I am currently raising my grandchildren/relatives. Do I qualify for any financial assistance?

More than two million children in the United States are being raised by grandparents, other relatives, or close family friends. Relatives are the preferred resource for children who must be removed from their homes because kin caregivers can help maintain children's connections with their families, improve stability, and minimize the trauma of family separation.

Kinship care refers to the care of children by relatives or, in some jurisdictions, close family friends (often referred to as fictive kin). Kinship care may be informal, voluntary, or formal. This arrangement can occur with or without the involvement of a child welfare agency, depending on the situation.

Many grandparents or other relatives struggle with the cost of raising family members, but there are various programs available to assist with their basic family needs. Child Welfare Information Gateway, a service of the Children's Bureau, provides a factsheet, Kinship Caregivers and the Child Welfare System , that describes the various forms of kinship care and the types of financial support that may be available to relative caregivers.

The requirements for receiving these payments vary from state to state. Several factors, including the caregiver's income and the legal status of the caregiving arrangement, may determine a relative's eligibility for some type of financial support.

If you would like to learn more, you have several options. Some state websites provide information and links to relevant organizations. Many states have a kinship care contact that may be able to answer questions about financial assistance. The Information Gateway website provides a list of kinship care contacts and programs by state.

In addition, the Grandfamilies.org State Law and Policy Center compiles free and online resources in support of grandfamilies within and outside the child welfare system.

2-1-1 is a free social services hotline available in most states that connects callers with a wide range of community resources, including basic services and assistance benefits.

The USA.gov portal offers information on how to obtain a bank loan, housing, and other related topics.