SNAP Food Stamps for a Grandparent Raising a Grandchild in Massachusetts

Why SNAP Works Differently From TAFDC

This is the rule that confuses more kinship families than any other in Massachusetts: TAFDC completely ignores a grandparent's income when calculating a child-only grant, while SNAP may count it when the grandparent and child are in the same SNAP household.

The reason is structural. TAFDC is a state-administered cash program with explicit child-only provisions that exclude the caregiver from the assistance unit. SNAP is a federal program governed by USDA rules, and those rules generally group people who live together and customarily purchase and prepare food together. A grandparent and grandchild who share food buying and preparation are generally one SNAP household.

When you and your grandchild are in the same SNAP household, your Social Security, pension, wages, and other income go into the eligibility calculation alongside the child's income (if any). The household's total gross and net income are measured against federal SNAP income limits.

What This Means for Your Benefit Amount

For many kinship families, the grandparent's income pushes the SNAP household over the income threshold, resulting in a small benefit or none at all. In a household where they are in the same SNAP unit, a grandmother receiving $2,000 per month in Social Security may qualify for a $528 TAFDC child-only cash grant for one grandchild while receiving little or no SNAP — because her $2,000 counts toward the SNAP limit.

Still, it is worth applying. DTA evaluates TAFDC and SNAP on the same application, and the math occasionally works out better than expected after SNAP deductions are applied.

SNAP Deductions That Can Help

SNAP calculates net income after subtracting several deductions:

• Standard deduction — a flat amount based on household size
• Earned income deduction — 20% of gross wages (only relevant if you work)
• Dependent care deduction — out-of-pocket childcare costs while you work or attend training
• Excess shelter deduction — if your rent, mortgage, or utilities exceed roughly half your net income after other deductions, the excess is deducted (up to a cap, which is higher for elderly or disabled households)
• Medical expense deduction — for household members aged 60+ or disabled, out-of-pocket medical costs over $35 per month are deducted

These deductions can bring a household that appears over the gross income limit back into eligibility. The shelter and medical deductions are particularly relevant for grandparents who pay high rent or have prescription costs.

Expedited SNAP for Very Low-Income Households

If the kinship household has less than $150 in gross monthly income and $100 or less in liquid assets, SNAP benefits must be issued under expedited processing within 7 calendar days. This is relevant when a child arrives suddenly and the grandparent's only income has not yet started or is temporarily interrupted.

Can I Apply for SNAP Just for the Grandchild?

Under the ordinary household rule, you cannot separate a minor grandchild into their own one-person SNAP household when you live together and customarily purchase and prepare food together. The household rule applies regardless of the child-only TAFDC case structure.

An older or severely disabled caregiver may qualify for a separate household if they are age 60 or older or severely disabled, purchase and prepare food separately, and the other residents' gross income is no more than 165% of the federal poverty level.

Apply Anyway

Even if you suspect the benefit will be small, there are two reasons to include SNAP on your DTA application:

1. TAFDC cash is counted as income for SNAP — but the combined calculation still sometimes produces a small SNAP allotment that helps stretch the grocery budget.
2. Circumstances change. If your income drops (a pension adjustment, a medical leave), having an active SNAP case means DTA can increase the benefit without starting from scratch.

The Massachusetts kinship financial help guide includes a side-by-side income-counting comparison for TAFDC, SNAP, and MassHealth — showing exactly how the same income is treated under each program — plus a deduction worksheet so you can estimate your SNAP eligibility before you apply.

See more Massachusetts guides →