Every kid in America with a Social Security number is now signed up for a new government investment account. President Trump announced the program, called a “Trump Account,” this week. Parents now need to act fast to claim real money tied to it.
Quick Take
- Every child in the U.S. with a valid Social Security number is enrolled in a “Trump Account,” a tax-advantaged (meaning the government gives you a tax break on it) investment account.
- Parents must download the Trump Account mobile app to officially claim the money.
- Kids born between 2025 and 2028 get a one-time $1,000 deposit from the federal government, but only after a parent claims it.
- Kids born earlier, up to age 10, can get a $250 deposit instead, funded by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.
- President Trump says this money is meant to help set up a child's financial future.
What Is a Trump Account?
A Trump Account is a new kind of investment account set up for children. It comes with tax advantages, which just means the money inside grows without getting taxed the normal way.
Every child born in the U.S. with a valid Social Security number is already enrolled. But enrollment alone does not put money in the account. Parents still have to take one more step.
How Parents Claim the Money
Nothing shows up automatically just because a baby has a Social Security number. Parents or guardians need to download the Trump Account mobile app and claim the account themselves.
Think of it like a gift card that exists with your name on it, but you still have to go pick it up. Until a parent claims it through the app, the deposit does not land in the account.
“This money is your child's future.”
That is how President Trump described the program when he announced it Wednesday. The message is simple: this account is meant to be a head start for kids, not just a one-time check.
Who Gets How Much
Not every child gets the same amount, and it depends on when the child was born. Here is how the payments break down:
| Child's Birth Window |
Deposit Amount |
Who Pays |
| Born 2025 through 2028 |
$1,000 |
U.S. government |
| Born before 2025, up to age 10 |
$250 |
Michael and Susan Dell Foundation |
The $1,000 deposits for newer babies come straight from the federal government. That is a one-time payment, not something that repeats every year.
Older kids, up to age 10, do not qualify for the government's $1,000. Instead, they can get a smaller $250 deposit. That money comes from a private source: the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, tied to the Dell Technologies fortune.
Why the Two-Tier System Exists
The setup splits kids into two groups based on birth year. Younger kids born during the 2025-2028 window get the bigger government deposit. Older kids, up to age 10, get the smaller foundation-funded deposit instead.
The source article does not explain why the cutoff is set this way or whether older kids can also get government money later. What is clear is that the amount a child receives depends heavily on their birth date, so parents should check which group their child falls into.
What's Next
Parents should not assume the money is already sitting in an account somewhere. The next move is on them: download the Trump Account app and officially claim the deposit for each eligible child.
For families with kids born in 2025 or later, that claim unlocks a $1,000 start toward their child's future. For families with older kids up to age 10, it unlocks a smaller but still meaningful $250 boost, courtesy of the Dell family's foundation.
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