If you’re 55 or older and raising a grandchild or another relative’s child, or you’re caring for an adult relative who has a disability, there’s a federal program you should know about.
It’s called the National Family Caregiver Support Program, or NFCSP, and it helps connect family caregivers with respite care, counseling, support groups, training and other services in their communities.
For grandparents and other relatives who suddenly find themselves raising children again, or older parents and relatives caring for an adult with a disability, that extra support can make a real difference.
What Is the National Family Caregiver Support Program?
The National Family Caregiver Support Program was established under the Older Americans Act to support family and informal caregivers.
Instead of operating as one national benefits program with one application, federal funding goes to states and territories, where services are provided through the Aging Network and community organizations.
The program funds five main types of caregiver support:
- Information about available services
- Help accessing those services
- Individual counseling, support groups and caregiver training
- Respite care
- Limited supplemental services
Exactly what’s available can vary depending on where you live.
Do I Qualify?
There are several different groups that can receive services through NFCSP, but two are especially important for grandparents and other older relative caregivers.
You’re 55+ and Raising a Child
You may qualify as an older relative caregiver if you’re 55 or older and you’re a grandparent, step-grandparent or another relative other than the child’s parent who is raising a child under age 18.
Under the federal definition, the older relative caregiver generally must:
- Be age 55 or older
- Live with the child
- Be the child’s primary caregiver
- Be a relative other than the child’s parent
- Be caring for the child because the biological or adoptive parents are unable or unwilling to serve as the primary caregivers
You don’t necessarily need formal custody or guardianship.
Federal rules recognize both caregivers who have a legal relationship with the child, such as legal custody, adoption or guardianship, and relatives who are raising the child informally.
You’re 55+ and Caring for an Adult Relative With a Disability
There’s another pathway for older relatives caring for adults with disabilities.
You may qualify if you’re 55 or older and you’re a parent, grandparent or another relative caring for an adult between the ages of 18 and 59 who has a disability.
This is an important difference from the child-caregiver category: parents can qualify under this pathway.
For example, a 60-year-old parent caring for their 30-year-old adult child with a disability may potentially qualify for NFCSP caregiver services.
Local eligibility and service availability can vary, so meeting one of these federal definitions doesn’t guarantee that every NFCSP-funded service will be available in your community.
What Kind of Help Can I Get?
NFCSP funding supports several different kinds of caregiver assistance.
Respite Care
Respite care gives caregivers temporary relief from their caregiving responsibilities.
Depending on what’s available locally, respite may be provided at home, through an adult day program or in another setting.
The goal is simple: give caregivers some time away from their caregiving responsibilities so they can take care of other needs, attend appointments, run errands or simply rest.
Counseling, Support Groups and Training
Caregiving can come with stress, grief, uncertainty and a lot of questions.
NFCSP can support individual counseling, caregiver support groups and training that helps caregivers better understand and manage their responsibilities.
Help Finding Other Services
The program also provides information about available resources and assistance connecting caregivers with services.
That can be especially helpful if you don’t know which local programs exist or where to begin looking for help.
Supplemental Services
NFCSP can also fund certain supplemental services on a limited basis.
What’s available depends heavily on your state and local program, so it’s worth asking your Area Agency on Aging exactly what kinds of additional assistance are offered where you live.
Is This Help Free?
NFCSP services are supported through federal Older Americans Act funding, but the program is administered through states and local organizations.
Because of that, availability, service limits and local requirements can vary.
Don’t assume that qualifying for NFCSP means every type of respite care or other service will automatically be available to you at no cost.
Your local Area Agency on Aging can explain what’s available in your community, whether there are waiting lists or service limits, and whether any costs apply to the specific assistance you’re requesting.
Does This Program Pay Family Caregivers?
Generally, this isn’t the program to look to if your main goal is getting paid for the care you’re already providing.
NFCSP focuses on supporting caregivers through services such as respite, counseling, training, support groups and help accessing other resources.
That’s different from certain Medicaid programs that may allow qualifying family members to receive payment for providing care.
If you’re specifically looking for caregiver pay, our Medicaid caregiver program guide explains how those programs work and why the rules are different.
Do I Have to Be a Foster Parent?
No.
The older-relative-caregiver pathway can include relatives raising a child informally, so formal foster-parent status isn’t automatically required.
That’s one reason this program can be particularly useful for grandparents and other relatives who stepped in to raise a child without going through the formal foster-care system.
Your local agency may still ask for information or documentation about your caregiving situation when determining eligibility.
How Do I Apply?
There isn’t one national NFCSP application that everyone fills out.
Because services are provided locally, one of the easiest ways to start is by contacting your Area Agency on Aging.
You can also use the federal Eldercare Locator, which connects older adults, families and caregivers with local services.
Call or text:
800-677-1116
You can also use the Eldercare Locator online.
When you contact your local agency, tell them you’re looking for the National Family Caregiver Support Program and explain your caregiving situation.
It can help to have basic information ready, including:
- Your age
- Your relationship to the person you’re caring for
- The age of the child or adult you’re caring for
- Whether you live together
- The type of support you need most
Then ask what documentation is required in your area and which NFCSP services are currently available.
You can also use our Area Agency on Aging guide to learn more about these local agencies and the other resources they may offer.
Is This Still Available Right Now?
Yes.
The National Family Caregiver Support Program remains an active program under the Older Americans Act, and the Administration for Community Living continues to list older relatives age 55 and older caring for children and adults with disabilities among the groups eligible for NFCSP services.
However, the specific services available to you will depend on your state and local aging network.
Relief Recap
Taking care of someone you love can be rewarding, but that doesn’t mean you should have to handle every part of it alone.
If you’re 55 or older and raising a grandchild or another relative’s child, or you’re an older relative caring for an adult age 18 to 59 with a disability, the National Family Caregiver Support Program may be able to connect you with respite care, counseling, support groups, training and other assistance.
Start by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging or call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 and ask about caregiver support available in your community.
And while you’re talking with your Area Agency on Aging, ask what else is available. These agencies can connect older adults and caregivers with many different local resources, including transportation, meals, home care and other community supports.
