506 Caretaker Relative

Policy

To qualify for the Caretaker Relative group, a person must be an adult relative living with and caring for a deprived child. 

Exception: A person under the age of 18 can qualify as a Caretaker Relative when the person meets any of the following:

• Does not have any living parents

• The parents cannot be located

• Does not have a legal guardian

• Is legally emancipated

• The person’s health or safety could be harmed by living with his or her parents.

 

If either parent is living with the deprived child, the parent is the caretaker relative, even if another relative is also in the home. 

Exception: If the parent in the home is incapacitated and cannot care for the child, another relative can be the caretaker relative.

 

Definitions

Term	Definition
Child	A person under the age of 18, or An 18-year old who is a full-time student in high school or a trade school and expected to graduate before turning 19.
Deprived child	A child is deprived when the budget group’s income is not over the income limit for the number of people in the budget group.
Incapacitated	Unable to care for the child because of a physical or mental condition.
Relative	Means any of the following: Parent (including step-parents) Grandparent (including great-grandparent) Brother or sister (including stepbrother or stepsister) Uncle or aunt (including great-aunt or great-uncle) Cousin (includes 1st and 2nd cousins) Nephew or niece The spouse of any of the relatives listed above, even after the marriage is ended by death or divorce.

 

Proof

Deprivation:

If the caretaker relative passes the income test the child is deprived. No further proof is needed unless the list of people living with the child is questionable. For example, the application lists one parent in the home, but other records show both parents are in the home.

 

Student Status:

If the only child living with the caretaker relative is 18 years old, proof of full-time student status and expected graduation date is needed. Use any of the following as proof:

• Written statement from the school

• Telephone contact with the school

• Completed “Verification of School Attendance” form

• Other documents that clearly indicate the child student status and graduation date.

 

Relationship:

Accept the relative’s statement of their relationship to the child unless it is questionable.

Legal Authority

This requirement applies to the following program:

Program	Legal Authorities
Caretaker Relatives	42 U.S.C 1396u-1 42 CFR 435.110 AAC R9-22-1427