(1) Caseworkers may assist unlicensed relatives and suitable persons that need financial support to care for children or youth to apply for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) through the department of social and health services (DSHS) local community services office (CSO).

(2) Relatives and suitable persons who are licensed kinship caregivers or foster parents:

(a) Will receive foster care maintenance payments; and

(b) Must not receive TANF benefits on behalf of the child or youth in care at the same time they are receiving foster care payments.

(3) A relative or suitable person who is not a licensed kinship caregiver or foster parent at the time of placement may apply to become either:

(a) A licensed kinship caregiver as described in chapter 110-149 WAC; or

(b) A foster parent as described in chapter 110-148 WAC.

(4) The relative or suitable person caring for the children or youth in out-of-home care may apply to be their representative payee for supplemental security income (SSI) or Social Security Administration benefits for the child or youth living with them. However, if the child or youth is a dependent of Washington state with custody assigned to the department by the court, the department will usually remain the payee on their behalf until the dependency is dismissed.