Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (KIN-GAP)

KINSHIP GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE PAYMENT (KIN-GAP)
FACT SHEET

The Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) program was established by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and initiated effective January 1, 2000. The intent of the Kin-GAP program is to establish financial assistance for relative caregivers who are granted legal guardianship by the dependency court and to allow the termination of dependency court jurisdiction.

• The relative caregiver may have received either AFDC-FC (Youakim) or California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) benefits or no benefits at all prior to entering the Kin-GAP program.

• The child must have lived with the relative for at least 12 months, the relative guardianship must be established in juvenile dependency court, and dependency must have been terminated any time after January 1, 2000.

• The payment rates for a Kin-GAP child are identical to the foster care basic rates.

• A child receiving a Kin-GAP payment is not entitled to a specialized care payment or a clothing allowance.

• The child remains/is Medi-Cal eligible.

• If a Kin-GAP child has a child of his or her own who also lives with the relative legal guardian, the relative legal guardian is entitled to receive an Infant Supplement on behalf of the Kin-GAP minor parent’s child. If the child of the Kin-GAP minor parent has the same relative legal guardian, the relative can receive a Kin-GAP payment on behalf of both the minor parent and the child. The Kin-GAP minor parent is not entitled to a CalWORKs payment.

• Each Kin-GAP child is eligible for the Independent Living Program (ILP).

• The relative legal guardian of a child receiving Kin-GAP is entitled to the Funeral Expenses Allowance for the Kin-GAP child, when appropriate.

• The placing county retains payment responsibility regardless of where in California the legal guardian lives. However, the payment amount must be the host county’s Kin-GAP rate.

If the relative legal guardian plans to move the child outside of California, the court must give approval before the child leaves the State (out-of-state vacations do not need court approval). Different states have different rules regarding guardianship and Kin-GAP cannot be paid out-of-state.

• If the caregiver is receiving childcare services through DCFS, the payments will be discontinued after the current certification period.

• Each Kin-GAP child will have his/her own assistance unit even if there is a sibling or needy caregiver relative in the home. This means that a separate payment will be made for each Kin-GAP child.

• KG 7s (Monthly Eligibility Reports) will be required only in months where there is income to the child or changes in other eligibility factors.

• Relative caregivers are exempt from annual Eligibility Worker face-to-face interview requirements for the Kin-GAP child. This does not exempt the relative from any other required interview for aid for themselves or other children living in the home receiving CalWORKs.

• If the Kin-GAP child and either of his/her parents reside in the same home, eligibility for Kin-GAP ceases. This does not apply to a Kin-GAP minor parent and his/her child who are in the same home.

• The Kin-GAP payment is not considered as income to the relative legal guardian.

• If the relative legal guardian is in need of financial assistance and the only child in the home is a Kin-GAP child, the relative is/remains eligible for CalWORKs as a needy family of one.

• If the relative legal guardian is in need of support services, (s)he should contact DCFS Kinship Support Services Program, Grandma’s House at 1-888-694-7263. Grandma’s House staff (including CSWs) can provide services including, but not limited to:

• An information and referral warmline
• ILP services for children age 16 and older

• Self-esteem building and peer support program for children

• Recreation and tutoring for children
• Education and group support training programs for relative caregivers
• Relative empowerment programs
• Therapeutic support groups to address issues and concerns identified by the caregiver

LOS ANGELES COUNTY KIN-GAP RATES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2000

AGE

/ 0-4 / 5-8 / 9-11 / 12-14 / 15-18

AMOUNT

/ $393.00 / $434.00 / $481.00 / $522.00 / $573.00
INFORMATION ABOUT KINSHIP GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE PAYMENT(KIN-GAP)

WHAT IS KIN-GAP?

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WHAT IS A LEGAL GUARDIAN?

Kin-GAP is a program established by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and implemented effective January 1, 2000. The Kin-GAP program provides financial assistance for children who are dependents of the court and are placed in out-of-home care with relative caregivers who are granted legal guardianship when dependency court jurisdiction is terminated. / A person who is given the legal authority and responsibility to care for a child. Guardianship suspends the rights and responsibilities of the parents. A child may still inherit from the parents if guardianship exists. A legal guardian has the same responsibility as a parent to care for and control a child. Guardianship ends when the child becomes an adult at age 18.

KIN-GAP ELIGIBLIBILITY

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WHAT IS A RELATIVE?

To be eligible for the Kin-GAP program:

• You may have been receiving either AFDC-FC (Youakim), California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) benefits or no benefits at all for the child prior to entering the Kin-GAP program.

• The child must have lived with you for at least 12 months, the relative guardianship must be established in juvenile dependency court and dependency must have been dismissed any time after January 1, 2000.

• KG 7s will be required only in months when the child has any type of income or changes in other eligibility factors.

/ The State of California defines a relative as an adult who is related to the child by birth or adoption within the fifth degree of kinship by virtue of being one of the following: father, mother, brother/sister, half-brother/sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, first cousin once removed*, nephew, niece, or any such person of a preceding generation denoted by the prefix grand-, great-, great-great, or great-great-great, stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother/sister or the spouse of any of these persons even if the marriage was terminated by death or dissolution.
*Children of first cousin

WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE?

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WHAT ARE THE KIN-GAP RATES?

• The Kin-GAP child is eligible for the Independent Living Program (ILP).

• If you are in need of supportive services, you should contact DCFS’ Kinship Support Services Program (KSSP), Grandma’s House at 1-888-694-7263. Grandma’s House staff (including CSWs) can provide services including, but not limited to:
• An information and referral warmline

• ILP services for children age 16 and older

• Self-esteem-building and peer support program for children
• Recreation and tutoring for children
• Education and group support training programs for relative caregivers

• Relative empowerment programs
• Therapeutic support groups to address issues and concerns identified by the caregiver.

/ The payment rates are identical to the foster care basic rates. Effective 01/01/2000, the Los Angeles County Kin-GAP rates are:

Child’s Age in YearsPayment

0-4 $393
5-8 $434
9-11 $481
12-14 $522
15-18 $573
The Kin-GAP child is not entitled to a specialized care payment or a clothing allowance.
Kin-GAP cannot be paid out-of-state.
If you do not live in or you move out of Los Angeles County, the rate you would receive would be the Kin-GAP rate of the county where you live.

WHAT ARE OTHER KIN-GAP BENEFITS?

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IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW?

• The child is Medi-Cal eligible.

• If the Kin-GAP child has a child of his or her own who lives with you, you are entitled to receive an Infant Supplement on behalf of the Kin-GAP minor parent’s child. If you are the legal guardian of the child of the Kin-GAP minor parent, you can receive a Kin-GAP payment on behalf of both the minor parent and his or her child.

• You are entitled the to the Funeral Expenses Allowance for the Kin-GAP child, if/when appropriate.

• Each Kin-GAP child will have his/her own assistance unit, even if there is a sibling(s) or needy caregiver relative in the home. This means that a separate payment will be made for each Kin-GAP child.

• If you are in need of financial assistance and the only child in the home is a Kin-GAP child, you are/remain eligible for CalWORKs as a needy family of one.

• The Kin-GAP payment is not considered as income to you.

• You are exempt from the annual Eligibility Worker face-to-face interview requirements for the Kin-GAP child. This does not exempt you from any other required interview for aid for yourself or other children living in the home receiving CalWORKs.

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• If the Kin-GAP child and either of his/her parents reside in the same home, eligibility for Kin-GAP stops. This does not apply to a Kin-GAP minor parent and his/her child who is in the home.

• Los Angeles County maintains payment responsibility regardless of where in California you live. Remember that the rate you would receive would be the Kin-GAP rate of the county where you live.
  If you plan to move the child outside of California, the court must give approval before the child leaves the State (this does not mean if you are outside of the State on vacation). Different states have different rules regarding guardianship and the other state may not have a program such as Kin-GAP. Remember that Kin-GAP cannot be paid out-of-state.

• If you are receiving childcare services through DCFS, the payment will be discontinued after the current certification period.

• If the Kin-GAP child age 16 or older is not attending high school or a vocational-technical training program on a full-time basis, (s)he may no longer be eligible for payment.

• If the Kin-GAP child becomes pregnant or is a teen parent, she is eligible for and required to participate in the Cal-Learn Program.

DCFS 5555 - KINGAPINFO/E