Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program: Financial Help for Relatives Raising a Child

If you're a grandparent or older relative raising a grandchild in Pennsylvania, there's a state program that can reimburse you for childcare costs, respite care, and even home modifications — and most kinship caregivers have never heard of it. The Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program (CSP) operates through your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA), and it's funded through Title III-E of the Older Americans Act and expanded by Pennsylvania's Act 20 of 2021.

Who Qualifies for CSP Category 2

CSP has a specific "Category 2" track designed for older relatives raising children. Four conditions must be met:

• You must be 55 or older. This is a firm statutory threshold — caregivers under 55 should look at other programs like Child-Only TANF or SNAP instead.
• You must be related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption. Biological parents are excluded.
• The child must be under 18.
• You and the child must live together in the same primary residence. You do not need legal guardianship or a formal custody order — informal caregiving qualifies.

That last point matters. Many grandparents assume they need court papers before they can access any financial help. CSP doesn't require them.

What CSP Pays For

CSP works as a reimbursement program, not a direct cash grant. You pay for approved expenses, submit receipts, and the AAA reimburses you. Covered costs include:

• Respite care (so you can take a break while someone watches the child)
• Childcare and after-school programs
• Educational supplies and youth camp fees
• Home modifications needed to accommodate the child (think safety gates, a bedroom conversion, or accessibility improvements)

Under Act 20 of 2021, the program allows up to $600 per month for ongoing costs and up to $5,000 lifetime for home modifications or assistive devices.

How Much You Get Back Depends on Income

The reimbursement percentage is scaled against household income relative to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL):

• At or below 200% FPL: 100% reimbursement for approved expenses, up to the program caps.
• Above 200% through 380% FPL: Partial reimbursement on a sliding scale — you'll have a co-payment.
• Above 380% FPL: No financial reimbursement, but you still get care management, service coordination, and respite referrals.

For context, 200% FPL for a household of two in 2026 is $43,280 in annual income. Many kinship caregivers on Social Security or a pension fall below this line.

How to Apply

1. Find your local AAA. Pennsylvania has 52 Area Agencies on Aging organized by county or region. The Department of Aging has a searchable directory, or you can call the PA Link to Aging and Disability Resources at 1-800-753-8827.
2. Contact the AAA's caregiver support coordinator. Tell them you're a relative age 55 or older raising a grandchild (or other related child) and want to apply for Category 2 CSP.
3. Complete the intake assessment. The AAA will verify your age, relationship to the child, shared residence, and household income.
4. Get your care plan approved. Once enrolled, you'll work with the coordinator to identify which expenses qualify and set up reimbursement procedures.

Urban AAAs like the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging and Allegheny County AAA have dedicated kinship intake staff and sometimes run legal clinics for kinship caregivers. Rural AAAs cover wider territories, so response times vary.

Important Limits to Know

CSP is funded by annual legislative appropriations and local AAA budgets. Act 20 explicitly states the program creates no statutory entitlement — meaning funds can run out, and waitlists exist in some counties. If your AAA has exhausted its CSP allocation for the fiscal year, you may need to wait for the next funding cycle.

Also, CSP reimbursement is separate from other benefits. Receiving CSP does not affect your eligibility for Child-Only TANF, SNAP, or Medical Assistance for the child.

What If You're Under 55?

CSP's age threshold leaves out younger kinship caregivers — aunts in their 40s, adult siblings, family friends. If that's you, focus on Child-Only TANF (no age requirement for specified relatives), SNAP, and Child Care Works subsidies. PA KinConnector (1-866-546-2111) can also connect you with county-specific emergency resources.

For a complete walkthrough of every PA program available to kinship caregivers — TANF, SNAP, CHIP, CSP, Child Care Works, and emergency resources — with application checklists and worked examples, the Pennsylvania Kinship Financial Help Guide puts it all in one place.

See more Pennsylvania guides →