent, talk to the child's caseworker about GAP immediately, and do not let the guardianship order be filed before the GAP agreement is signed. If the child came to you informally, GAP isn't available, but the Work First child-only grant, Medicaid, and FNS benefits are.

Our North Carolina Kinship Financial Help Guide maps out which programs are available for each type of care arrangement — informal, court custody, guardianship, and DSS placement — so you can see exactly what applies to your situation.

See more North Carolina guides →