Education Both
Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program
Eligibility
Current or former foster youth who were in care at age 16+. Generally to age 26; must start before age 21 in some states.
Provides
Federal voucher for postsecondary education or vocational training, tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, transportation, computer, and child care.
- · Up to $5,000 per year (or cost of attendance, whichever is less).
- · Up to 5 years of funding total (consecutive or not).
- · Ends at age 26 or after 5 years, whichever comes first.
- · Administered state-by-state under Chafee, amounts and exact eligibility vary.
Child Welfare Information Gateway, ETV ↗
Source: CRS Report IF11070 ↗
Education Both
FAFSA, Independent Student Status
Eligibility
Youth who were in foster care, a ward of the court, or had both parents deceased at any time since age 13. Also: emancipated minors, legal guardianship, unaccompanied homeless youth.
Provides
Treated as an independent student on the FAFSA, no parent income required. Unlocks Pell Grant, SEOG, Work-Study, and Direct Loans.
- · Answer "Yes" to the foster care / ward of court question on the FAFSA.
- · Pell Grant maximum: $7,395 for the 2025-26 award year (July 1 2025 – June 30 2026).
- · FAFSA Simplification Act (2023-24+): provisional independent status for unusual circumstances, confirmed by the school.
StudentAid.gov, Dependency Status ↗
Source: ED Dear Colleague Letter GEN-25-02 ↗
Education Former / aged out
Foster Care to Success (FC2S)
Eligibility
Youth who aged out of foster care or were in care. Specific scholarships (e.g., Casey Family Scholars, Sponsored Scholarship Program) have their own criteria.
Provides
Scholarships, mentoring, coaching, and care packages for foster youth in college. The oldest and largest national organization focused on foster youth education.
- · Multiple scholarship programs with varying amounts and deadlines.
- · Pairs funding with mentoring and coaching, not a pure cash grant.
fc2s.org ↗
Healthcare Former / aged out
Former Foster Care Medicaid to Age 26
Eligibility
Youth who aged out of foster care and were enrolled in Medicaid at the time of aging out. Coverage to age 26. No income test.
Provides
Full Medicaid benefits through age 25. The Former Foster Care Children (FFCC) eligibility group is mandatory in every state.
Recently changed. Out-of-state portability took effect Jan 1 2023 for youth who turn 18 on or after that date. If you aged out before that date, ask your current state Medicaid agency whether a Section 1115 demonstration covers you.
- · No income or resource test for the FFCC group.
- · Portability change (SUPPORT Act §1002, eff. Jan 1 2023): youth who turn 18 on or after Jan 1 2023 can get Medicaid in ANY state, regardless of where they aged out.
- · Youth who turned 18 BEFORE Jan 1 2023 are still subject to the same-state rule in most states.
- · At least 112,000 people were enrolled in the FFCC group in 2023 (GAO-25-107286).
Medicaid.gov, FFCC Coverage Changes ↗
Source: CRS Report IF11010 ↗
Housing Former / aged out
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Vouchers
Eligibility
Ages 18-24 (have not reached 25th birthday). Left foster care, or will leave within 90 days, under a transition plan. Homeless or at risk of homelessness at age 16+.
Provides
Housing Choice Vouchers issued through Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) partnered with child welfare agencies, plus supportive services.
- · Voucher covers local Fair Market Rent.
- · Housing assistance max 36 months.
- · Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities (FSHO) extension: up to 24 additional months for youth who meet requirements.
- · Request through your local PHA and child welfare agency under Notice PIH 2023-04.
HUD, FYI Initiative ↗
Source: HUD FYI FAQs (Oct 2024) ↗
Housing Both
Family Unification Program (FUP)
Eligibility
Two groups: (1) families whose lack of housing is a primary factor in child placement or imminent removal; (2) youth 18-24 who left foster care at 16+ and lack housing.
Provides
Housing Choice Vouchers. For youth, vouchers plus up to 36 months of supportive services.
- · Youth FUP vouchers are limited to 36 months of supportive services.
- · Administered through PHAs that received FUP funding.
HUD, Family Unification Program ↗
Food & Cash Former / aged out
SNAP, Foster Youth ABAWD Exception
Eligibility
Individuals age 24 or younger who were in foster care under state responsibility on their 18th birthday (or higher state age-out age).
Provides
Exception from the SNAP Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) 3-month time limit. You can keep SNAP beyond 3 months without meeting the work requirement.
Recently changed. This exception is new (2023) and sunsets in 2030. Apply through your state SNAP office and tell them you aged out of foster care.
- · Added by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, effective Sept 1 2023.
- · Final rule provisions effective Jan 16 2025 (7 CFR 273.24(c)(9)).
- · This is an exception from the time limit, you still must meet normal SNAP income and household rules.
- · Sunsets October 1 2030 unless extended by law.
USDA FNS, SNAP Eligibility ↗
Source: FNS SNAP FRA Final Rule ↗
Food & Cash Both
TANF, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Eligibility
State-administered; primarily for families with children. Single childless youth typically do NOT qualify directly. Former foster youth with children may qualify.
Provides
Time-limited cash assistance and supportive services.
- · 60-month federal lifetime cap on cash assistance.
- · Work requirements and state-specific rules apply.
- · Variation across states is extreme, check your state agency.
ACF, TANF ↗
Tax Credits Former / aged out
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Eligibility
Workers with low to moderate income. Without a qualifying child, you generally must be at least age 25 and under 65.
Provides
Refundable federal tax credit that reduces tax owed and can produce a refund.
Recently changed. The age-18 rule you may have heard about was 2021 only. Do not claim EITC at age 18-24 without a qualifying child for 2025 unless the law changes, the IRS will deny it.
- · The age-18 eligibility expansion for former foster youth and homeless youth was a 2021-only change (American Rescue Plan Act). It EXPIRED for tax year 2022 and later.
- · A bill (Tax Cuts for Workers Act of 2025) has been proposed to reinstate the age-18 rule permanently, it is NOT currently law.
- · For 2025, the minimum age without a qualifying child is 25 (or 19+ if not a student, 24+ if a full-time student).
IRS, EITC ↗
Source: IRS Taxpayer Advocate, Foster Youth & EITC ↗
Independent Living Both
John H. Chafee Foster Care Program (CFCP)
Eligibility
Youth in foster care, typically ages 14-21. Former foster youth up to age 21 (or 23 in some states). States set specifics.
Provides
Flexible funding for independent living services, education, employment, housing, daily living skills, mentoring. Funds the ETV program. States have broad discretion.
- · Title IV-E funded; state-by-state variation is large.
- · Some states extended Chafee to age 23 or 26 under pandemic-era flexibilities, verify your state.
- · Check with your caseworker or state independent living coordinator.
ACF, Chafee Program ↗
Source: CRS Report IF11070 ↗
Independent Living Currently in care
Extended Foster Care (to 21)
Eligibility
Under Fostering Connections (2008), states may opt to extend foster care to age 21 for youth who are working, in school, in an employment program, or unable to do those due to a medical condition. Most but not all states have opted in.
Provides
Continued foster care placement, case management, Medicaid, and Chafee services past age 18.
- · State opt-in, verify your state's age cap and criteria.
- · You typically must meet one of the participation conditions (school, work, program, medical).
Child Welfare Information Gateway, Federal Laws ↗
Legal & Advocacy Currently in care
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Eligibility
Children and youth in foster care, court-appointed by a judge.
Provides
Trained community volunteers appointed by judges to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in foster care. One-on-one advocacy.
- · A CASA volunteer stays with a child's case until it is closed and the child is in a safe, permanent home.
- · Available in most U.S. counties, ask your caseworker or attorney.
National CASA/GAL ↗
Peer Support Both
FosterClub
Eligibility
Current and former foster youth.
Provides
Peer network, transition toolkits, the Permanency Pact, message boards, and youth leadership programs (AllStar program).
- · Built by and for foster youth.
- · Free to join; resources are public.
fosterclub.com ↗
Peer Support Former / aged out
Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)
Eligibility
Adults who were in foster care.
Provides
National peer network for adults who were in foster care, chapters, conferences, and community.
- · Membership is for alumni of the foster care system.
fostercarealumni.org ↗
Peer Support Both
National Foster Youth Institute (NFYI)
Eligibility
Current and former foster youth.
Provides
Advocacy, leadership development, congressional shadow day, and youth organizing. Former foster youth-led.
- · Focuses on policy advocacy and leadership, not direct benefits.
nfyi.org ↗
Navigation Both
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Eligibility
Anyone, the federal clearinghouse for child welfare information.
Provides
The federal clearinghouse for child welfare information, connects you to resources, state statutes, research, and programs. The best single authoritative starting point.
- · Run by the Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- · Has a dedicated "Aging Out" section for transition-age youth.
childwelfare.gov, Aging Out ↗
Navigation Both
Benefits.gov
Eligibility
Anyone in the U.S.
Provides
Official U.S. government benefits finder, answer a questionnaire to get matched to federal and state benefits you may qualify for.
- · Covers more than 1,000 federal and state benefit programs.
- · Start here if you do not know which programs apply to you.
benefits.gov ↗
Navigation Both
iFoster
Eligibility
Current and former foster youth, caregivers, and agencies.
Provides
Large resource portal, free and discounted resources (laptops, internet access, groceries, clothing, telehealth), the iFoster TAY AmeriCorps program, and navigation support.
- · Membership is free for foster youth and families.
- · Offers tangible goods, not just referrals.
ifoster.org ↗
Navigation Both
Casey Family Programs
Eligibility
Select locations and partner sites.
Provides
The largest operating foundation focused on foster care, research, technical assistance, and direct services in select locations. The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (part of Casey) focuses on permanence, race equity, and well-being for older youth.
- · Opportunity Passport™ matched-savings program is available only in participating sites.
- · Primarily a research and field-building funder, not a direct national benefits office.
casey.org ↗
Navigation Both
National Runaway Safeline
Eligibility
Youth up to age 21.
Provides
24/7 crisis support, the Home Free program (free bus tickets home via Greyhound partnership with National Safe Place), message service, and online chat.
- · Call or text 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929).
- · Home Free provides a free bus ticket home for eligible youth.
1800runaway.org ↗
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