NC Relative Caregiver Financial Help: School Costs, Free Meals, and Kinship Support

The Financial Reality of Kinship Care

Taking in a grandchild, niece, nephew, or other relative's child is an act of love that comes with immediate financial pressure. School supplies, clothing, food, medical co-pays, and transportation costs add up fast — and many kinship caregivers in North Carolina are on fixed incomes from Social Security or modest wages.

The good news is that North Carolina has several financial support programs specifically available to relatives raising children without formal custody. You do not need a court order or legal guardianship to access most of them.

Free and Reduced-Price School Meals

Children in informal kinship care who receive Food and Nutrition Services (SNAP) or Work First (TANF) benefits are categorically eligible for free school meals under USDA regulations. You do not need to fill out a separate school meals application — the eligibility follows the benefit.

If the child's school participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), every student at that school gets free breakfast and lunch regardless of household income. Many high-poverty schools in North Carolina participate. Ask the school's front office or cafeteria manager whether CEP applies.

Even without SNAP or CEP, kinship households can apply for free or reduced-price meals through the standard school meals application. The household income thresholds are based on family size, and many grandparent-headed households qualify.

NC Medicaid for Children in Kinship Care

North Carolina merged its Children's Health Insurance Program (NC Health Choice) into NC Medicaid, expanding access and eliminating co-payments for children. A child living with a relative can qualify for child-only Medicaid benefits, which cover doctor visits, dental care, prescriptions, mental health services, and Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) services.

Informal kinship caregivers are not required to report their own household income when applying for child-only Medicaid. The application looks at the child's situation, not the grandparent's finances.

You can apply through:

• The NC ePASS online portal (epass.nc.gov)
• Healthcare.gov during open enrollment or with a qualifying life event
• Your local County Department of Social Services (DSS) in person, by phone, or by mail

For help choosing or changing an NC Medicaid health plan, contact the NC Medicaid Enrollment Broker at 1-833-870-5500. For unresolved problems with a health plan or provider, contact the NC Medicaid Ombudsman at 1-877-201-3750.

Work First Cash Assistance

Work First is North Carolina's TANF program. Kinship caregivers can apply for child-only Work First payments to help with the basic costs of raising the child. For child-only Work First applications, informal kinship caregivers are not required to provide their personal household income; County DSS determines eligibility and benefit amounts under the program rules.

Apply through your local County DSS office or the ePASS portal. Payments are modest, but they help offset food, clothing, and household costs.

Finding a Kinship Navigator or Support Program

North Carolina does not have a single statewide Kinship Navigator portal, but regional programs exist in some counties. These navigators help kinship caregivers connect with financial assistance, legal referrals, support groups, and school enrollment help.

To find local kinship support:

• Contact your County DSS about local kinship supports, or use NCCARE360's Get Help directory to search local social services. You can also call 211 or 1-888-892-1162, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Call Legal Aid of North Carolina (1-866-219-5262) for free legal assistance with enrollment, benefits, and guardianship questions
• Reach out to the Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC) at 1-800-962-6817 if the child has a disability or special education needs
• Check Grandfamilies.org for the North Carolina state fact sheet, which lists current programs and contacts

The School Enrollment Forms Are Free

One concern that comes up repeatedly: the caregiver affidavit and enrollment forms required under N.C.G.S. § 115C-366(a3) are free. You do not need to pay for them. The school district provides its own version of the Caregiver Adult Affidavit, and the statutory form for health care authorization (N.C.G.S. § 32A-34) is published in the General Statutes.

The cost is in the notarization — when both affidavits are required, both must be notarized — but many banks, libraries, and County DSS offices offer free notary services. UPS stores and shipping centers typically charge $5–$10 per signature.

Putting the Paperwork and Financial Help Together

Getting financial assistance and getting the child enrolled in school are often happening at the same time, during the same stressful week. The School and Medical Consent Guide for North Carolina walks through the enrollment forms, health care authorization, and support resources in a single organized system so you can handle both tracks without missing steps.

See more North Carolina guides →