The Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) is designed to provide financial assistance to relatives who are raising children outside of the traditional foster care system. This program recognizes the importance of family connections and aims to support children in remaining within their family network when their parents are unable to care for them. However, to ensure that the program effectively supports those most in need, specific eligibility criteria must be met. This article will detail the conditions that families must satisfy to qualify for the Kinship Care Subsidy Program.
To be considered eligible for KCSP, families must fulfill every single one of the following requirements:
Relationship to the Child: The program is specifically for children living with qualified relatives. These relatives include:
- Grandparents (extending to great-great-great grandparents)
- Siblings (including half-siblings and step-siblings)
- Aunts and Uncles (extending to great-great aunts and uncles)
- First Cousins (including first cousins once removed)
- Nieces and Nephews (extending to great-great nieces and nephews)
- Legal spouses of any of the relatives listed above, even if the marriage has ended due to death or divorce.
This broad definition of qualified relatives highlights the program’s commitment to keeping children within their extended family network, recognizing the stability and familiarity this can provide.
Child’s Income: To ensure the subsidy reaches families who genuinely need financial support, the child’s income is assessed. A child is eligible only if their monthly income is less than $450. This income limit focuses the program on supporting children who do not have substantial independent financial resources.
Age of the Child: The Kinship Care Subsidy Program is intended for minor children. Therefore, to be eligible, the child must be under 18 years of age. This age limit aligns with the general understanding of childhood and dependency.
Residency Requirement: The KCSP is typically a state-specific program. In this case, to be eligible, the child must be a resident of Louisiana. This residency requirement ensures that state resources are directed towards children living within the state.
Legal Custody: Legal custody is a crucial aspect of eligibility. The qualified relative must have legal custody of the child or obtain it within one year of being certified for the program. Legal custody can be established through court records or, in some cases, through provisional custody by mandate. Provisional custody by mandate involves a notarized authorization from the person with existing custodial rights, granting the relative the authority to care for the child. This requirement ensures a legally recognized and stable caregiving arrangement.
Relative’s Income: The financial need of the caregiving relative is also a key consideration. The qualified relative’s annual income must be less than 150% of the federal poverty threshold, adjusted for family size. This income assessment takes into account income from various sources, including Social Security, Veteran’s benefits, Railroad Retirement, wages, and other regular income streams. Importantly, income received for children through foster care payments or SSI is not counted towards this income limit. This income threshold is designed to support relatives who may face financial strain in taking on the responsibility of raising a child.
Exclusion of Other Government Assistance: To avoid duplication of benefits, children receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or foster care payments are not eligible for the Kinship Care Subsidy Program. This exclusion ensures that resources are distributed effectively and that families are not receiving overlapping support from different programs.
Child Support Assignment and Cooperation: To ensure that all potential avenues of financial support are explored, the qualified relative is required to assign to the state any rights to child support from the child’s parents and cooperate with Child Support Enforcement efforts. The only exception to this requirement is if there is a documented “good cause” reason for non-cooperation, which is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Social Security Number Requirement: For administrative and tracking purposes, the qualified relative must furnish or apply for a Social Security number for the child. This is a standard requirement for many government assistance programs.
Parental Absence from the Home: Finally, and crucially, the child’s parent(s) must not reside in the home of the qualified relative. The Kinship Care Subsidy Program is intended to support situations where parents are unable to provide care, and the child is being raised by a relative in the parent’s absence. If the parent(s) live in the home, the situation may fall under different support programs or family assistance models.
By meeting all of these conditions, families can access the Kinship Care Subsidy Program and receive vital financial assistance to support the well-being and upbringing of children within a loving and familiar family environment. Understanding these eligibility criteria is the first step in accessing this important resource.
