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o Grandparent (up to great-great-great) o Sibling (half, whole, step) o Aunt/uncle (up to great-great) o Niece/nephew (including child and grandchild of niece/nephew o First cousin o First cousin once removed (the child of a first cousin) • The child’s monthly income, excluding any wages, must be less than the amount of the subsidy. • The child must be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States.
Subsidies are provided on behalf of the child in the following kinship arrangements:
Relative Care Subsidy and Enhanced Relative Care Subsidy:
The Relative Care Subsidy (RCS)/Enhanced Relative Care Subsidy (ERCS) program enables the Department to provide financial support for children transferred by the courts from the temporary legal custody of the Department to the permanent legal custody of an approved relative caregiver who meets the TANF degree of relationship. The purpose of RCS/ERCS is to financially assist relatives providing a permanent home for a child formerly in agency custody. RCS/ERCS payments are available to help defray basic expenses that otherwise may limit the relative’s ability to assume permanent legal custody of the child. Subsidy payments must be used for the child’s needs or expenses.
Additional eligibility criteria include:
• The child must be in the legal permanent custody of the relative. • The relative must have an approved Kinship Assessment. • Effective January 1, 2014, no new cases may be added to RCS or ERCS.
The RCS/ERCS monthly rates are as follows (effective July 1, 2025): Child aged birth through 5: $741.69 Child aged 6 through 12: $792.50 Child aged 13 and older: $853.85
Enhanced Relative Rate (ERR): The ERR program provides an initial financial payment to assist with the basic care of a child in DFCS custody placed with a relative caregiver while the caregiver completes the foster family home approval process. The ERR subsidy must be terminated prior to receipt of Foster Care Per Diem.
Additional eligibility criteria include: • There is an approved kinship assessment or abbreviated kinship assessment, and foster home approval should be completed within 120 days from the date of placement. • An ERR application or agreement has been completed and signed by the caregiver and approved by the DFCS county director or designee.