Public Benefits Programs
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-02-19 10:25:44.352634-05:00
Raising a child can put a strain on your pocketbook. This is especially true if you are a grandparent raising a grandchild.
Many grandparents are retired when grandchildren come to live with them. Their incomes may be getting smaller each year. But that doesn’t stop their bills from growing bigger by the day. With grandchildren in the house, there’s more food to buy. The children need clothes and school supplies. And doctor bills can really do a number on the family budget.
Are you a grandparent raising grandchildren? Are you having trouble making ends meet? You may feel tempted to dip into your savings just to pay your bills. Try not to do that. You may regret it later. You may soon need that money to support your basic needs.
Getting Help
You do have options. You may be able to get some help from federal programs to pay your bills. The kind of help you can get will depend on how much money you have and where you live. Some programs will also look at other factors when deciding if they can help you.
There’s an easy way to find out if you can get help to pay your health, food, and energy bills. Fill out the simple confidential survey at Benefits QuickLINK. You will get a report that tells you who to call and where to go for help. The report also lists special programs for grandparents raising grandchildren.
Here are some of the programs that may be able to help you:
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
TANF gives cash assistance to families who don’t have much money. TANF money comes from the federal government. But each state runs its own program. There are two ways to apply for TANF benefits.
- You can apply for a “child-only” grant for the child you are raising. Many grandparents do this. Your state TANF agency will not look at your income when it decides if it can help you. It will only look at your grandchild’s income. Most children have little or no income. So your grandchild is more likely to qualify for this grant. The “child-only” grant won’t give you enough money to support your whole family.
- Your own income may be low enough to qualify you for a TANF family grant. This grant will give you more money than a “child only” grant will. But you will have to follow some TANF rules. First, you will have to look for a job. You may also have to take part in job training. Second, you will only be able to get this grant for five years.
You must decide which grant is best for you. Choose a “child only” grant and you won’t have to find a job or attend job training. Plus, the child you are raising will be able to get help for more than five years. But a “child only” grant won’t give you as much money as a family grant.
If your grandchild receives TANF, your state may try and get child support from your grandchild’s parents. Each state has its own way of getting parents to pay child support. You may want to check into this further before you apply for benefits.
Need more information?
Online: The federal Office of Family Assistance has information about TANF.
To apply: Call your local Department of Human Services.
Social Security
You don’t have to be retired to get Social Security. Some children can get these benefits if a parent has died or has a disability. The amount of money the children get will depend on how long the parent worked and how much the parent earned. Grandparents can apply for these benefits on behalf of the children in their care.
Your grandchildren may also be able to get Social Security benefits that are based on your own work record. They may get these benefits when you retire, become disabled or die. Your grandchildren can only get these benefits if you have adopted them or if their parents are dead or have disabilities.
Need more information? Visit the Social Security Administration (SSA) site or stop by your local SSA office. You can also call 1-800-772-1213.
Food Stamps
The Food Stamp Program gives out coupons or debit cards to families that have limited incomes. You use your coupon or card to buy food for your family. The amount of help you get depends on the income of everyone in your household. It also depends on the size of your family.
Need more information? Visit the Food Stamp Program Website. Call 1-800-221-5689 to find your local food stamp agency.
The Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
WIC can help you buy food for eligible grandchildren in your care. The child must be five years old or younger. He or she must also be at risk for poor nutrition.
Does your grandchild get help from TANF? Then he or she will probably be eligible for WIC, too. The child must see a health professional first. This could be a doctor, nurse or nutritionist. This professional will decide if the child is at risk for poor nutrition. This exam is free. It takes place at a WIC clinic.
Need more information? Visit the WIC Website to find your state’s toll-free number.
Earned Income Tax Credit
Did you know that the IRS may give you money back if you have a child living with you? You must have a job to get the Earned Income Tax Credit. Are you a taxpayer with one child? You must earn less than $29,666 to get the credit. Are you a taxpayer with more than one child? You can’t earn more than $33,692.
You may also be eligible for the Child Tax Credit. This credit lets you subtract $1,000 from your Federal tax bill for each child in your care. The child must be a citizen. He or she must be younger than 17. You must claim the child as a dependent on your tax form.
Need more information? Visit the IRS Website. You can also call 1-800-829-1040.
AARP Resources
Managing the Money You Earn
To reach your financial goals, you’ve got to manage your money – by saving, investing, borrowing wisely, and getting the right advice.
Low Income Help
Browse a host of articles about Medicaid, Medicare, Food Stamps, and the Senior Community Service Employment Program.
State Fact Sheets for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children
AARP and several of its partners compiled fact sheets for each state that gives information about resources and services for grandfamilies. The fact sheets also provide information about state policies, public benefit programs, and state kinship care laws.
Children’s Defense Fund
Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is a national child advocacy organization whose mission is to Leave No Child Behind®. Check out CDF’s four public benefits guides for grandparents and other relatives raising grandchildren. The guides discuss health insurance, child care, children with disabilities, and food and nutrition.
Generations United
Generations United is a national organization that promotes intergenerational strategies, programs, and policies. This site has several fact sheets about grandparents and other relatives raising grandchildren.
Grand Parent Again
Visit this Web site for information about education, legal support, support groups, and other organizations for grandparents raising grandchildren.
Benefits QuickLINK
The AARP Foundation offers a free service to help older Americans and their families identify state and federal assistance programs. The survey is confidential and takes only a few minutes to complete.
preview