Do I get this money automatically?

You have to proactively sign up to receive any of this money. More on this page about why.

Why do I have to sign up?

As of this writing in May 2026, the government does not plan to automatically create accounts or make $1,000 contributions unless families sign up.

This is for two reasons:

The government wants to make sure that the right adult in a child’s life opens the account, so that the family can manage it for the child’s benefit.
Federal law limits what the IRS can do with your sensitive data without your permission. Government lawyers have decided — at least for now — that the government can’t use your data to create and administer a 530A unless you say so.

It is possible this could change in the future, and that families could be automatically enrolled in accounts. If it does, we will update this page. Check back for updates.

Do I have to sign up to get contributions from donors/states?

Sort of. To get contributions like the $250 Dell gift, you have to open a 530A account. After you have completed the two-step process to set up your 530A account, though, amounts like the Dell contribution will be automatically put into your account.

If you don’t create a 530A account, though, your child will not receive the additional contributions that they may be eligible for.

Haven’t filed your taxes? You might be leaving money on the table

If you have kids and haven’t filed your taxes yet, you may be eligible for tax credits to support your family — even if you earned little or no income from work.