Grandfamilies: Subsidized Guardianship – Louisiana (continued)

The following children are eligible for KCSP:

• A child who lives in the home of one of the following qualified relatives (either biological or adoptive): grandfather or grandmother (extends to great-great-great), brother or sister (including half), uncle or aunt (extends to great-great), stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, stepsister, first cousin, including first cousin once removed, and nephew or niece (extends to great-great), or the legal spouse of the above-listed relatives.
• A child who is not currently in the child welfare system, or for whom no monthly payments are currently being made.³
• A child who is under 19 years old
• A child who is a resident of Louisiana and a United States citizen or qualified alien⁴and has an income of less than $222 per month.⁵

Requirements for Relatives to Access Louisiana’s KCSP:

• The qualified relative must provide immunization records for each child under 18 living in the household.
• The qualified relative must possess or obtain within one year of certification, either legal custody or guardianship as granted by a court or provisional custody in the form of a notarized document by the child’s parent(s) of the eligible child who is living in the home.
• The family’s annual income must be less than 150% of the federal poverty threshold.
• The qualified relative must cooperate with Support  Enforcement Services in obtaining child support for the child unless good cause is established.
• The qualified relative must not have been convicted of or released from incarceration for a felony of possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance within the past year.
• The qualified relative must furnish or apply for a social security number for the child.
• The parent(s) of the child must not live in the home of the qualified relative.⁶

In Order to Apply for KCSP:

• The grandparent or other qualified relative with whom the child lives may apply for assistance at any Office of Family Support (OFS) parish office in the state of Louisiana. The OFS Family Assistance office conducts an interview with the caregiver to obtain verification of eligibility.
• The caregiver fills out the same form that is filled out when applying for TANF or food stamps.
• A decision is typically made within 30 days.⁷

The following documents are needed for the application process:

• Verification of the child’s age (i.e., a birth certificate or baptismal record)
• Copy of the court-awarded or notarized provisional custody or guardianship documents
• Verification of income of all family members (including the child), including but not limited to Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), veteran’s benefits, Railroad Retirement, child support, wages, and other regular income
• Immunization records for each child under 18 in the household
• Social security card or proof of application of a social security number for the child.⁸

For more information about KCSP and its application process, contact Martha Walton, Program Specialist, Department of Social Services at (225) 342-4069 or visit  www.dss.state.la.us/departments/ofs/ Kinship_Care_Subsidy_Program.html