Is the $250 automatic like the $1,000 for newborns?

No. Neither is fully automatic — both require an opened, activated account. The $250 is applied after activation based on age and ZIP code, with no separate application.

Can my child get both the $1,000 and the $250?

No. Children born 2025–2028 receive the government's $1,000 and are excluded from the Dell $250. The programs cover different birth cohorts by design.

Is there a deadline for the Dell $250?

No published calendar deadline — but the gift covers only the first 25 million activated accounts among roughly 25 million eligible children. Practically, sooner is safer.

Does it cost anything to open a Trump Account?

No. Opening a Trump Account is free, always. Anyone charging a fee is running a scam.

Eligibility · Children born before 2025

My Child Was Born Before 2025 — What Do They Get? The $250 Dell Contribution, Explained

Last updated July 6, 2026 · Verified against Invest America, Treasury guidance, and the Dells' public statements

If your child was born before 2025, they missed the government's $1,000 Trump Account deposit — and most news coverage stops there. But roughly 25 million older children qualify for a $250 contribution funded by Michael and Susan Dell, and there's a detail most parents haven't heard: only the first 25 million activated accounts receive it. Here's exactly who qualifies and what to do.

Does your child qualify for the $250?

Your child is eligible if all three are true:

Age 10 or under, born before January 1, 2025. (Children born 2025–2028 get the government's $1,000 instead — the two don't stack.)
Your ZIP code has a median household income below $150,000. That sounds restrictive; it isn't. Invest America — the nonprofit administering the gift — projects the contribution reaches nearly 80% of children age 10 and under, across 75% of US ZIP codes.
You open and activate a Trump Account for them. This is the step parents miss. The $250 is deposited after activation — it is not automatic, and no deposit happens for children without an opened account.

Older than 10? Don't close the tab. The Dells have said that if funds remain after initial signups from the under-10 group, older children may benefit too. Opening an account now costs nothing and positions your child for any remaining funds — plus the other contributions below.

Get alerts for your child's age group

Tell us your child's birth year and we'll email you the moment new contributions open up for their cohort — Dell, state programs, employers.

Updates relevant to your child's birth year only. No spam, unsubscribe anytime, we never sell your information.

Why timing genuinely matters here

Two facts create real urgency — the legitimate kind, not the scam kind:

The gift covers the first 25 million activated accounts among eligible children. There are roughly 25 million eligible kids, so late activators risk missing out entirely.
The $6.25 billion figure was chosen to honor America's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026 — the same day accounts opened for funding. Signups are live now.

One caution while you act quickly: scammers are exploiting exactly this urgency. The only places to open or activate an account are TrumpAccounts.gov, the official Trump Accounts app, and trumpaccount.com — and opening an account is always free. If anyone asks for a fee to "claim" your child's $250, it's theft. Full guide: Is Your Trump Account Email Real?

How to claim it, step by step

Open a Trump Account for your child at TrumpAccounts.gov, through the official app, or by filing IRS Form 4547 with your tax return. You'll need your child's Social Security number.
Complete activation. If you filed Form 4547 already, watch for the official activation email — it comes only from no-reply@TrumpAccounts.Treasury.gov.
The $250 is applied based on your child's age and ZIP code once the account is active. There's no separate Dell application.

What else can go into the account

The Dell gift is a one-time deposit, but the account itself keeps working:

Family contributions: Parents, grandparents, and anyone else can add up to $5,000 per year total per child.
Employer contributions: Employers can put in up to $2,500 per year (within the $5,000 limit) — companies including Uber, Intel, IBM, Nvidia, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Dell have announced programs.
Other charitable gifts: Dalio Philanthropies has pledged $250 deposits for eligible children in Connecticut, and more state and philanthropic programs are being announced. We track these as they launch.

Funds are invested in low-cost US index funds during the growth period and are locked until the year your child turns 18, after which the account follows traditional-IRA-style rules.

One detail most coverage gets wrong

You'll see this gift attributed to "the Dell Foundation" everywhere. Per the Dells' own clarification, the $6.25 billion comes from Michael and Susan Dell's personal charitable funds directly — not the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. It doesn't change your child's eligibility, but it's the kind of detail we verify so you don't have to.

FAQ

My child was born in 2015 and is 10 years old. Do they qualify?: If your child is age 10 or under and was born before January 1, 2025, they meet the age test. Check your ZIP code's median income for the second test — most US ZIP codes qualify.
Is the $250 automatic like the $1,000 for newborns?: No. Neither is fully automatic — both require an opened, activated account. The $250 is applied after activation based on age and ZIP code, with no separate application.
Can my child get both the $1,000 and the $250?: No. Children born 2025–2028 receive the government's $1,000 and are excluded from the Dell $250. The programs cover different birth cohorts by design.
What if my ZIP code doesn't qualify?: Your child can still have a Trump Account with family and employer contributions up to $5,000/year, and may qualify for other charitable or state programs — like Dalio Philanthropies' $250 for Connecticut children.
Is there a deadline?: No published calendar deadline — but the gift covers only the first 25 million activated accounts among roughly 25 million eligible children. Practically, sooner is safer.
Does it cost anything to open the account?: No. Opening a Trump Account is free, always. Anyone charging a fee is running a scam.

Sources: Invest America; the Dells' public statements; U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance; NBC News, Time, and Forbes reporting. Educational content, not financial, tax, or legal advice.