Could I Get Benefits if I Had Legal Guardianship of My 13 Year Old Sister

[Shelbyy]

My question involves guardianship in the State of: Tennessee.

I am 18 years of age, and my sister is thirteen. She lives in Oklahoma. I live in Tennessee. Neither of us have fathers. Our mother is clean right now but is on probation and has been in and out of rehab. My grandmother currently has custody of my sister. She's ninety and her mind is really going. Our family is really dysfunctional. No judge will let our mother have custody of my sister, that's a given.

I've been with my girlfriend (I am gay) for over a year and have lived with her since August. We both want my sister to live with us in fear something will happen to Grandma and mother will relapse. We just are tight with money as it is. If we obtained, or if I obtained custody of my sister, what kind of financial help could we get? Food stamps? Rent vouchers? Ect? Would I even have a chance of obtaining custody of her?

[Mr. Knowitall]

Contact whatever local government office administers the services you want, and ask about their income cutoffs and other qualification requirements.

[Dogmatique]

You would need to show you're financially able to provide for a minor before you'd be awarded any sort of custody or guardianship.