Could the government pay you to stay home with your kids? Here's what families need to earn to qualify

A shifting political landscape could soften the heightened anxiety. According to reports by The New York Times and GV Wire, the Trump administration has drafted a policy proposal, championed by Vice President JD Vance, that would allow married couples with a stay-at-home parent to tap into the federal childcare subsidies. By allocating funds from the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), the draft plan could provide qualifying single-income households with roughly $9,00 per child annually.

Critics have argued that diverting these funds could squeeze working parents who depend on subsidized daycare; the proposal signals a change in how the government supports early childhood care. But until any policy changes take effect, families still need to know: what does it actually take to support a family on a single income today?

A six-figure reality in some states

With high child care costs, it’s an idea that many parents might consider. A SmartAsset study suggested that in 2026, getting by on a single paycheck may be harder than ever.

In the report, a ranking was made of how much a single working parent needs to earn in every U.S. state to support a household with a nonworking partner and one child. The most expensive states were, predictably, Hawaii and California, while the cheapest were Arkansas, Mississippi and Kentucky.

Another big reason that families consider dropping to one income is the cost of child care. In at least 20 states and Washington, D.C., full-time childcare costs hit lower-income Americans the hardest, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

So on paper, staying home can look like a straightforward cost-saving move. If one paycheck barely covers day care, why not just cut out that expense altogether? But eliminating child care costs doesn’t automatically make a one-income household affordable.

Leaving the workforce for several years can have lasting consequences as well, especially when it comes to future earnings and career growth, Emily Green, head of wealth management at Ellevest, told CNBC Make It.

Women are especially affected. About 82% of stay-at-home parents are women, according to Pew Research Center data from 2023, making them more likely to experience career interruptions, missed raises and slower retirement savings.

“In households where there’s a little more financial wiggle room, women often don’t think about what they may give up in the long term — say in 5 to 10 years — by leaving their jobs now,” Green said.

When the stay-at-home parent is ready to go back to work, they may find it challenging after a long break. Resume gaps can limit job opportunities or lead to lower pay than before, a hidden cost that doesn’t show up in a monthly budget.

A checklist for potential stay-at-home parents

Before leaping into a single-income household, financial experts say it helps to walk through the numbers and trade-offs carefully. Start with these four simple steps.

Make a financial plan

“Those who fail to plan are planning to fail” is a familiar adage, and one that certainly applies to personal finance. Before you make this major life decision, figure out how much of your current lifestyle a single income will cover, and which expenses you can trim.

A financial advisor can help you crunch the numbers and build a plan that works for your family. But with something as sensitive as your finances, and a decision as big as potentially leaving the workforce — it’s important to find someone you trust.

Finding the right advisor isn’t always easy — there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why Advisor.com lets you set up a free initial consultation with no obligation to hire to see if they’re the right fit for you.

Once you’ve got the right financial advisor in your corner, the next step is getting a clear picture of where your money’s actually going. That starts with the basics — budgeting and tracking your spending.

Make a budget and stick to it

If you enjoy creating spreadsheets, this is your time to shine. To make a basic budget, record your monthly income, expenses and debts. Then, consider the 50/30/20 rule for simple financial management: 50% of your income for needs (essentials like housing and groceries), 30% for wants (purchases like streaming subscriptions and dining out) and 20% for savings, investments and debt repayment.

You can also let Rocket Money work behind the scenes to keep your finances on track.

With the app’s premium Net Worth feature, you can link all your accounts — banking, investments, retirement, property, vehicles and even manually added items like jewelry — and it shows your assets versus liabilities in real time, no spreadsheets required.

With free tools like subscription tracking, bill reminders, credit scores and budgeting basics, plus premium features such as automated savings and customizable dashboards, Rocket Money makes it easier to see the big financial picture, stay on top of your investments and keep you focused on building your wealth.

Save on necessary costs

If the big picture still doesn’t add up to an affordable stay-at-home parenting option, you may be able to spend less to make up the difference. That could mean cutting back on nonessentials, as well as finding better deals on the things you really need.

Some costs — like home insurance for homeowners and car insurance for licensed drivers — are unavoidable.

And homeowners insurance is getting more expensive. The average single-family homeowner already pays an eye-watering $2,370 in yearly premiums, and to make matters worse, 47% of policyholders saw their rates go up in the past year, according to a 2025 study by J.D. Power.