South Carolina Family Independence Program: How TANF Works for Relative Caregivers

Family Independence Is South Carolina's Name for TANF

If you've been searching for "TANF" in South Carolina and getting confused by results that mention "Family Independence," they're the same program. South Carolina officially calls its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance program the Family Independence (FI) program. It's administered by SCDSS under the TANF Policy Manual Volume 65, and the application is DSS Form 3800.

Knowing the local name matters because when you walk into a county DSS office or call the hotline, "Family Independence" is the term the caseworkers use. "TANF" is the federal program name.

The Two Tracks: Full Family vs. Child-Only

Family Independence has two distinct tracks, and the difference is enormous for kinship caregivers:

Full family (adult included): The relative caregiver is part of the assistance unit. The caregiver's income, savings, Social Security, pension — all counted. The maximum benefit for a 3-person household (caregiver + 2 children) is $449/month. The caregiver must meet work requirements and faces a 24-month time limit within any 10-year period, plus a 60-month federal lifetime limit.

Child-only (non-needy caretaker): The caregiver applies strictly on behalf of the child. The caregiver's income is 100% excluded. Only the child's own resources count — things like child support payments or survivor benefits paid to the child. Maximum monthly payment: $229 for one child, $308 for two, $388 for three. No work requirements. No time limits. The grant continues as long as the child is eligible and under 18 (or 19 if enrolled full-time in secondary school).

For most kinship caregivers — especially grandparents on fixed income — child-only is the right track. A retired grandmother receiving $2,400/month in Social Security applies for a child-only FI grant for her grandchild who has zero income. Her $2,400 is completely ignored. The child receives the full $229/month.

How to Apply

You can apply through three channels:

1. Online: benefits.sc.gov — the combined portal for Family Independence and SNAP
2. In person: Visit your county SCDSS office with a completed DSS Form 3800
3. By mail or fax: Send the completed Form 3800 to your county DSS office

The date your application is received — even if it only contains your name, address, and signature — becomes your protected filing date. Benefits are backdated to that date upon approval. SCDSS must process the application within 30 calendar days.

An intake interview (in person or by phone) is required before approval and at each 12-month recertification.

What You Need to Bring

• Child's identity: Birth certificate, hospital record, or school enrollment documents
• Child's Social Security number — or proof you've applied for one
• Proof of South Carolina residency: Utility bill, lease, or mortgage document
• Proof of your relationship to the child: Birth certificates linking generations, a Family Court order, a power of attorney under S.C. Code § 63-15-720, or a written statement from a school or medical provider confirming the child lives with you
• Child's income documentation: If the child receives survivor benefits, child support, or any other income, bring the award letters or payment records

You do not need a court custody order to apply for child-only Family Independence. Informal caregivers — grandparents raising a grandchild with no court involvement — are eligible.

The Income Rule That Trips People Up

The most common reason kinship caregivers lose money through Family Independence is getting placed on the wrong track. If a caseworker processes you under the full-family model instead of child-only, your Social Security, pension, or wages suddenly count — and you're likely over the income limit.

If you receive a denial letter and you know the child has little or no income, check whether your own income was counted. If it was, something went wrong. You have the right to request a fair hearing within 60 days of the denial notice. If you request a hearing within 10 calendar days of a notice reducing or closing an existing benefit, payments may continue at the previous level while the appeal is decided. If the agency's decision is upheld, you may have to repay an overpayment.

Child Support Cooperation

One requirement that catches some caregivers off guard: to receive Family Independence cash for a child, you must cooperate with SCDSS's Integrated Child Support Services Division. This means helping establish paternity (if needed) and assisting with collecting support from the non-custodial parent or parents.

There's an important exception. If cooperating with child support enforcement would put you or the child at risk of physical or emotional harm — for instance, if the absent parent was violent — you can request a Good Cause Exception. SCDSS must grant it if you provide supporting evidence.

How Family Independence Fits with Other Programs

• SNAP: You can apply for both on the same DSS Form 3800. But SNAP has different household rules — the caregiver's income counts when meals are shared.
• Medicaid: FI child-only payments are excluded from income for Partners for Healthy Children Medicaid.
• SC Voucher childcare: FI child-only payments are excluded from income for the childcare scholarship program.
• KinGAP: KinGAP payments are counted as unearned income for SNAP, which can reduce your food benefit. They don't affect FI eligibility.

For a full walkthrough of how to apply for Family Independence alongside every other benefit available to South Carolina kinship caregivers — including the documents you need, common caseworker errors to watch for, and what to do if something goes wrong — our guide covers the complete process.

See more South Carolina guides →