The Social Security Administration has begun including instructions for claiming a $1,000 government investment contribution alongside Social Security cards issued to newborns. The rollout expands a nationwide effort to inform American families about federal children’s investment accounts.
The new informational inserts are distributed through the agency’s Enumeration at Birth program. They explain how parents can sign up for Trump Accounts and claim a one-time $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury Department for eligible children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028.
More than 3.5 million children are born in the United States annually, and the Social Security Administration assigns approximately 99% of infant Social Security numbers through the Enumeration at Birth program, according to agency press officer Barton Mackey. By placing the information directly into newborn card mailings, the agency connects families with the initiative during one of their earliest interactions with the federal government.
The government-issued insert congratulates parents and informs them that qualifying children may receive the initial $1,000 Treasury contribution. According to the notice, parents are instructed to visit TrumpAccounts.gov, download the Trump Accounts app, and sign up. Families then receive communication from the Treasury Department regarding account activation and receipt of the government contribution.
The account is established in the child’s name, with a parent or custodian managing it until the child turns 18. Families are not required to make additional contributions, but they may deposit up to $5,000 annually, subject to program rules. The one-time $1,000 Treasury contribution is intended to provide an initial investment for eligible children rather than acting as an immediate cash payment to parents. To qualify, children must be U.S. citizens with valid Social Security numbers born within the designated four-year window.
Trump Accounts function as tax-advantaged investment accounts for eligible individuals under 18, designed to support long-term savings. The Social Security Administration’s role focuses on distributing information and helping families enroll through the existing newborn card process. Through Enumeration at Birth, parents can request a Social Security number during the birth-registration process at a hospital, birthing center, or through a licensed midwife, avoiding a separate trip to a Social Security office.
The new mail inserts build upon an initiative announced in July to help parents enroll newborns in Trump Accounts, which included plans to update hospital guidance and card mailings. While the Treasury Department oversees the federal contribution, the Social Security Administration handles the Social Security number process and related enrollment assistance.
President Donald Trump has also suggested that the investment account concept could eventually expand beyond children. During an interview with the FOX Business Network, when asked whether Americans could one day see similar accounts for adults, the president indicated a separate approach was under consideration. Trump also stated that the broader initiative had close to 80 million recipients, noting that the figure was growing rapidly as companies and private individuals participated.
