Tennessee Financial Help for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

The Programs You Probably Don't Know About

When a grandchild suddenly moves in, the immediate costs hit fast — food, clothing, diapers, a bed, school supplies, doctor visits. Tennessee has multiple programs that can help cover these costs, but they're scattered across different agencies with different applications, different income rules, and different requirements. Many grandparents apply for one and miss three others they also qualify for.

Here's the full map, organized by what each program covers and what it takes to get in.

Cash Assistance: Families First Child-Only

This is often the first program to apply for. Through the Department of Human Services (TDHS), a grandparent or relative can apply for a child-only Families First grant that completely ignores the caregiver's income. Only the child's own income (child support, survivor benefits) is evaluated.

Monthly payments: $240 for one child, $292 for two, $332 for three. No work requirement, no time limit. Available with informal care, a Power of Attorney, or a court order.

Apply through ONE DHS at onedhs.tn.gov.

The Relative Caregiver Program

The Department of Children's Services (DCS) funds the Relative Caregiver Program through contracted agencies across all 95 counties. It has two tiers:

Supportive services (no court order needed): Case management, support groups, respite care, and emergency financial aid for concrete needs — beds, clothing, utility arrears, school supplies. Income must be at or below 200% FPL for emergency aid.

Monthly stipend (court custody order required): 50% of the foster care board rate, paid monthly. The caregiver must be 21+, hold a court custody order, and have income at or below 200% FPL. A waitlist exists in some regions.

Call the statewide RCP line at 833-984-1498.

Health Coverage: TennCare and CoverKids

Children ages 6 through 18 qualify for TennCare Medicaid up to 133% FPL, children ages 1 through 5 up to 142% FPL, and infants under 1 at a higher income limit. CoverKids CHIP covers children up to 250% FPL. The caregiver's income is excluded when the caregiver doesn't claim the child as a tax dependent — only the child's income matters.

Apply through TennCare Connect at tenncareconnect.tn.gov (separate from ONE DHS).

Food Assistance: SNAP

SNAP is available through TDHS, but unlike Families First, it counts the caregiver's income when you purchase and prepare food together (which is the norm). The gross income limit is 130% FPL for the household. The resource limit is $2,000 unless all household members receive Families First or SSI.

Children in SNAP households automatically qualify for free school meals through Direct Certification, and during summer receive SUN Bucks food credits ($120 per child).

WIC

Children under 5 qualify for WIC through county health departments at 185% FPL. Children already receiving SNAP, Families First, or TennCare automatically meet the WIC income test.

Childcare Assistance

TDHS offers subsidized childcare through three routes:

• ARCO — for caregivers with an active Families First child-only case working 30+ hours/week
• Smart Steps — for working or student caregivers under 85% of State Median Income
• DCS referral — direct referral for children placed through the child welfare system

Apply through ONE DHS.

Title III-E Caregiver Support (Age 55+)

Grandparents and relatives age 55+ can access respite vouchers, counseling, support groups, and supplemental grants through Tennessee's Area Agencies on Aging and Disability. These services are non-means-tested. Call 1-866-836-6678.

Emergency Help

There's no single statewide emergency fund, but several options exist: RCP emergency aid (for non-custodial relatives at or below 200% FPL), LIHEAP energy assistance ($174-$750 per household per year for families at or below 60% SMI), local Community Action Agencies, and the United Way's 211 referral line.

Subsidized Permanent Guardianship

SPG payments are negotiated up to the child's foster care maintenance rate, with Medicaid, but the program is only available when the child exits DCS state custody through a formal guardianship. This isn't accessible to grandparents who took a child in independently. Post-guardianship support is available through the GSAP program at 1-888-848-2727.

Where to Start

The most practical sequence for a grandparent who just took in a grandchild:

1. Apply for Families First child-only cash and SNAP on ONE DHS (same form)
2. Apply for TennCare/CoverKids on TennCare Connect
3. Call your regional RCP agency for emergency aid and supportive services
4. If the child is under 5, contact your county health department for WIC
5. If you need childcare, apply through ONE DHS for ARCO or Smart Steps

The Tennessee Kinship Financial Help Guide walks through every program in the order you'd apply, with the documents needed at each step, an income worksheet showing which programs count your income and which don't, and a tracker to log every submission and deadline.

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