The information below applies to both program options:

Eligibility

Children from birth to age five who are from families with incomes below the poverty guidelines are eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services. Children from homeless families and families receiving public assistance such as TANF or SSI are also eligible. Foster children are eligible regardless of their foster family’s income.

Federal Poverty Income Guidelines

https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines

Documentation for Eligibility

Families can provide proof of income by using any of the following; 1040 tax form, W-2, payroll stubs, TANF or SSI documentation, unemployment documentation, foster care documentation and more. The program will use information for 12 months of income or information on the previous calendar year. This is all depending on what documentation is provided.