What’s changed, what it means for your family, and the one step that matters most
What’s New Since Our First Look
Earlier this year, in Understanding Trump Accounts: What Early Investing Could Mean for the Next Generation, we introduced Trump Accounts, a new government-supported investment account designed to give children an early financial start. Since then, two developments have changed how families get started.
First, the U.S. Treasury has automatically opened an account for every eligible child. Families no longer need to file paperwork with the IRS to open one. Instead, a parent or guardian needs to claim the account. Second, Michael and Susan Dell have funded a one-time $250 deposit for millions of children born between 2016 and 2024.
Here’s what these changes mean for your family, and the simple step that unlocks the account’s full benefits.
Your Child Likely Already Has An Account
On October 1, 2026, the U.S. Treasury finished automatically creating a Trump Account for every eligible child who didn’t already have one. That includes any child under age 18 with a valid Social Security number, regardless of birth year. Treasury reports more than 60 million accounts were created this way, at no cost to families.
This is a meaningful shift. In our first article, we explained that parents needed to make an election with the IRS to get started. For most families, that step is no longer needed. The account exists; it simply needs a parent or guardian to claim it.
Why Claiming Matters
Here is the distinction that matters most: automatic enrollment creates the account, but it doesn’t put it fully to work until a parent or legal guardian claims it. Until then:
- The $1,000 government contribution is not deposited, even for children who qualify
- Parents, grandparents, friends, and employers cannot contribute
- No one can manage the account or make decisions about it on the child’s behalf
Treasury’s support center currently says there is no deadline to claim, though that could change. Either way, there’s a practical reason not to wait: until the account is claimed, it can’t receive the $1,000 contribution or any family or employer contributions.
How To Claim Your Child’s Account
Today, claiming happens through the official Trump Accounts app, with links at TrumpAccounts.gov. Treasury notes these steps are administrative and could change, but the current process looks like this:
- Download the official Trump Accounts app, available for iPhone and Android.
- Verify your identity and your relationship to the child, review the child’s information and accept the account terms.
- Activate the account. Any money already in the account, such as the Dell $250, then moves into your claimed account.
- Elect the $1,000 contribution if your child qualifies (see below).
- Start contributing.
Only a parent or legal guardian can make the claim. Once it’s made, grandparents, other family members and friends can contribute as well.
A helpful precaution: always reach the app through TrumpAccounts.gov, and be cautious of unsolicited emails, texts or websites asking for your child’s information.
The $1,000 Government Contribution
The built-in starting point we highlighted in our first piece remains in place. Children who are U.S. citizens, have a valid Social Security number and were born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, are eligible for a one-time $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury.
The key change is that automatic enrollment does not trigger this deposit. A parent must claim the account and elect the contribution in the app; Treasury can’t make that election on a family’s behalf. Once deposited, the $1,000 is invested and does not count toward the $5,000 annual contribution limit.
If you already filed your 2025 tax return without the election form, there’s no need to amend it. Simply claim the account and make the election in the app.
The Dell $250 Contribution
In December 2025, Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion to deposit $250 into the Trump Accounts of 25 million children. Those deposits were completed as of October 9, 2026. No application was required, and the money arrived whether or not the account had been claimed.
Who received it: Children born between 2016 and 2024 who live in ZIP codes with a median family income of about $117,300 or less, as well as eligible children living on military bases. Some children in higher-income ZIP codes also received it because their families signed up before automatic enrollment began.
A few points worth knowing:
- It’s based on ZIP code, not your household income. Your family’s own income didn’t determine eligibility.
- The cutoff is lower than first announced. Early reports cited a $150,000 threshold. Automatic enrollment greatly expanded the number of eligible children, so the final cutoff came in lower.
- It complements the $1,000 rather than overlapping it. The $1,000 is for children born 2025 through 2028; the Dell deposit covered children born 2016 through 2024.
- It doesn’t count toward the $5,000 annual limit.
To see whether your child received it, check the account in the app or use the ZIP code checker from Invest America, the nonprofit administering the deposits.
How Trump Accounts Work: A Quick Refresher
As we noted in our first piece, these accounts are designed to keep investing simple. Treasury has now named the eligible investments: a default S&P 500 index ETF and four additional broad U.S. stock market index ETFs, all with an expense ratio cap of 0.10%. Leveraged funds, sector funds, and cash holdings are not permitted during the growth period. Until Treasury enables investment selection in the app, all contributions, including the $1,000, are invested in the default fund. Because these accounts are invested entirely in U.S. stock index funds, their value will rise and fall with the market and may lose value, including the government and Dell contributions.
The core features of the account haven’t changed.
One reminder: unlike a 529 plan, withdrawals are not tax-free, even when used for education. For families focused mainly on college savings, a 529 plan may remain the better fit. Trump Accounts work best as one tool within a broader plan for your child’s future.
Key Takeaways
- Your Child Likely Already Has an Account. Treasury automatically opened one for every eligible child under 18 as of October 1, 2026.
- $1,000 for Children Born 2025 to 2028. Elect it when you claim the account.
- Claiming Is the Essential Next Step. Until it’s claimed, there’s no $1,000 deposit, no family or employer contributions and no one managing the account.
- $250 From the Dells for Many Children Born 2016 to 2024. Already deposited; check the account to confirm.
- Use the Official App. Start at TrumpAccounts.gov to find it.
- Details May Still Change. Treasury’s current rules are temporary, and final regulations are still to come.
Next Steps For Your Family
Many of the families we work with are looking for ways to pass on not just wealth, but opportunity. Trump Accounts can be one part of that conversation, and claiming the account helps ensure your child or grandchild doesn’t miss contributions they may be eligible for.
If you have children or grandchildren under 18, consider these steps:
- Confirm that each child has an account, and have a parent or guardian claim it.
- Elect the $1,000 contribution for any child born 2025 through 2028.
- Check whether a Dell $250 deposit arrived for children born 2016 through 2024.
- Talk with your Cary Street Partners Financial Advisor about how a Trump Account fits alongside 529 plans, custodial accounts and your broader plan.
Treasury’s rules for these accounts are temporary and remain open for public comment through November 30, 2026, so some details may change. We’ll continue to monitor developments and keep you informed. As always, consult a tax professional about your specific situation.
Paige W. Garrigan
Chief Marketing & Transitions Officer, Managing Director
The Wealth Wisdom Series is curated by Paige W. Garrigan, drawing from the experience and input from Cary Street Partners’ Financial Advisors. Collaborating internally with the team, she gathers pertinent and timely topics for readers. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, she has acquired a wealth of knowledge across various facets of the industry, ensuring comprehensive insights for readers.
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