Family guide
Family & Kids
Children born in the United States
Children born in the United States are generally U.S. citizens from birth. Their U.S. birth certificate is usually their first proof of citizenship.
Children born outside the United States follow different rules. We never decide whether a child is a citizen — for those questions, see the After Citizenship guide and talk to a qualified immigration attorney or accredited representative.
Children born outside the U.S.Who can get these programs?
Most family programs depend on things like household income, household size, and the state you live in. This guide does not decide whether your family qualifies. Each official page explains who can get help and how to apply.
Babies and young children (0–5)
Get your child's key documents
A birth certificate, Social Security number, and passport are the records your child will use for school, health coverage, taxes, and travel.
- Order certified copies of the birth certificate from the vital records office in the state where your child was born.
- Get your child a Social Security number. Many parents request it at the hospital when the birth is registered; otherwise follow the steps on ssa.gov.
- For a passport for a child under 16, follow the steps on travel.state.gov. Usually both parents or guardians need to take part.
- Keep these documents together in a safe place.
Look into health coverage for your child
Medicaid and CHIP (the Children's Health Insurance Program) give free or low-cost health coverage to many children. Rules and names differ by state.
- Visit InsureKidsNow.gov or HealthCare.gov to find your state's program.
- Check the program's rules and apply through the official state site.
Food and nutrition help: WIC
WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) offers healthy food, nutrition advice, and breastfeeding support to many pregnant people, new parents, and children under 5.
- Read about WIC on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website.
- Contact your state or local WIC office to see whether your family qualifies and how to apply.
Early learning and child care
Head Start and Early Head Start are free programs for many young children from families with lower incomes. Your state may also help pay for child care.
- Search for a Head Start program near you on HeadStart.gov.
- Visit ChildCare.gov to find your state's child care help and licensed providers.
School-age children (6–12)
Free or reduced-price school meals
Many schools offer free or low-cost breakfast and lunch. Some schools offer free meals to every student.
- Ask your child's school or school district how to apply for school meals.
- Apply again each school year if your school asks you to.
Find after-school and summer programs
Libraries, schools, and community groups often run free or low-cost programs that support learning and keep children active.
- Ask your child's school and local library what programs they offer.
- Browse Youth.gov for federal information on youth programs.
Start saving for education
529 plans are education savings plans run by states. They have tax benefits, and you can start with small amounts.
- Read the IRS questions and answers about 529 plans.
- Compare your state's plan before choosing one, and watch for fees.
- Never give money to someone who calls or texts you about a "college savings" offer.
Teens (13–17)
Learn the rules for teen jobs
Federal law limits which jobs teens can do and, for 14- and 15-year-olds, how many hours they can work. Some states have stricter rules or require work permits.
- Read the YouthRules pages from the U.S. Department of Labor together.
- Check your state's labor office for work permits and hour limits.
U.S. Department of Labor: YouthRules(opens dol.gov in a new tab)U.S. Department of Labor: State labor offices(opens dol.gov in a new tab)Internships & youth jobs guideExplore careers early
Knowing what kinds of jobs exist — and what training they need — helps teens choose classes, programs, and summer jobs.
- Try the free My Next Move career explorer together.
- Ask the school counselor about career classes, dual-enrollment (earning college credit in high school), and job-training programs.
Prepare for college or career training
Planning early makes it easier to find aid. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is usually filed during the last year of high school for the first year of college.
- Read StudentAid.gov's planning pages with your teen.
- Start a list of scholarships with your teen and the school counselor.
StudentAid.gov: Prepare for college(opens studentaid.gov in a new tab)StudentAid.gov: Fill out the FAFSA(opens studentaid.gov in a new tab)Paying for college guideBefore 18: review Selective Service together
If you have a son, he may need to register with Selective Service around his 18th birthday. The official website explains who needs to register.
- Read the official "Who needs to register" page together before he turns 18.
- If it applies, register only on sss.gov — it is free.
Young adults (18–24)
Fill out the FAFSA every year of school
The FAFSA is the free form used for federal grants, work-study, and loans. Many states and colleges also use it for their own aid and scholarships.
- Create StudentAid.gov accounts. Students and parents usually each need one.
- Fill out the FAFSA only on StudentAid.gov — it is free.
- Check your school's deadline and your state's deadline. They may be earlier than the federal one.
StudentAid.gov: Fill out the FAFSA(opens studentaid.gov in a new tab)StudentAid.gov: Create an account(opens studentaid.gov in a new tab)Paying for college guideSearch for scholarships safely
Scholarships and grants usually don't need to be paid back. Free search tools and your school's financial aid office are the best places to start.
- Use the free CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder.
- Ask the college's financial aid office and local community groups.
- Never pay to apply for a scholarship or to "guarantee" one.
Look for internships, including federal ones
Internships build experience. The federal Pathways Internship Program hires current students, and many agencies post student jobs on USAJOBS.
- Read the USAJOBS page on jobs for students and recent graduates.
- Save a USAJOBS search using the "Students" hiring path.
- Ask the college career center about internships with private employers.
USAJOBS: Jobs for students and recent graduates(opens usajobs.gov in a new tab)OPM: Students and recent graduates (Pathways)(opens opm.gov in a new tab)Internships & youth jobs guideConsider apprenticeships and service programs
Apprenticeships let people earn pay while they learn a skilled job. AmeriCorps service programs can offer a living allowance and money for education.
- Search for apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov.
- Browse service opportunities on AmeriCorps.gov.
Register to vote and review Selective Service
At 18, U.S. citizens can register to vote. Some young men also need to register with Selective Service — the official website explains who.
- Find your state's voter registration steps on vote.gov.
- Read the official Selective Service "Who needs to register" page.
For the whole family
Check family programs in one place
USA.gov's Benefit Finder asks a few questions and lists government programs your family could look into, such as food, health, and housing help.
- Use the Benefit Finder on USA.gov.
- Apply only through the official agency or state website it links to.
Learn about family tax credits
The Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can lower taxes or increase refunds for many working families. Children usually need a Social Security number for the Child Tax Credit.
- Read the IRS pages for the current rules and amounts.
- Look into free tax preparation programs listed on IRS.gov.
Check for your child's Trump Account
The IRS describes a new savings account for children under 18 who have a Social Security number. Some U.S.-citizen children born from 2025 through 2028 may also be able to get a one-time federal contribution.
- Read the IRS Trump Accounts page for the current rules.
- Use only the app or website linked from IRS.gov. Ignore unexpected calls, texts, or emails about these accounts.
The truth about "free government grants"
The federal government does not give grants to individuals for personal needs such as bills or living expenses. Government grants usually go to organizations — such as states, schools, and nonprofits — for a specific purpose.
Families get help through programs instead: student aid such as Pell Grants for college, and benefit programs for food, health care, and child care.
Anyone who contacts you out of the blue offering "free grant money," or asks for a fee to get it, is a scammer.
More guides for growing families
- Paying for collegeFAFSA, Pell Grants, scholarships, work-study, and avoiding aid scams.Open
- Internships & youth jobsTeen work rules, summer jobs, federal internships, and apprenticeships.Open
- Bringing family to the U.S.Which relatives USCIS lists, the main steps, and finding qualified legal help.Open
- Job search for parentsFree local job help, training, and getting foreign degrees recognized.Open