How much kinship care pays in Pennsylvania depends on which arrangement you have. Licensed kinship foster parents receive the same daily foster care per diem as any other foster parent in their county, with the amount varying by the child’s age and level of need. Permanent legal custodians receive a monthly subsidy that cannot exceed that same foster care rate. Informal caregivers who never go through the child welfare system can apply for a TANF child-only grant, a smaller monthly cash benefit based on the child’s income rather than yours.
Pennsylvania does not publish a single statewide rate schedule for foster family care, so the exact dollar figure for your situation has to come from your County Children and Youth Services agency.
Payments for Licensed Kinship Foster Parents
State law requires that relatives who meet foster parent licensing standards receive the same foster care rate as non-relative foster parents in their county.1Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Kinship Care Laws, Procedural Rules, and Cases – Act 25 of 2003 You are not paid less because you are related to the child.
The daily per diem is set at the county level and rises with the child’s age and care needs. Children who require more intensive support receive a higher rate. To find out what you would actually be paid, contact the Children and Youth Services agency in the county where the child’s case is handled.
On top of the per diem, the county agency typically covers the child’s medical, dental, and clothing costs.2Luzerne County. Luzerne County Children and Youth – Kinship Care Those extras can substantially reduce what comes out of your pocket beyond the cash payment itself.
Payments Under Subsidized Permanent Legal Custodianship
Subsidized Permanent Legal Custodianship (SPLC) is for kinship caregivers who take permanent legal custody of a child who was previously in foster care. It pays a monthly subsidy without the ongoing case reviews that come with an active placement.
The monthly SPLC payment cannot exceed the foster care maintenance payment the child would have received in a foster family home in that county.3Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Title IV-E Manual Chapter 4 – SPLC Policy Bulletin The actual amount is negotiated between you and the county agency based on the child’s needs and your family’s circumstances. If the child doesn’t qualify for the federal (Title IV-E) version of SPLC, the county evaluates whether the child qualifies for a state-funded SPLC subsidy instead.4Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. 850.8 Permanent Legal Custodianship PLC
SPLC also reimburses up to $2,000 per child for non-recurring expenses tied to obtaining legal custody, including court filing fees, attorney fees, and home study fees.3Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Title IV-E Manual Chapter 4 – SPLC Policy Bulletin Counties cannot set a lower cap.
One catch worth knowing before you agree to a subsidy amount: if the child receives SSI, the Social Security Administration reduces the SSI payment dollar for dollar by the amount of the federal SPLC subsidy. That can wipe out much of the financial benefit for a child who is already receiving SSI.
TANF Child-Only Grants for Informal Caregivers
If you are caring for a relative’s child informally, or you have custody but are not a licensed foster parent, a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families child-only grant is usually the most accessible cash support. These grants are based on the child’s income alone, so your income as the caregiver generally does not count against eligibility. Most children placed with relatives qualify.5U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Children in TANF Child-Only Cases with Relative Caregivers
The monthly amount is modest compared with foster care per diems. Pennsylvania sets TANF payment standards by family size, and a case covering one child pays less than one covering several. You can apply through the COMPASS portal or at your local County Assistance Office.6Department of Human Services. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families TANF
The standard TANF application asks for caregiver income and asset details. For a child-only grant, much of that information is not relevant to the child’s eligibility, but the form doesn’t make that clear. If you’re not sure which fields apply, call the KinConnector helpline before you submit.
Medical Coverage That Comes With Each Track
Children in formal foster care placements, including those with kinship foster parents, receive Medical Assistance (Medicaid) in Pennsylvania at no cost to the caregiver. That covers doctor visits, dental, prescriptions, and mental health services.
For children in SPLC arrangements, Medicaid eligibility is tied to the subsidy agreement. The federal SPLC agreement must reflect at least a $1 monthly payment for the child to remain eligible for Medicaid.3Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Title IV-E Manual Chapter 4 – SPLC Policy Bulletin Never agree to a $0 subsidy without knowing what you’d give up.
Children in informal kinship care may qualify for Medical Assistance or CHIP based on household income. Apply through the same COMPASS portal used for TANF.
Tax Treatment of These Payments
Foster care payments received by a licensed kinship foster parent are excluded from gross income under Section 131 of the Internal Revenue Code, which covers both the basic maintenance payment and any additional difficulty-of-care payments.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 131 – Certain Foster Care Payments The exclusion applies whether or not you are related to the child, as long as the payment comes through a state foster care program.
TANF child-only grants are generally not treated as taxable income to the caregiver, since the benefit belongs to the child. SPLC subsidies follow the same pattern as foster care payments. Most kinship care payments in Pennsylvania will not increase your federal tax bill.
Separately, you may be able to claim the child as a dependent if you provide more than half the child’s support and the child lives with you more than half the year, which can unlock the child tax credit and, if you qualify, the earned income tax credit. Foster care payments you receive count as support you provided, not as third-party support, for the dependency test.
Who Qualifies to Receive These Payments
Pennsylvania defines “kin” broadly, including blood or marriage relatives, godparents recognized by an organized church, members of the child’s tribe or clan, and people with a significant positive relationship with the child or family.8Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure – Family Finding
To draw a foster care per diem or an SPLC subsidy, you must be at least 21, get a physician’s clearance confirming you can care for children and are free from communicable disease,9Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin. 55 Pennsylvania Code 3700.62 – Foster Parent Requirements pass criminal history, child abuse, and FBI fingerprint clearances, and have a home that meets basic health and safety standards. The child must also be found dependent by a court and placed through the county child welfare agency.3Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Title IV-E Manual Chapter 4 – SPLC Policy Bulletin TANF child-only grants do not require a court dependency finding.
How to Apply
Foster Care and SPLC Payments
Contact your local County Children and Youth Services agency. When a child is removed from the home or at risk, the agency must give first consideration to relatives and must make documented efforts to identify and notify grandparents and other adult relatives within 30 days.10Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Kinship Care Laws, Procedural Rules, and Cases – Act 95 of 2015 That notice must explain the requirements for becoming a foster parent or permanent legal custodian and the financial supports available.
If you are already caring for the child informally when the agency becomes involved, tell them right away that you want to be considered as a formal placement. Many kinship families miss out on payments simply because they didn’t know to ask.
TANF Child-Only Grants
Apply online through the COMPASS portal or at your local County Assistance Office. You do not need to go through the child welfare system first. Bring documentation that the child lives with you and any information about the child’s own income. Processing typically takes 30 days.
If You’re Not Sure Which Track Applies
Pennsylvania operates the KinConnector helpline, staffed by Kinship Navigators who help relatives locate financial assistance, legal services, health coverage, support groups, and training.11Penn State Extension. Kin Connector Helpline Pennsylvania If you’re unclear on which arrangement fits your situation or which benefit will pay you the most, that is the best single call to make. Navigators can walk you through applications and connect you to county-specific resources.