Government Programs and Benefits for Your Family (2024)

Did you know that having a baby means that you and your family might qualify for special government benefits, resources, and even protections?

Here are just some of the things parents may be able to receive:

  • Additional medical coverage for you and/or your child.
  • Financial and housing assistance.
  • Help buying nutritious food.
  • Workplace protections, including family leave and breaks for pumping milk.
  • Child care.
  • Tax benefits, including new qualifying deductions on your tax return.
  • Support from your local community.

Housing Assistance

It can be a challenge to find safe and affordable housing for your family. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) works with local housing agencies to help eligible families find housing.

Are you and your family at risk for or currently experiencing homelessness? There are people in your community who can help. Call 211 or search contacts by state.

Food Assistance

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

TheWIC programhelps provide nutritious foods, information on how to eat healthy, and referrals for health care. Women, infants, and children up to age five may qualify. WIC benefits are available to women during and after their pregnancy and include breastfeeding support.

To be eligible for WIC, you must meet WIC requirements. Immigration status does not affect your eligibility to receive WIC benefits. To find out if you may be eligible for WIC:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP helps families buy nutritious food with an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card, similar to a debit card. SNAP can help you and your family eat right when money is tight.

To be eligible for SNAP, you must meet SNAP requirements in the state where you currently live. Each state has its own application form. To apply for benefits or get information about SNAP:

Health Care Coverage

Medicaid and CHIP

Many families and children qualify for health care coverage through Medicaid and theChildren’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Medicaid and CHIP coverage and eligibility vary by state. For example, many states allow women to be covered by Medicaid for 12 months after having a baby. To see if you or your child may be eligible or to apply for health coverage:

If you and your child are currently enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, you may need to prepare for the renewal process. Make sure to:

  • Update your contact information with your state Medicaid office.
  • Check your mail for a renewal letter.
  • Complete your renewal form (if you get one).

Private Health Insurance

Having a baby is a major life event and may qualify you for a special enrollment period if you need to enroll in or change your health plan. Visit HealthCare.gov for more information.

Child Care

Finding the right child care can be complicated. There’s a lot of information to think about and it may feel overwhelming at times.

  • Head Start programs deliver services to children and families in core areas of early learning, health, and family well-being. They also engage parents as partners every step of the way.
  • Follow these simple steps to guide your child care search and make sure you have all the information you need to make the best choice for your child.
  • Visit each setting in person to make sure the program is the right fit for your child. Use the Look, Listen, and Ask tip sheets to help you learn more about the program.

Paying for quality child care can also be difficult. The cost of child care is often the biggest part of a family’s budget. If you need help paying for child care:

Workplace Protections

You have protections against discrimination if you become pregnant, give birth, or have a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth. In general, this means you cannot be fired, rejected for a job or promotion, given lesser assignments, forced to take leave, or otherwise disciplined because of a pregnancy.

  • Pregnancy discrimination may also occur when an employer has policies or practices that exclude people from certain jobs because they could become pregnant.
  • If you are temporarily unable to perform your job due to a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, your employer must treat you in the same way other temporarily disabled workers would be treated.

Additionally, under the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (“PUMP Act”), most employees have the right to break time to pump and a private place to pump at work.

Learn more about workplace protections in your state.

Government Programs and Benefits for Your Family (2024)

FAQs

Can I get money from the government? ›

The government does not offer "free money" for individuals. Federal grants are typically only for states and organizations. But you may be able to get a federal loan for education, a small business, and more. If you need help with food, health care, or utilities, visit USA.gov's benefits page.

What is the benefit of government to me? ›

Government provides other valuable goods and services such as public education, public transportation, mail service, and food, housing, and health care for the poor.

What is an example of government assistance? ›

Some of the major federal, state, and local social welfare programs are: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

What is a government benefit payment? ›

a payment of money by the government to people who are ill, unemployed, poor or who have children.

What government program gets the most money? ›

So far in FY 2024, individual income taxes have accounted for 50% of total revenue while Social Security and Medicare taxes made up another 35%. Government revenue also comes from payments to federal agencies like the U.S. Department of the Interior.

What state has the best government assistance? ›

Vermont ranks as the most generous state with the average low-income person receiving about $26,000 in benefits.

Which welfare program helps the poorest households get enough food? ›

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the Nation's largest nutrition assistance program, accounting for about 68 percent of USDA nutrition assistance spending in fiscal year (FY) 2023. Download chart data in Excel format. In FY 2023, SNAP served an average of 42.1 million participants per month.

Does the government give out $9000 dollar grants? ›

The government does not offer free money or grants to people for personal needs.

What is it called when the government gives you money every month? ›

Universal basic income (UBI) is a social welfare proposal in which all citizens of a given population regularly receive a minimum income in the form of an unconditional transfer payment, i.e., without a means test or need to work.

Who gets the most benefits from the government? ›

3) Three-quarters of entitlement benefits written into law in the United States go toward the elderly or disabled. That's according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. And a big chunk of the rest goes to working households.

What benefits does the US government offer? ›

Benefits and Leave

The benefits package for federal employees includes medical, vision, and dental insurance, FSA accounts, life insurance, paid leave, and the Thrift Savings Plan (the government version of a 401K) with up to five percent matching.

What is government public benefit? ›

Public benefits are government benefits like food, cash, housing, and medical assistance for people with low or no income. Examples include SNAP (food stamps), TANF, Public Housing, Section 8, and Medicaid.

What are good examples of government spending? ›

Federal government spending pays for everything from Social Security and Medicare to military equipment, highway maintenance, building construction, research, and education. This spending can be broken down into two primary categories: mandatory and discretionary.

What are 3 benefits we receive as a result of government spending? ›

The benefits we receive as a result of government spending include public school education, national parks maintenance, and air quality maintenance. However, credit card debt forgiveness is not typically a benefit we receive from government spending.

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