Subsidized Permanent Legal Custodianship (SPLC) in Pennsylvania

Subsidized Permanent Legal Custodianship is one of the most misunderstood programs in Pennsylvania's kinship care system. Caregivers hear about the monthly subsidy and assume they can apply on their own — but SPLC is exclusively a child welfare permanency option, not something a private caregiver can petition for independently.

What SPLC Actually Is

SPLC (governed by 62 P.S. § 2306) and the federal Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP) provide monthly financial subsidies to relative caregivers who take permanent legal custody of a child who was in the formal foster care system. The subsidy is meant to prevent the child from lingering in foster care when a loving relative is willing to provide a permanent home but cannot absorb the full financial burden.

The program provides a monthly subsidy under an agreement with the county Children and Youth Services (CYS) agency. Ask CYS to explain the proposed amount, duration, and any conditions in writing before relying on it.

The Five Requirements

SPLC is not an open application process. Every one of these prerequisites must be met in sequence:

1. The child must be adjudicated dependent by the Juvenile Court under 42 Pa.C.S. Chapter 63. This means CYS filed a dependency petition, a judge found the child dependent, and the child entered the formal child welfare system.

2. CYS must have placed the child with you. The county agency — not you, not a parent — made the placement decision and assigned the child to your home as a kinship foster placement.

3. You must be approved as a kinship foster parent. This means completing the foster home licensing process, including background checks, home inspection, and training. The 2023 federal rule (88 FR 66700) allows states to use flexible, relative-specific licensing standards, but you still must go through the process.

4. You must have cared for the child in foster status for at least six consecutive months. This clock starts when CYS formally places the child in your licensed home, not when you informally began caring for them.

5. Reunification and adoption must be ruled out. The permanency plan must document that returning the child to their parents is no longer the goal and that adoption is not appropriate or desired.

After the eligibility prerequisites are met, the SPLC agreement must be executed between DHS/CYS and the caregiver before the court grants permanent legal custody and terminates dependency.

Why Private Custody Filers Do Not Qualify

If you filed a private custody complaint under Title 23, Chapter 53 — without CYS involvement, without a dependency adjudication, without foster licensing — you are on the private custody track. The SPLC subsidy is not available to you. This is the single most common source of confusion.

The distinction exists because SPLC is funded through federal Title IV-E dollars and state child welfare allocations, both of which require formal child welfare system involvement as a condition of payment.

If you already have a private custody order, that order alone does not qualify you for SPLC. Eligibility depends on the required dependency, CYS placement, kinship-foster-care, and permanency steps.

What Private Kinship Caregivers Can Access Instead

Private caregivers who do not qualify for SPLC still have access to significant support:

• Child-Only TANF through the County Assistance Office — evaluates only the child's income, not yours
• Medical Assistance or CHIP for the child's healthcare
• SNAP benefits if your household income qualifies
• Pennsylvania's Caregiver Support Program through Area Agencies on Aging for grandparents age 55+
• PA KinConnector (866-546-2111) for referrals to local support services, respite care, and support groups

These benefits do not replace the SPLC subsidy in dollar terms, but they provide real financial relief.

Should You Involve CYS?

If your grandchild is at genuine risk of abuse or neglect and you have not yet filed for private custody, contacting ChildLine (1-800-932-0313) to report the situation may be appropriate. A CYS investigation may lead to a dependency case, but that alone does not establish SPLC eligibility. The program also requires CYS placement, approved kinship foster care for at least six consecutive months, and the other permanency prerequisites.

This is a significant decision. Involving CYS means the state has formal authority over the child's case, with its own timelines, requirements, and oversight. For many families, private custody is the faster, simpler, and more autonomous path — even without the SPLC subsidy.

Our Pennsylvania Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide covers the private custody process in detail, including how to access every available benefit along the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the SPLC subsidy?

The amount is set under the applicable program terms and agreement with CYS. Ask the county agency what amount and duration would apply to your case and request the terms in writing.

Can I get SPLC if I was never a foster parent?

No. SPLC requires at least six months of licensed kinship foster care before the custodianship is finalized. If you went directly to private custody without CYS placement and foster licensing, the SPLC pathway is not available.

Does SPLC end parental rights?

Not necessarily. SPLC ends the dependency case and transfers permanent legal custody to you, but it does not automatically terminate parental rights. Parents may retain residual rights unless a separate termination proceeding has occurred.

See more Pennsylvania guides →