How to Apply for Child-Only TANF in Texas as a Grandparent or Relative

What Child-Only TANF Actually Is

Child-Only TANF is a monthly cash grant paid on behalf of a child living with a relative who is not the child's parent. The money comes from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), and the critical thing to understand is this: your income does not count. HHSC evaluates only the child's own income — typically child support, survivor benefits, or trust distributions — when deciding eligibility. A grandparent collecting Social Security or a working aunt with a full-time job can still qualify the child for the grant because HHSC treats the caregiver as a "payee," not an applicant.

The maximum monthly grant for one child is $132. For two children it rises to $191, for three to $267. These are not large sums, but the grant also automatically qualifies the child for Medicaid, and it has no lifetime time limit — unlike standard family TANF, which caps at 60 months.

Who Can Apply

Any relative caregiver can apply: grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, nieces, nephews, or first cousins. The child must be under 18 (or 18 and still enrolled full-time in high school or vocational training), living in Texas, and either a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen. The caregiver's own citizenship status is not evaluated.

You do not need a court order, guardianship, or formal custody. An informal arrangement — where the child simply lives with you — is enough to apply. A signed Chapter 34 Authorization Agreement gives you broader authority for school and medical decisions, but HHSC does not require it for Child-Only TANF.

Unrelated caregivers (family friends, godparents) cannot qualify for relative Child-Only TANF unless the child has been formally placed by DFPS.

How to Apply Through Your Texas Benefits

The fastest route is the Your Texas Benefits portal at yourtexasbenefits.com. You can also call 2-1-1 or visit your local HHSC office in person.

When you apply online, HHSC uses Form H1010 to collect household information. The form asks about everyone in the home, but make sure HHSC records you as a non-needy payee rather than including you in the TANF assistance unit. If the case is treated as a regular household TANF case, your income could be counted even though non-needy payee income is excluded.

To avoid this, make sure of three things when completing the H1010:

1. List yourself as the payee, not an applicant. The application should request benefits for the child only. You are the person who will receive and manage the money on the child's behalf.
2. Answer the form's income questions as requested, and identify yourself as the non-needy payee. Your income is relevant for SNAP if you apply simultaneously, but it should be excluded from the Child-Only TANF eligibility calculation.
3. Report the child's income accurately. If the child receives child support, Social Security survivor benefits, or any other income, list it. If the child has no income, say so.

Documents You Need

Bring or upload these when you apply:

• Proof of the child's identity (birth certificate, Social Security card)
• Proof of Texas residency (utility bill, lease, mail with your address)
• The child's income documentation, if any (child support records, SSA benefit letter)
• Proof of your relationship to the child (birth certificates that establish the family link)
• School enrollment verification if the child is 18

HHSC may also ask for immunization records and the child's citizenship or immigration documentation.

What Happens After You Apply

HHSC processes standard TANF applications within 30 calendar days. A caseworker may schedule a phone interview to verify the information on your H1010. During this interview, they will confirm the child's living situation and your role as payee.

If approved, payments arrive on a Lone Star Card (Texas EBT). The first month's payment is prorated from the application date or the 30th day after the file date under HHSC's eligibility-date rules. If the prorated amount comes to less than $10, HHSC skips that month and starts the full grant the following month.

Child Support Cooperation

Applying for Child-Only TANF triggers a child support cooperation requirement. HHSC will refer the case to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), which means you need to provide information about the child's biological parents so the state can pursue support.

If cooperating with child support enforcement puts you or the child at risk — because of domestic violence, abuse threats, or family safety concerns — you can request a Good Cause waiver. You submit evidence (a protective order, police report, or self-attestation) and HHSC decides whether to grant the exemption.

If one parent is already paying child support and you want to protect that arrangement while the state pursues the other parent, discuss this with your caseworker during the interview. The assignment rules can be confusing, and getting clarity upfront prevents surprises later.

The Complete Benefits Picture

Child-Only TANF is one piece of a larger set of Texas programs available to kinship caregivers. The child may also qualify for SNAP food benefits, Medicaid or CHIP, WIC if under five, and subsidized childcare through the Texas Workforce Commission. If DFPS placed the child in your home, you may be eligible for daily kinship reimbursements or Permanency Care Assistance.

Our Texas Kinship Financial Help Guide walks through every program, the eligibility rules, the application steps, and includes worksheets to track deadlines and organize your documents before you walk into the HHSC office.

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