Grandparents who are caregivers for grandchildren will now be
eligible for supportive services at an earlier age. On October 17,
President Bush signed the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006 (P.L.
109-365), which amended the Caregivers Support Program of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 3030s) to lower the age limit for these
grandparent caregiver programs from 60 to 55.
The program provides Federal monetary support for State programs
that provide older caregivers such services as caregiver training,
respite care, and other supplemental services through the National
Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). The new law also gives
priority to caregivers who provide care for children with severe
disabilities.
The text of the Act is available online:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h6197enr.txt.pdf
(PDF - 200KB)
For more information about the Act and about the NFCSP, visit the
Generations United website:
www.gu.org
From the Children’s Bureau Express, Issue Date: Dec 2006/Jan 2007.
http://cbexpress.acf.hhs.gov/
