How to Apply for a Child-Only Grant Online Through ACCESS HRA and myBenefits NY
Step-by-step guide for kinship caregivers to apply for child-only cash assistance online through ACCESS HRA in NYC or myBenefits.ny.gov upstate.
Blog
All articles about Financial Help for Grandparents and Relatives Raising a Child in New York.
Alternatives to Hiring an Attorney for Kinship Benefits in New York
You don't need a lawyer to apply for child-only cash assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, or childcare subsidies in New York. Here are the alternatives that cost less and work faster.
Best Kinship Benefits Resource for Grandparents on a Fixed Income in New York
If you are a grandparent on Social Security or a pension raising a grandchild in New York, here is the single best resource for getting the child every benefit they qualify for.
Child Care Assistance for Kinship Caregivers in New York (CCAP)
New York's CCAP childcare subsidy covers daycare and after-school for kinship caregivers. Income limits, copays, and when child-only grant recipients can qualify without separate work-hour requirements.
New York Child-Only Grant Amount — Monthly Payment by County
How much does the child-only grant pay in New York? Monthly amounts by county for NYC, Long Island, and upstate, plus how child income reduces the payment.
Child-Only Cash Assistance New York Income Rules
New York's child-only grant excludes the caregiver's income entirely. Learn exactly whose income counts, what offsets the grant, and how the budgeting works.
Child-Only Grant New York — How Non-Parent Caregivers Apply
New York's child-only grant varies by district; 2026–27 sample maximums for one child range from $411.70 to $511.70. Learn how relatives apply through LDSS-2921.
Child-Only Grant vs Household Grant in New York — What Is the Difference?
Explains the difference between a child-only Temporary Assistance grant and a household grant in New York, who qualifies for each, and why kinship caregivers almost always want the child-only track.
Documents Needed for a Child-Only Grant in New York
Complete document checklist for kinship caregivers applying for child-only cash assistance in New York — what to bring to DSS, what substitutes are accepted, and what you can skip.
Empire State Child Credit for Grandparents and Kinship Caregivers
New York's Empire State Child Credit pays up to $1,000 per child under 4. For children ages 4–16, the maximum is $330 for Tax Year 2025 and $500 for Tax Year 2026.
Grandparent Raising Grandchild Benefits New York — Full Program List
Every New York benefit available to grandparents raising grandchildren: cash grants, food stamps, Medicaid, childcare vouchers, tax credits, and heating assistance.
Grandparent Raising Grandchild Medicaid New York — How to Get Health Coverage
How grandparents get Medicaid or Child Health Plus for grandchildren in New York. MAGI household rules, premium tiers, and what happens with the tax-dependent question.
HEAP for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in New York
How kinship caregivers in New York can apply for HEAP home energy assistance, what counts as income, and how a small HEAP benefit boosts your SNAP allotment.
How to Apply for a Child-Only Grant in NY — Step by Step
Step-by-step instructions for filing Form LDSS-2921 as a non-parent caregiver in New York, from gathering documents to your DSS appointment.
How to Navigate New York Kinship Benefits When a Grandchild Is Placed Suddenly
A grandchild just arrived with no warning. Here is the exact order to apply for New York kinship benefits in the first 30 days — cash, food, health coverage, childcare.
KinGAP New York — Eligibility Requirements and Payment Rates
New York's KinGAP program pays 75–100% of the foster care rate after guardianship. Learn the six-month rule, rate mechanics, and who qualifies.
New York Kinship Care Application Process — What to Expect From DSS and Your Caseworker
Walk through the kinship care benefits application process in New York from filing to approval, including what happens at the caseworker interview and how long each step takes.
LDSS-2921 Form New York — Filing for a Child-Only Application
How to fill out Form LDSS-2921 as a non-parent caregiver in New York. Which sections to complete, which to skip, and what to bring to the intake interview.
New York County DSS and Social Services for Kinship Caregivers
How the county Department of Social Services works for kinship caregivers in New York — what DSS handles, how NYC differs from upstate, and how to navigate your local office.
New York Fictive Kin Benefits — Who Qualifies and What Is Available
What financial help is available to fictive kin raising a child in New York, how eligibility differs from blood relatives, and which programs recognize close family friends.
Kinship Benefits Guide vs Calling the County DSS Alone — New York
Your county Department of Social Services processes applications. A benefits guide prepares you to file the right one. Here is why the order matters for New York kinship caregivers.
New York Kinship Benefits Guide vs Family Lawyer — Which Do You Actually Need?
A family lawyer handles court petitions. A kinship benefits guide handles applications. Most grandparents raising grandchildren in New York need the applications first.
New York Kinship Care Financial Help — Programs by Care Arrangement
Financial help for kinship caregivers in New York depends on your care arrangement. Here's what's available for informal care, court custody, and foster placement.
New York Kinship Fair Hearing — What to Do When Benefits Are Denied
How to request a Fair Hearing in New York when your child-only grant or SNAP is denied. Deadlines, Aid Continuing, evidence rules, and the 10-day window.
Free Legal Help for Kinship Caregivers in New York
Where grandparents and relatives raising children in New York can get free legal help — from benefit denials and Fair Hearings to custody petitions and KinGAP.
New York Kinship Navigator — How to Use the Free Helpline and Resources
The NYS Kinship Navigator at 1-877-454-6463 provides free legal fact sheets, county referrals, and benefit guidance. Here's how to get the most from a call.
Recertification for the Child-Only Grant in New York
When and how to recertify a child-only cash assistance case in New York, what documents you need, and how to avoid losing benefits during the renewal.
Cash Assistance for Relative Caregivers in New York
How relatives raising a child in New York can get monthly cash assistance through the child-only grant — eligibility rules, grant amounts by county, and how to apply.
SNAP for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in New York
How New York SNAP works for grandparents raising grandchildren — household rules, senior income limits, deductions, and how to maximize your monthly food benefit.
Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in New York
How kinship caregivers in New York get Summer EBT food benefits for grandchildren, who qualifies automatically, and how to apply if your child is not auto-enrolled.
Benefits for Aunts, Uncles, and Siblings Raising a Child in New York
What financial help is available when an aunt, uncle, or older sibling raises a relative's child in New York — child-only grants, SNAP, Medicaid, and how eligibility rules differ from grandparents.