Nevada Child-Only TANF Income Limits: The 275% FPL Rule Explained

The most common reason grandparents in Nevada don't apply for Child-Only TANF is the belief that their Social Security, pension, or savings will disqualify the child. It usually will not. Nevada uses a two-step income test that works heavily in the caregiver's favor.

Step One: The 275% FPL Threshold Test

Before DWSS even looks at the child's grant, it checks whether the caregiver's household qualifies as "non-needy." The test: your gross household income must be at or below 275% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Here is what that looks like for common household sizes:

Most grandparents and relative caregivers on fixed retirement incomes — Social Security, a pension, maybe part-time work — fall well below these thresholds. A grandparent receiving $2,200 per month in Social Security with a small pension is nowhere near the ceiling.

Step Two: Your Income Disappears

Once your household passes the 275% FPL screening, your personal income and assets are completely excluded from the child's benefit calculation. DWSS calculates the grant based on each eligible child's own income, such as Social Security Survivor Benefits or court-ordered child support payments going directly to the child. A child who receives SSI is excluded from the TANF grant unit, though eligible non-SSI siblings may still qualify.

Your retirement account, home equity, savings, pension payments, wages, and Social Security check are all invisible at this stage. A grandparent with $200,000 in retirement savings and a $3,000 monthly pension who passes the 275% threshold gets the same child grant as a grandparent with $500 in savings and $1,200 in Social Security.

No Asset Test for the Caregiver

Standard TANF households face a $10,000 asset cap. Non-needy relative caregivers applying strictly for child-only benefits are not subject to asset testing on their personal property. Your house, your car, your retirement accounts — none of it matters for the child's eligibility.

The only assets that could affect the grant are assets legally belonging to the child.

What Counts as the Child's Income

DWSS counts income that is legally the child's:

• Social Security Survivor Benefits paid to the child after a parent's death
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — a child who receives SSI is excluded from the TANF grant unit entirely (though other non-SSI siblings remain eligible)
• Court-ordered child support paid directly for the child's benefit
• Earnings if the child has a job (rare for young children)

A child with no income of their own receives the full grant amount.

Common Misconceptions

"My $2,400 Social Security check will reduce the child's payment." No. Once you qualify as non-needy, your Social Security is excluded from the grant calculation.

"I own my home, so the child won't qualify." No. Home equity is not counted under the non-needy relative asset exemption.

"I have a 401(k) with $150,000 — that will disqualify us." No. Retirement accounts are personal assets excluded from child-only benefit calculations.

"My spouse works full-time. We make too much." Possibly — if the combined household income exceeds 275% FPL, you would not qualify as non-needy. But the threshold is generous enough that most dual-income households still fall under it unless both earners have substantial incomes.

When the Threshold Might Be a Problem

The 275% FPL test counts all gross household income. If you have a working spouse, rental income, a pension, and Social Security, the total could push you above the line. In that case, the standard Child-Only TANF track may not be available.

However, the child may still qualify for Medicaid, Nevada Check Up, SNAP, free school meals, and other programs with different income thresholds. The 275% FPL test applies specifically to the TANF non-needy relative determination — it is not a universal cutoff for all assistance.

Our Nevada Kinship Financial Help Guide includes the full income threshold tables for every program, worksheets for calculating where your household falls, and a document checklist for the 275% FPL screening.

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