How Much Do Kinship Caregivers Get Paid in Oregon?

It Depends on How the Child Came to Live With You

There's no single answer to "how much does Oregon pay kinship caregivers" because the amount depends entirely on your care arrangement. The three payment tiers from lowest to highest:

TANF Child-Only Grants (Most Common)

If you took in a grandchild or relative's child through a private family arrangement — no ODHS involvement, no court order from child welfare — the primary cash benefit is TANF's child-only track. You apply as a non-needy caretaker relative, your income is excluded, and the grant is calculated based on the child's own income.

Maximum monthly amounts (no-adult payment standard, small household):

These are base rates for a small household. As total household size grows, the grant is prorated downward. A one-child grant in a five-person household drops to roughly $334–$360. In a household of six or more, it may be $264–$286.

Countable unearned income the child receives — such as child support or Social Security survivor benefits — is deducted dollar for dollar from the grant.

Foster Care Maintenance Payments

If ODHS Child Welfare placed the child in your home and you're certified as a relative foster parent, you receive foster care maintenance payments set by the child's age group under OAR Chapter 413:

• Ages 0–5: Baseline rate
• Ages 6–12: Higher tier
• Ages 13–18: Highest tier

Children with documented medical, developmental, or behavioral needs qualify for additional supplemental payments through the Child Assessment and Needs Tool (CANT). Qualified foster care maintenance payments are generally excluded from federal taxable income.

These rates are typically higher than TANF child-only grants — sometimes significantly so for older children or those with complex needs. But you must be in the ODHS foster care system with certification to access them.

Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP)

GAP provides the highest potential ongoing payment. It's individually negotiated between you and ODHS, and it can match the foster care maintenance rate the child would receive in a licensed home. Like foster care, GAP amounts are influenced by the child's age and assessed needs.

GAP requires: ODHS custody of the child, six months of certified relative foster care, permanency findings ruling out reunification and adoption, and a signed agreement before guardianship finalization. Private guardians cannot access GAP.

Beyond Cash: The Full Benefits Stack

Cash grants are only part of the picture. A kinship household can stack multiple programs:

A grandparent may qualify for the $456 TANF maximum for one child, SNAP based on household income, OHP coverage, and an ERDC subsidy with a family copay — even without being in the foster care system.

The Real Question

The answer to "how much will I get" depends on your household size, the child's age, whether ODHS is involved, and the child's individual needs. But the baseline for almost every kinship caregiver in Oregon: your grandchild likely qualifies for TANF cash, food assistance, full health coverage, and potentially childcare subsidies.

Apply through the ONE portal at one.oregon.gov — a single application covers TANF, SNAP, OHP, and ERDC.

The Oregon Kinship Financial Help guide breaks down every payment scenario by care arrangement type, with the exact income-counting rules and application steps for each program.

See more Oregon guides →