Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in South Carolina: Resources

The Landscape of Kinship Care in South Carolina

Across South Carolina, tens of thousands of grandparents and other relatives are raising children who cannot live with their parents. This arrangement, known as kinship care, often arises from circumstances no one anticipated: parental substance use, incarceration, death, military deployment, or domestic violence. While kinship care can provide children with stability and familial love, it also places enormous physical, emotional, and financial strain on the grandparents who step up.

In the Midlands, the need for kinship care resources is significant. Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, and Richland Counties all have substantial populations of grandparent caregivers. Many of these grandparents are on fixed incomes, dealing with their own health issues, and suddenly responsible for school schedules, pediatric appointments, and the emotional needs of children who may have experienced trauma. Despite these challenges, grandparent caregivers rarely ask for help. Pride, fear, and simply not knowing where to turn keep many from accessing services that could make their lives easier.

Midlands Aging & Disability Resource Connection wants every grandparent raising a grandchild to know that help is available, it is free, and there is no shame in seeking it. Our Family Caregiver Support Program explicitly includes grandparents and other relative caregivers. Whether you need a break, a listening ear, or help navigating a confusing system, we are here for you.

Common Challenges Grandparent Caregivers Face

Grandparent caregivers face a unique set of challenges that differ from those of younger parents and even from other types of family caregivers.

Financial Strain

Raising a child is expensive at any age, but it is especially difficult on a retirement income. Many grandparents did not budget for diapers, school supplies, extracurricular fees, or higher grocery bills. Some dip into retirement savings or return to work, which can be difficult at an older age. The financial burden is compounded when grandparents lack legal custody, which may prevent them from accessing benefits on the child's behalf.

Health and Energy

Parenting requires physical stamina. Chasing a toddler, attending school events, and managing sleepless nights are exhausting even for young parents. For grandparents with arthritis, heart conditions, diabetes, or other chronic illnesses, the physical demands can be overwhelming. Many neglect their own medical appointments because they are focused on the children's needs.

Legal and Bureaucratic Barriers

Without legal custody or guardianship, grandparents may struggle to enroll children in school, authorize medical treatment, or access public benefits. Schools, doctors' offices, and government agencies often require documentation that grandparents do not have, creating frustrating delays and dead ends.

Social Isolation

Grandparents raising grandchildren often feel isolated from their peers, who are enjoying retirement, traveling, or spending time with adult children. At the same time, they may feel out of place among younger parents at school events. This sense of being caught between two worlds can lead to loneliness and depression.

Emotional Complexity

Grandparents may grieve the loss of the parent-child relationship they expected for their own children. They may feel anger, guilt, or shame about the circumstances that led to kinship care. Children, too, carry complex emotions about their parents, which can manifest as behavioral challenges that test even the most patient grandparent.

Understanding Your Legal Options

Legal clarity is one of the most important steps a grandparent can take. Without it, you may be unable to make decisions for the child in your care. South Carolina offers several legal arrangements, each with different levels of authority and permanence.

Power of Attorney

A power of attorney is a voluntary agreement in which a parent grants a grandparent limited authority to make decisions on behalf of the child. It is relatively simple to establish and does not require going to court. However, it can be revoked by the parent at any time and may not be accepted by all schools or medical providers.

Guardianship

Guardianship is a court-appointed arrangement that gives the grandparent legal authority to care for the child and make decisions about education, healthcare, and welfare. It is more stable than power of attorney but requires legal proceedings. Guardianship does not terminate the parents' rights, but it does transfer decision-making authority to the grandparent.

Adoption

Adoption is the most permanent legal arrangement. It terminates the parents' legal rights and makes the grandparent the child's legal parent. Adoption provides the greatest security but is also the most complex and emotionally charged option. It is generally pursued when reunification with the birth parents is not possible or safe.

Our Advance Directives & Legal Assistance program can refer you to SC Legal Services and other organizations that provide free or low-cost legal help to grandparents navigating these options. You do not have to figure this out alone.

Financial Assistance for Kinship Families

Several programs may help ease the financial burden of kinship care. Eligibility and benefit levels vary, so it is worth exploring all options.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF provides monthly cash assistance to low-income families. Grandparents raising grandchildren may qualify for a child-only TANF grant even if their own income is above the usual limits. Child-only grants are based on the child's income and needs, not the grandparent's.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP helps families afford groceries. Kinship families are generally eligible based on household income and size. The addition of a grandchild to your household may increase your SNAP benefit.

Medicaid and CHIP

Children in kinship care often qualify for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which covers doctor visits, prescriptions, dental care, and mental health services. Even if the grandparent has Medicare, the child may be eligible for separate coverage.

Subsidized Child Care

South Carolina's subsidized child care program helps low-income families pay for child care so that grandparents can work, attend medical appointments, or simply take a break. Eligibility is based on income, and some kinship families receive priority.

Social Security Benefits

If a grandparent is already receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, a grandchild in their care may qualify for dependent benefits. Additionally, if the child's parent is disabled or deceased, the child may be eligible for survivor or auxiliary benefits through Social Security.

Our Information & Referral specialists can explain these programs, help you determine which ones you may qualify for, and direct you to the right application offices.

Support Programs and Services

Beyond financial and legal help, grandparents raising grandchildren need practical support and community connection. The following programs are available in the Midlands.

Family Caregiver Support Program

Our Family Caregiver Support Program serves grandparents raising grandchildren with information, counseling, training, and respite care. This can include help with parenting skills for today's world, understanding the child's emotional needs, and connecting with other grandparent caregivers.

Respite Care

Every caregiver needs a break. Our respite programs can provide short-term care for your grandchild so you can rest, run errands, attend your own medical appointments, or recharge. Learn more about respite care options in South Carolina.

Support Groups

Connecting with other grandparents in the same situation can be incredibly validating. Support groups provide a safe space to share frustrations, swap advice, and celebrate small victories. We can help you find a group that meets in person or online.

Educational Workshops

Workshops on topics like navigating the school system, managing technology and social media, understanding childhood trauma, and accessing community resources can help grandparents feel more confident in their parenting role.

Grandparent Health and Emotional Wellbeing

You cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking care of your own health is not selfish; it is necessary for the wellbeing of the children in your care. Regular medical checkups, proper nutrition, physical activity, and adequate sleep are essential. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or burnout, reach out for help. Our counseling services are free and confidential.

Emotional wellbeing also means staying connected to people who understand and support you. Whether through a formal support group, a faith community, or a few close friends, having a network matters. Do not isolate yourself. Let others help, even if it is just bringing a meal or watching the children for an hour.

Frequently Asked Questions