How is a guardianship different from government benefits?

A guardianship is a legal relationship between an adult and a minor. The guardian acts as a substitute parent and has the legal authority and responsibility to provide day-to-day care, support and protection for the minor. In California, guardians need to be appointed by the court. Government benefits are also available to minors, but they don’t involve the same legal relationship as a guardianship. Government benefits are usually administered by state or federal agencies and provide financial assistance with things like housing, health care and education. Government benefits may also include access to additional services, such as crisis counseling, job training and mentoring. The biggest difference between guardianship and government benefits is that a guardian has the legal authority to make decisions on behalf of the minor, while government benefits are administered by the agency and do not involve a legal relationship between the minor and the agency. Government benefits are also often restricted to certain criteria, such as residency or income level. In some cases, guardians may be eligible for government benefits on behalf of the minor. In these cases, the guardian needs to apply for the benefits on the minor’s behalf and use the funds to provide care and support for the minor.

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How is a guardianship different from government benefits?

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