- CWPM Home
- 1. AFCARS
- 2. CAPTA
- 3. Independent Living
- 4. MEPA/IEAP
- 5. Monitoring
- 6. CCWIS
- 7. Title IV-B
- 8. Title IV-E
- 9. Tribes/Indian Tribal Organizations
- Search the Child Welfare Policy Manual
- Additional Resources
- User Guide
- Withdrawn Child Welfare Policies
- References
- Print the Manual
- Additions to the Manual
- Deletions to the Manual
- Modifications to the Manual
- Cumulative Change History of Questions & Answers
8.5B. Guardianship Assistance Program, Eligibility
Answer
No. Section 473(d)(3)(A)(i)(II) of the Social Security Act (the Act) provides that an otherwise eligible child must have been eligible for title IV-E foster care maintenance payments while residing in the foster home of the prospective guardian ?for at least 6 consecutive months.? This means that after being in foster care and eligible for title IV-E foster care maintenance payments for six consecutive months while residing with the licensed or approved prospective guardian, an otherwise eligible child is eligible for the GAP. A title IV-E agency may not impose a longer time frame or other eligibility requirements beyond those contained in the statute.
Source/Date
5/29/2009
Legal and Related References
Social Security Act § section 473(d)(3)(A)(i)(II)
Answer
No. There is no provision in section 472 of the Social Security Act (the Act) for the child to retain title IV-E eligibility for foster care maintenance payments if he re-enters foster care from a legal guardianship. A child in this situation would need to meet the eligibility criteria in section 472(a) through (c) of the Act to receive title IV-E foster care maintenance payments in the subsequent foster care placement.
Source/Date
5/29/2009
Legal and Related References
Social Security Act § sections 472(a) through (c)
Answer
No. The child is not automatically eligible for the GAP program if he/she is placed with a subsequent guardian because the subsequent relative guardian must meet the requirements in sections 471(a)(28) and 473(d) of the Social Security Act (Act) and the child must meet the requirements of either section 473(d)(3)(A) or (B).
Source/Date
5/29/2009
Legal and Related References
Social Security Act § sections 471(a)(28) and 473(d))
Answer
No. Section 473(d) of the Social Security Act (the Act) does not make any provision for title IV-E guardianship assistance agreements or payments to transfer to a third party.
Source/Date
5/29/2009
Legal and Related References
Social Security Act § section 473(d)(3)
Answer
To be eligible for title IV-E GAP, a child must have been: 1) removed from his or her home pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement or as a result of a judicial determination that continuation in the home would be contrary to the welfare of the child; and 2) eligible for title IV-E foster care maintenance payments during at least a six consecutive month period during which the child resided in the home of the prospective relative guardian who was licensed or approved as meeting the licensure requirements as a foster family home.
While the Social Security Act (the Act) does not require title IV-E foster care maintenance payments to have been paid on behalf of the child during the six month timeframe, it does require that such a child meet all title IV-E foster care maintenance payment eligibility criteria pursuant to section 472(a),(b) and (c) of the Act and 45 CFR 1356.21 in the home of the fully licensed or approved relative foster parent for a consecutive six-month period to be eligible for title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance payments with that prospective relative guardian (section 473(d)(3)(A)(i)(II) of the Act).
Additionally, the title IV-E agency must determine that: 1) return home or adoption are not appropriate permanency options; 2) the child demonstrates a strong attachment to the prospective relative guardian; and 3) the relative guardian has a strong commitment to caring permanently for the child. The title IV-E agency must consult with a child who is 14 years or older regarding the kinship guardianship arrangement. These determinations are not judicial findings but rather determinations made by the title IV-E agency (section 473(d)(3)(A) of the Act).
Source/Date
8/12/2009
Legal and Related References
Social Security Act § sections 472 and 473(d)(3); 45 CFR 1356.21
Answer
One of the eligibility criteria for title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance payments is that the child must be eligible for title IV-E foster care maintenance payments for at least a consecutive six-month period while the child resided in the prospective relative guardian's licensed or approved foster family home. A month may be counted in the six consecutive month period if the child met all of the title IV-E foster care maintenance payment eligibility criteria for at least one day of that particular month while in the prospective relative guardian's home, and is therefore eligible for a title IV-E foster care maintenance payment for at least a portion of that month.
Source/Date
2/24/2011
Legal and Related References
Social Security Act § section 472, 473(d)(3)(A)(i)(II), 45 CFR 1355.20(a), ACYF-CB-PI-10-11
Answer
Yes. A title IV-E agency must provide extended guardianship assistance payments to an older youth when his title IV-E guardianship assistance agreement expires, if the youth remains eligible for the guardianship assistance payments. This includes youth under a title IV-E guardianship assistance agreement in place prior to the agency taking the option to extend the title IVE programs.
Source/Date
5/4/2011
Legal and Related References
Social Security Act § sections 475(8)(B) and 473(d)