Starting From $0
Help with childcare.
Work requires care you can't afford.
What to do today
- Start at childcare.gov for your state's subsidy program and licensed-care search.
- Head Start (and Early Head Start) is free preschool plus meals and screenings for qualifying families — waitlists move, apply anyway.
- Ask providers about sliding scales and sibling discounts; ask HR about dependent-care FSA money.
Programs worth checking
You may qualify depending on income, household size, disability status, age, location, and other factors. Programs and rules change by state and year — the official link is the authority.
Childcare assistance
OfficialState childcare subsidies, Head Start (free preschool + services for low-income families), and how to find licensed care.
Who may qualify: Income-based; Head Start also weighs need factors. You may qualify depending on income, household size, disability status, age, location, and other factors. Programs and rules change by state and year — the official link is the authority.
TANF (cash assistance)
OfficialTemporary monthly cash help for very-low-income families with children, plus work-support services. Amounts and rules vary widely by state.
Who may qualify: Families with children under strict state income limits. You may qualify depending on income, household size, disability status, age, location, and other factors. Programs and rules change by state and year — the official link is the authority.
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OfficialOne free, confidential call or website connecting you to local help: food, rent, utilities, shelter, childcare, crisis support. Available across most of the United States, in many languages, usually 24/7.
Who may qualify: Everyone. No eligibility — it's a navigator, not a benefit.