SNAP Benefits for Kinship Care in North Dakota

How SNAP Treats Kinship Households

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in North Dakota uses household-based rules that differ from TANF child-only rules. People who live together and buy and prepare food together are generally one household. A child under 18 who lives with and is financially or otherwise dependent on an adult household member must be included even when food is bought and prepared separately. That means a grandparent's income — Social Security, pension, wages — usually does count toward the SNAP eligibility calculation.

This catches many kinship caregivers off guard. With TANF child-only, the caregiver's income is excluded entirely. With SNAP, the household income picture includes everyone who eats together.

The Key Distinction: Separate Purchase and Preparation

People living together may form separate SNAP households when they buy and prepare food separately, unless they are required members of the same household. An individual age 60 or older (and their spouse) may also be a separate household if they cannot prepare meals because of a permanent disability as defined by the Social Security Act, or a severe permanent disability not related to a disease, and the other household members' gross income does not exceed 165% of the federal poverty level.

What Counts and What Doesn't

For the household income test, SNAP counts gross earned income (wages, self-employment) and unearned income (Social Security, pensions, child support received, unemployment). Standard deductions reduce the countable amount — a standard deduction, an earned income deduction, dependent care costs, excess shelter costs, and medical expenses over $35 per month for elderly or disabled household members.

For households subject to SNAP's resource test, savings accounts are countable and the home with surrounding property is excluded. Vehicles are evaluated separately: each vehicle that is not otherwise excluded receives a $4,650 exclusion.

Applying Alongside TANF Child-Only

You can receive both TANF child-only cash assistance and SNAP at the same time. They're independent programs with different income rules. Many kinship caregivers apply for both using the same unified application through the HHS Self-Service Portal or a paper form mailed to the Customer Support Center.

The TANF child-only grant pays cash for general expenses; SNAP goes onto an EBT card for food purchases only. Between the two, plus the Kinship-ND $800 expense reimbursement, a relative caregiver can layer three separate forms of support.

How to Apply

Submit through the North Dakota HHS Self-Service Portal online or mail a paper application to the Customer Support Center (P.O. Box 5562, Bismarck, ND 58506). Your local Human Service Zone processes the application and conducts the eligibility interview. Standard processing time is 30 calendar days; eligible households may receive expedited processing within seven calendar days.

Bring proof of household income for everyone living in the home, proof of shelter costs (rent or mortgage, utilities), and identification for each household member. If you're claiming the child as part of your household, bring the child's birth certificate and documentation of your caregiving arrangement.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of how SNAP fits alongside TANF, Medicaid, CCAP, and the Kinship-ND reimbursement programs — including what to bring to each appointment — see the North Dakota Kinship Financial Help guide.

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