1210 Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG)

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
TANF Policy Manual

Policy Title:

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG)

Effective Date:

October 2024

Chapter:

1200

Policy Number:

1210

Previous Policy Number(s):

MT 63

Updated or Reviewed in MT:

MT-78

Requirements

The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will provide the support necessary to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) so that children can be cared for in their homes or in the homes of relatives.

Basic Considerations

Georgia has a growing population of grandparents taking the role of caretaker for their grandchildren.

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) program

To assist grandparents who are raising their grandchildren in their homes, all Divisions in DHS along with the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) are collaborating and exploring ways in which we can help strengthen families headed by grandparents. DFCS will provide referrals to other divisions and DCSS as needed.

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Enhanced Financial Services

Two types of cash assistance are provided under the GRG program:

  1. GRG Monthly Subsidy Payment (MSP)

  2. GRG Crisis Intervention Services Payment (CRISP).

The purpose of DFCS in making the GRG MSP and the CRISP available to the eligible grandparents is to enable them to provide care for their grandchild in their grandparent’s home.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

DFCS will provide enhanced financial assistance in the form of a Monthly Subsidy Payment (MSP) and/or one-time Crisis Intervention Services Payment (CRISP) to a grandparent who is receiving or will be approved to receive TANF cash assistance for the grandchild and meets the following criteria:

  1. is a caretaker of his/her grandchild

  2. is 55 years of age or older, OR

  3. any age and is disabled,

  4. is not participating in an existing foster care program and not receiving per diem payments, and

  5. household income is less than 160% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

  6. parent of child is not in home (mother, father, or minor parent)

In the instance the applicant grandparent does not meet the age/disability requirement, but his/her spouse does, the GRG MSP/CRISP may be approved for the household. However, the spouse of the grandparent must be added in the Assistance Unit (AU) as a non-member and must meet all eligibility criteria for the program including the relationship requirement. Refer to Section 1335 Living with a Specified Relative, of the Policy Manual for Relationship Requirements.

Financial eligibility

For the purpose of determining financial eligibility, “household income” is defined as the income of the:

  • grandparent applying for assistance

  • spouse of the applicant grandparent and

  • grandchild for whom assistance is requested.

TANF cash assistance received by the AU is excluded from the budget while determining eligibility for the MSP or the CRISP.

Client statement of income can be accepted when determining eligibility for GRG cash assistance. Income that belongs to other persons living in the home is NOT counted for determining eligibility for GRG cash assistance payments.

Other Services

DFCS will provide specialized childcare services through the Child and Parent Services Program (CAPS) as part of the service provided to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.

Refer to CAPS manual for details.

Defining a Disability

An individual is considered disabled for TANF GRG if:

  • The disability type is either Physical, Mental or Blind

    AND

  • Disability duration is determined as permanent

    AND

  • The individual is receiving one of the following unearned income types:

    • SSI

    • Social Security (RSDI) Disability Benefit

    • Railroad Retirement

    • VA Disability 100%

    • Worker’s Compensation

    • Disability Insurance

The disability/age requirement pertains to the grandparent applying for GRG assistance or to the grandparent’s spouse who is living in the home and must meet all eligibility criteria for the program including the relationship requirement.

The GRG MSP

The GRG MSP is a cash payment of $100.00 per child, per month. It is always approved for the ongoing months and for a child:

  • who is living in the grandparent’s house and

  • for whom the grandparent or his/her spouse is receiving TANF benefits

The grandparent will continue receiving this payment as long as the child is living with the grandparent and the grandparent continues meeting all eligibility requirements for TANF cash assistance. However, a grandparent who chooses to accept GRG assistance will not have an option to be included in the TANF AU.

Eligibility Criteria for MSP

In order to qualify for GRG MSP, a grandparent or his/her spouse living in the home, must meet the following criteria:

  • the basic GRG eligibility criteria and

  • receive TANF cash assistance for the grandchild for whom assistance is requested

Case managers must inform the grandparent(s) of the impact of the MSP on their SNAP and/or Medicaid benefits and allow the grandparent(s) to decide if they still want to receive the MSP.

Guidelines for the Use of GRG MSP

The basic needs for which GRG MSP can be used may include but are not limited to:

  • shelter expense (rent, mortgage and utilities)

  • childcare fees

  • clothing

  • bedding, furniture and supplies, so the children can be placed or after the children have been placed

  • facilitate third party custody for relatives when all relevant parties agree upon the action. Payment for services such as mediation, Guardian Ad Litem (GAL), court facilitation and attorney fees

  • gas, bus vouchers and or car repairs and

  • transitional counseling for the grandparents and grandchildren to adjust to their new living arrangement

While the basic needs for which the GRG MSP can be used are noted, DFCS will not monitor how the eligible AU spends the MSP.

Standard of Promptness for MSP

The standard of promptness for the completion of an application for the MSP is 45 days from the date the request is received in the DFCS office in person or in writing.

However, all efforts should be made to accommodate new applicants who verify the need for the MSP.

The GRG CRISP

The GRG CRISP is designed to meet an emergency need of a grandparent who is raising a grandchild in his/her home. It is a one-time only cash payment.

One-time only condition may be waived if another grandchild moves in to live with the grandparent who has previously received CRISP for a different grandchild.

The CRISP can be approved at any time during the grandparent’s TANF eligibility, when an emergency exists.

CRISP Amount

In determining the GRG CRISP amount, the “AU” consists only of the grandchild for whom assistance is requested.

The CRISP amount is equal to four times the maximum TANF benefit amount for that AU size.

The CRISP provides cash assistance to help a grandparent pay the cost of emergency needs. This list is not all-inclusive:

  • shelter

  • utilities

  • school expenses (laptops and other school related items deemed necessary for crisis needs)

  • furniture

  • legal expenses associated with gaining formal custody

  • other additional expenses incurred when a grandchild comes to live with the grandparent.

Virtual learning was widely approved for many school districts during the COVID-19 pandemic. As previously stated in the list items above, internet connection fees and laptops can be considered as school expenses. These items have been determined as a crisis need and can be used as purchase items with CRISP funds.

Defining an Emergency Need

An emergency need is defined as the additional expenses associated with raising grandchildren on a fixed income. Emergency needs are verified by the client’s statement unless the statement is considered questionable. If questionable, one of the following sources of verification may be used:

  • lease agreement

  • utility bills

  • receipts associated with court fees for Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) process

  • receipts for furniture, bedding etc.

This list is not all-inclusive.

Eligibility Criteria for GRG CRISP

In order to qualify for the GRG CRISP, a grandparent must:

  • receive TANF,

  • meet the basic GRG eligibility criteria (Refer to the Basic Eligibility Criteria for GRG) and

  • present the existence of an emergency/crisis as a direct result of the grandchild living with the grandparent

Application for the CRISP must be made within a reasonable time of the occurrence of crisis.

Assistance through receipt of the CRISP must be the option of last resort. The CRISP can be approved only when all other potential sources of assistance have been exhausted. There can be no duplication of services provided to the AU.

Establishing the Emergency/Crisis

The determination of whether a situation constitutes an emergency/crisis for the AU is based on the applicant’s statement made in person or in writing when applying for the CRISP assistance. The applicant’s statement must identify the specific emergency/crisis.

Verifying the expense and determining the amount of the CRISP

The cost of eliminating the identified emergency/crisis can be verified though client statement unless questionable. The CRISP is paid in one lump sum based on the AU size.

Example: If an AU size of 2 is eligible for the CRISP, and that AU incurs an emergency/crisis expense, the CRISP payment amount for that AU size is $940. This amount is equivalent to the maximum TANF amount for an AU size of 2 for four months, which is paid to the AU.

Guidelines for the Use of the CRISP

The CRISP is intended to enable the AU to pay emergency needs incurred as a direct result of the grandchild coming to live with the grandparent. However, DFCS will not monitor how the eligible AU spends the CRISP.

Emergency needs can include, but are not limited to:

  • the first and last month’s rent or utility connections for a grandparent who must move into a larger apartment in order to take the grandchild into their homes, or

  • a one-time rent and/or utility assistance for a family at immediate risk of eviction and/or utility shut-off,

  • court expenses associated with gaining legal custody of the grandchild(ren),

  • School/education related expenses, or

  • Furniture/bedding.

The grandparent(s) may be eligible for the CRISP and the MSP if an emergency/crisis is a direct result of the grandchild(ren) living with the grandparent(s) arises and there are ongoing expenses associated with raising their grandchildren.

Standard of Promptness for CRISP

The standard of promptness for the completion of an application for the CRISP is 10 days from the date the request is received in the DFCS office in person or in writing.

If the TANF case is still pending and the family is deemed potentially eligible, then the GRG CRISP should be approved within 10-day SOP for CRISP.

Refer to Section 1105 Application Processing, for policy regarding the standard of promptness for applications.

The request for the GRG MSP and/or CRISP can be submitted on Form 297, Application for TANF, SNAP and Medical Assistance or orally by contacting the DFCS office.

If the grandchild leaves the custody of the grandparents who are receiving GRG cash payments, the grandparents must notify DFCS within 10 days of the departure from the home of the grandchild.

Failure to report

A failure to report the departure of the grandchild within 10 days may result in an overpayment. The grandparents will have to repay the GRG MSP if an extra payment is received due to the untimely report of the grandchild’s moving out of the home.

If the TANF case closes, the GRG MSP must also be terminated effective the month of the TANF closure.