Families may qualify for several different kinds of support, including help with child care, temporary cash assistance, early-childhood programs, child support services, and tax benefits.
There is no single application for all family benefits. Eligibility and application procedures depend on the program, household, state, income, and family circumstances.
Help Paying for Child Care
Every state and territory has a child-care financial-assistance program for eligible families with lower incomes. These programs may be called child care subsidies, vouchers, certificates, or assistance programs.
Depending on the state, assistance may help parents or caregivers pay for child care while they work, attend school, or participate in approved training.
Find Child Care Assistance:
Use ChildCare.gov to find your state or territory’s child-care financial-assistance program.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start and Early Head Start provide early learning, development, health, and family-support services for eligible families.
Early Head Start generally serves pregnant families and children from birth to age 3, while Head Start primarily serves preschool-age children. Programs are available at no cost to eligible families.
Find Head Start:
Use HeadStart.gov or the federal Head Start locator to find programs near you.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families — TANF
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federally funded, state-run program for families experiencing financial hardship.
Depending on the state, TANF may provide temporary cash assistance and may also connect families with help for food, housing, utilities, child care, employment, or training.
Each state or tribal program has its own name, eligibility requirements, benefit rules, and application process.
Go to TANF:
Find your state or tribal TANF program through USAGov.
Child Support Services
State and tribal child-support agencies may help families:
- Establish parentage
- Obtain a child-support order
- Locate a parent
- Collect or enforce child support
- Request review or modification of an existing order when permitted
Child-support services are separate from TANF and other public-benefit programs.
Find Child Support Help:
USA.Gov and the federal Administration for Children and Families can direct you to your local child-support agency.
Tax Benefits for Families
Families may qualify for federal tax benefits such as:
- Child Tax Credit
- Additional Child Tax Credit
- Child and Dependent Care Credit
- Earned Income Tax Credit
- Other credits depending on individual circumstances
Each credit has different income, residency, relationship, identification, and filing requirements. Tax rules can change from year to year.
Find Family Tax Information:
Use the official IRS information for current family tax credits or a qualified tax-preparation service.
Other Support for Children and Families
Families may also qualify for programs involving:
- Medicaid or CHIP health coverage
- WIC and SNAP food assistance
- School and summer meals
- Housing or utility assistance
- Early-intervention and special-education services
- SSI for qualifying children with disabilities
These programs are covered elsewhere in the Open Door Peace Public Benefits Resource Center so you can explore them separately.
Before You Apply
It may help to gather information about:
- Household members
- Income and employment
- Child-care arrangements
- Residency
- Children or dependents
- Expenses
- Any other documents requested by the administering agency
Only provide sensitive information through the official agency or secure application system. Do not send Social Security numbers, tax records, bank information, immigration documents, or children’s confidential records to Open Door Peace through ordinary website messages or email.
Important
Open Door Peace provides general information and navigation to family and child resources.
We do not determine eligibility, approve benefits, calculate tax credits, establish child-support obligations, or guarantee assistance.
Program requirements vary by state and individual circumstances and can change. Always confirm current information with the agency administering the program.