Grandparent Parent: Where to Find Help When Raising Your Grandchild

Nowadays, many kids are being raised by their Grandparents instead of Mom or Dad. That poses a real challenge to elderly grandparents who were already barely able to make ends meet. If you're the caretaker of your grandchild there are organizations which will help you with the extra expenses.

Child support isn't just for moms and dads to pay each other. A court order for child support can be issued to help pay for expenses for any child, even if they're in the grandparent's custody. Some parents don't feel comfortable asking a court to make their son or daughter pay child support. If you don't receive any funds for the child but you ask your state or county to assist they might take up the child support case themselves, in which case, you will have no say-so about it. The request for child support will be made to the court, by Social Services, on behalf of the child.

Aid For Dependent Children is a program that provides a check to parents or legal guardians of children to help with expenses. In some cases the guardian must be attending school or college. In other cases the guardian has to be working part-time at least, or actively seeking employment. Check to see if you may qualify for this program.

It's important that you not only keep yourself healthy so that you can take care of your grandchild but also that you keep the child healthy. Regular checkups, dental work and immunizations cost money that you may not have. Go to your local Department of Social Services to apply for a Medicaid card. With the card the child can have physicians' visits, shots, regular checkups and medicines. Sometimes there is a couple of dollars co-pay - much less than the actual medical expenses.

The Social Services can also help you sign up for various other assistance programs such as food stamps to assist with meals. Some people are too embarrassed to use food stamps but the stamps have now been replaced with a debit-type scanning card. Even though getting help with your grandchild's expenses is nothing to be embarrassed about the card is much easier and discreet than the old fashioned food stamps.

In most towns those with low incomes can apply for low-rent housing. Years ago low-rent housing meant a rundown place with little extras. Now the low-rent houses and apartments are kept freshly painted and maintained. Many come with central air or heat pumps and modern, built-in appliances. The rent is figured according to how much income and how many expenses the family has.

You can also get help with your heating expenses during the winter months. In some states a check is sent to cover a portion of your heating costs. In other states, the fuel is delivered to you at the state's expense or a portion of your electric bill is paid for you.

If the child is under 5 he can probably qualify for WIC which is a program to ensure proper nutrition in young children. The program gives vouchers for food products such as milk, eggs, cheese, peanut butter and cereal so that the child eats properly. This can save you a bundle on the food bill particularly if you don't receive food stamps. In order to receive the vouchers the child must have a checkup and you must be available to discuss nutrition with a dietary specialist once a month. The vouchers are issued once every four weeks and provides enough to last for 30 days. The food received from the vouchers is strictly for the child, though, and it's illegal to use the vouchers to get food for anyone else but the intended child.

Other assistance you may receive is clothing, free immunizations, free school lunches and gifts for the holidays. Ask at the Department of Social Services in your own town for a list of places where you might get assistance.