US Family & Child Support (as of 2026; subject to change)

Unlike Korea's universal child allowance, the US has no automatic per-child cash benefit. Instead, family support runs through tax credits and income-tested food assistance. That makes filing accurate taxes each year essential to actually getting these benefits.

1) Child Tax Credit (CTC)

• Up to USD 2,000 per child (current 2026 baseline; politically volatile — temporarily raised to USD 3,000–3,600 in some recent years).
• Eligible: dependents under age 17.
• The child must have a valid SSN (ITIN-only children face restrictions).
• Refundable portion (ACTC) up to about USD 1,700 (as of 2026; subject to change).
• Income phase-out begins at about USD 400,000 for joint filers.
• Parent status: parents may use SSN or ITIN (it's the child's SSN that's decisive).

How to apply: enter the child's information on Form 1040 — calculation is automatic.

2) Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

• A refundable credit for low-income workers.
• Up to about USD 7,800 with three or more children (as of 2026; subject to change).
• Childless workers can also qualify for a smaller amount.

3) SNAP (Food Stamps)

• Run by USDA, administered through state SNAP offices.
• Eligibility: roughly household income up to 130% of the federal poverty line.
• Paid via EBT card, used at grocery stores.
• Average benefit around USD 190/person/month (as of 2026; subject to change).
• Status restrictions: citizens or permanent residents with 5+ years (limited exceptions for children and pregnant women).
• Non-immigrant visa holders such as F-1 and H-1B are generally not eligible.

4) WIC — Women, Infants, and Children nutrition

• For pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under 5.
• Vouchers for specific items (formula, milk, fruits, vegetables).
• Status rules are more lenient than SNAP — immigration status often doesn't matter, and some non-immigrant visa holders may qualify.
• Apply at your state's WIC office.

5) TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

• Cash assistance for single-parent and low-income families.
• Lifetime limit of 60 months under federal rules; some states are shorter.
• Tied to work requirements.
• Generally for citizens or 5+ year permanent residents.

6) Family leave (family/medical reasons)

• Federal FMLA: 12 weeks unpaid (childbirth, adoption, serious family illness, etc.).
• Covered: 50+ employee firms; employees with 12+ months and 1,250+ hours.
• Paid family/medical leave (PFML) is operated only by some states: California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington, Colorado, Connecticut, and others.
• See parental.md for details on parental leave.

7) Childcare and CCDF

• Federal Child Care and Development Fund subsidises childcare for low-income families.
• State-administered; waiting lists are common.
• Childcare itself is very expensive (USD 1,500–3,500/month for infants is common; more in big cities).

Common situations for Korean families

• F-1 student's child: typically on F-2. CTC eligibility hinges on having an SSN — F-2 dependents don't get SSNs (only ITIN), so CTC is often unavailable.
• H-1B's child (H-4): child can sometimes get an SSN (under certain conditions); only then is CTC available, otherwise it's ITIN with limited credits.
• Green-card child: child gets an SSN, so full CTC.
• Dual-citizen child (born in US): automatic citizenship + SSN, full eligibility. Korean conscription / nationality reporting are separate matters.

Useful links

• irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-tax-credit
• fns.usda.gov/snap — SNAP
• fns.usda.gov/wic — WIC
• acf.hhs.gov/ofa — TANF
• dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla — FMLA