Family, Children & Caregiving · Surprise rank #244
Keep Monthly Foster-Care Support After Becoming a Relative Guardian!
New York's Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program provides ongoing payments and certain nonrecurring costs when an eligible foster child leaves foster care for permanent guardianship with a qualifying relative.
Who
Qualifying relative foster parents and children who meet KinGAP's foster-care, permanency, relationship and guardianship requirements.
What to do
Start here: Tell the foster-care caseworker you want KinGAP assessed before the court issues final guardianship letters so the subsidy agreement can be completed in time.
Eligibility: The child generally must have lived with the prospective relative guardian in foster care for at least six consecutive months, reunification/adoption must not be appropriate and the KinGAP agreement must be executed before guardianship is finalized.
What you get
KinGAP can continue monthly guardianship assistance and reimburse approved nonrecurring guardianship expenses.
Benefit: Monthly assistance generally set between 75% and 100% of the applicable foster-care board rate, plus up to $2,000 in approved nonrecurring guardianship expenses.
Possible value: Recurring monthly support through the eligible period plus up to $2,000 in qualifying one-time costs.
Good to know
Important: Finalizing guardianship before the required KinGAP agreement is executed can jeopardize eligibility. Monthly support normally runs to age 18 and can continue to 21 only under specified conditions.
Availability: Active
Why people miss it: Relatives may pursue guardianship believing foster-care payments must end, without first checking the subsidy designed specifically for that transition.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026