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Trump Accounts for Older Kids and the Dell $250 (2026)
Born before 2025? Your child still has a Trump Account, and may already have $250 in it.
The short answer
Children born before 2025 can't get the $1,000 federal seed, but they can still have a Trump Account, and most already do. The Treasury automatically opened accounts for every child under 18 with a Social Security number on October 1, 2026. Children born 2016 through 2024 in lower- and middle-income ZIP codes also received $250 from Michael and Susan Dell, deposited automatically by October 9, 2026.
Who got the Dell $250
| Rule | Final requirement |
|---|---|
| Birth date | January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2024 |
| Where you live | A ZIP code with a median family income of $117,300 or less, based on Census data |
| Military families | All eligible children living on military bases, regardless of ZIP code |
| Your income | Doesn't matter: eligibility is set by ZIP code, not by your family's income |
| Application | None: deposits were automatic |
| Deposit date | Completed by October 9, 2026 |
The threshold ended up lower than the "$150,000" first reported, because automatic enrollment added millions more children while the pledge stayed fixed. Families who filed Form 4547 or claimed an account before October 1, 2026 remain eligible under the earlier rules. Invest America says funds are also reserved for children in foster care, with details still being worked out.
How to check and see the $250
- Check your ZIP code on Invest America's Dell eligibility page (investamerica.org).
- Claim your child's Trump Account in the official Trump Accounts app. Here's how.
- Once claimed, the balance shows in the app, including the $250 and any growth since it was deposited.
Until the account is claimed, the $250 stays invested in an S&P 500 index fund in your child's name. You can't see it or add to it until you claim it.
Older kids without the Dell $250
Children born 2009 through 2015, or in ZIP codes above the threshold, still have a Trump Account. Family can add up to $5,000 a year until the year the child turns 18. Whether that's a good idea depends on your goals:
- Fewer years to grow. A 12-year-old has only 6 years of contributions before 18, so the account is better seen as a head start on retirement than a big college fund.
- Taxed like an IRA. Growth is taxed as income when withdrawn, and withdrawals before 59½ usually carry a 10% penalty, except for college costs or up to $10,000 for a first home.
- For college, a 529 often keeps more. Compare the two for your child's age.
What could $250 grow to?
At a 7% yearly return, $250 deposited for a 5-year-old grows to about $600 by 18 and about $14,500 by 65 if left alone. Adding $500 a year from age 5 brings the balance at 18 to about $11,400. Try your own numbers.
Questions parents ask
Can my 10-year-old get the $1,000?
No. The $1,000 federal seed is only for children born 2025 through 2028.
Can a child get both the $1,000 and the Dell $250?
No. The Dell gift covered children born 2016–2024, who miss the federal window, so each child gets one or the other at most.
Do I have to apply for the Dell $250?
No. It was deposited automatically. You only need to claim the account to see it.
Is there a deadline to claim it?
No deadline was announced. The money stays in the child's account, and the child can claim it at 18 if no one claims it sooner.
Last checked November 11, 2026 against Invest America's final Dell eligibility rules and IRS guidance.