NC Work First Electing Counties vs Standard Counties: What Kinship Caregivers Need to Know

Why Your County Matters

North Carolina doesn't run Work First the same way everywhere. Ninety-three counties follow the state's standard Work First manual. But seven counties operate under locally designed block grant plans with legislative authority to adjust program design, eligibility criteria, and supportive service allocations.

Those seven are Beaufort, Caldwell, Catawba, Lenoir, Lincoln, Macon, and Wilson. They're called "electing counties" because they elected to manage their own TANF block grant funds locally.

If you're a grandparent or relative applying for a child-only cash grant, this distinction can affect how your application is processed, what supportive services are available, and how the county handles its caseload.

What's the Same Everywhere

The statewide Child-Only policy excludes the income of a non-needy caretaker relative from the eligibility calculation; DSS evaluates the child's income and countable resources. Maximum monthly payment amounts ($181 for one child, $236 for two) are set at the state level. The child support cooperation requirement and Good Cause Exception process follow state policy regardless of county type.

Medicaid and Food and Nutrition Services (FNS/SNAP) are entirely separate from the electing-county distinction — those programs follow their own statewide rules.

What Can Differ in Electing Counties

Electing counties bear local financial responsibility for caseload growth beyond their block grant allocation. In practice, this means the county has more discretion over how it manages supportive services — things like transportation help, emergency assistance funds, and referral programs.

If you live in an electing county and apply for Work First, the intake process may look different from what a friend in Wake or Mecklenburg describes. Local plans can modify program design, eligibility criteria, and supportive services, so ask county DSS which rules apply to your case.

How to Find Out Which Type Your County Is

If you live in Beaufort, Caldwell, Catawba, Lenoir, Lincoln, Macon, or Wilson, you're in an electing county. Everyone else is in a standard county.

When you call your county DSS or walk in to apply, you don't need to mention the distinction — they know their own rules. But if you've read advice online from someone in a standard county, some details about supplemental services or processing timelines may not match your experience.

What to Do Either Way

Regardless of county type, apply through ePASS (epass.nc.gov) or directly at your county DSS office. Statewide Child-Only policy excludes a non-needy caregiver's income from the calculation.

If something about your county's process feels different from what you've read, ask your caseworker directly — "Is this county an electing county?" gets a clear answer and helps you understand any local variations.

Our North Carolina Kinship Financial Help Guide covers the electing-county differences in detail, including what additional supportive services may be available depending on where you live.

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