North Dakota TANF Child-Only Grant for Kinship Caregivers

What a TANF Child-Only Grant Actually Means

When a grandparent or relative in North Dakota raises someone else's child, the state offers a specific form of cash help called a TANF child-only grant. The critical difference from regular TANF: the caregiver's income and assets are completely excluded from the eligibility calculation. Only the child's own income — things like Social Security survivor benefits paid in the child's name or trust fund earnings — counts toward the limit.

That means a retired grandparent living on Social Security and a pension can qualify their grandchild for monthly cash assistance regardless of the grandparent's personal finances. The TANF financial test compares countable income with the Basic Standard of Need for the child-only unit; the current standard is $366 per month for a one-child unit with no eligible caretaker, with other amounts for larger units.

Who Qualifies as a "Non-Needy Caretaker"

You don't need a court order to apply. North Dakota processes child-only TANF applications for informal caregivers, relatives with a Power of Attorney under N.D.C.C. 30.1-26-04, legal guardians, and custodians. The key requirement is that you're a relative providing day-to-day care and the child is living with you.

The child must be under 18 or still be expected to graduate high school by age 19. You'll need to show the child's residence in your home, a birth certificate, and documentation of parental absence. If the child has no countable income, the income test may be met, but the child must still meet resource and other TANF eligibility rules.

How Much the Grant Pays

Monthly benefit amounts are calculated by comparing the child's net countable income against North Dakota's Standard of Need for the household size. Cash is disbursed on the first working day of each month via the Way2Go Card debit card.

The exact amount depends on the child-only unit size and any income the child has. For a single child with no income, the grant equals the full Standard of Need for that unit.

No Work Requirements, No Lifetime Clock

This is one of the strongest features of a child-only grant. Because you're a non-recipient caretaker — meaning you don't receive TANF benefits for yourself — you are fully exempt from the JOBS program work requirements. No job searches, no training hours, no activity logs.

And the months the child receives benefits under a child-only grant do not count toward the federal 60-month lifetime TANF limit for adults. If the child's circumstances change years later and you need to apply for yourself, those child-only months haven't used up any of your time.

The Child Support Cooperation Requirement

One condition to know about: applying for TANF child-only triggers a requirement to cooperate with the North Dakota Child Support Division. The state will pursue paternity establishment and child support from the child's non-custodial parents.

If cooperating with child support enforcement would put you or the child at risk — for example, there's a history of domestic violence involving the parent — you can file a Good Cause Claim at your local Human Service Zone office. While the claim is under review, enforcement actions are suspended.

How to Apply

Submit your application through the North Dakota HHS Self-Service Portal online or by mailing a paper application to the Customer Support Center (P.O. Box 5562, Bismarck, ND 58506). Your local Human Service Zone processes the application and generally must issue a decision within 30 calendar days, except in extenuating circumstances.

Bring the child's birth certificate, proof of the child's residence in your home, and a statement documenting the parents' absence or inability to provide care. If the child receives any income, bring documentation of those amounts.

For the complete walkthrough of every financial benefit available to North Dakota kinship caregivers — including Kinship-ND reimbursements, Medicaid, SNAP, and the $2,500 guardianship legal fund — the North Dakota Kinship Financial Help guide covers each program, what to bring, and what to expect at your appointment.

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