Kentucky Kinship Care Should Consider Caregiver Income

Petition to: Kentucky General Assembly and Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Kentucky needs to take another look at how financial assistance for kinship caregivers is determined.

Kinship care is extremely important. When grandparents or other relatives step up to raise a child, financial assistance can help keep that child safe, stable, and connected to family.

I am NOT asking Kentucky to end Kinship Care.

I am asking Kentucky to make the financial assistance income-based and fair.

Under Kentucky’s current Kinship Care rules, the income and resources of the caretaker relative can be disregarded when determining a child’s eligibility for Kinship Care assistance.

That means the financial circumstances of the household actually raising the child may not determine whether assistance is provided.

I believe Kentucky should change this.

A grandparent or relative who is struggling financially should absolutely have access to assistance. But when a caregiver has substantial household income and resources, Kentucky should be able to consider those resources when deciding how much taxpayer-funded financial assistance is necessary.

This is especially important when biological parents may also be ordered to pay child support.

Kentucky should create a graduated, income-based Kinship Care system where assistance is based on the financial circumstances of the caregiver household and the individual needs of the child.

This could mean:

Lower-income kinship families receive the highest level of financial support.
Middle-income families continue receiving assistance based on their financial circumstances.
Higher-income households receive reduced assistance when they have greater ability to financially provide for the child.
A child’s disability, medical care, mental-health treatment, education, childcare, and other extraordinary needs can still be considered.
Household income is periodically reviewed so assistance reflects current circumstances.
Families have clear rules and an appeal process when they disagree with a decision.
Why does this matter?

Government assistance should be there when families need it.

It should not create a system where a household with very limited resources is treated exactly the same as a household earning substantially more simply because both households are considered kinship caregivers.

Kentucky can support kinship families while also being responsible with public funds.

This isn’t about taking resources away from children.

It’s about making sure assistance follows actual need.

Kentucky already uses income guidelines for many other assistance programs. Kinship financial assistance deserves the same conversation about fairness, accountability, and responsible use of public money.

What are we asking Kentucky to do?

We are asking the Kentucky General Assembly and Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services to review the current Kinship Care income rules and develop legislation or regulations establishing a fair, graduated income-based system for ongoing Kinship Care financial assistance.

Keep Kinship Care. Protect children. Support relatives who truly need assistance. But consider household income when taxpayer-funded financial benefits are being provided.

Please sign this petition if you believe Kentucky should review its Kinship Care financial assistance rules and create a system that considers both the needs of the child and the financial resources of the caregiver household.