Nurturing Futures Direct Cash Assistance Program

How the Program Works

• Families get a payment at the start of each month.
• AidKit handles applications, payments, and support for participants.
• Families choose how to use the money based on what they need.

Why Boulder County Uses Direct Cash Assistance

Direct cash assistance helps families meet their needs today and build stronger families and communities for tomorrow. We want to support parents so they can focus on their children.

How Payments Affect Other Benefits

Nurturing Futures payments may change some of the other benefits your family gets. To learn more, you can:

• Read the Benefits Guide in English (Guía de beneficios en español)
• Schedule a virtual meeting with our Personal Finance Program for free help. You can also call 720-564-2279 to schedule an appointment.
• Talk with the agencies that manage your benefits.
• Use MyFriendBen to check your benefits.

Check Your Benefits With MyFriendBen

MyFriendBen is a free online tool. It shows benefits your family may qualify for, like help with rent, food, healthcare, and childcare. It takes about six minutes. You don’t need to give your name, email, phone number, or Social Security number.

Tip: When the tool asks about income, add $600 a month for Nurturing Futures. That way your results show what may change in 2027.

Check your benefits on MyFriendBen

MyFriendBen gives estimates. Each program makes its own final decision.

Thank you to everyone who reapplied for 2027. If you are already in Nurturing Futures, here is what to expect:

• Your $300 monthly payment will continue through December 2026.
• We are reviewing all applications now. Every current family who still meets the program rules will be approved.
• We will text or email you in December to tell you if you were approved.
• If you are approved, you will get $600 a month from January through December 2027.

Questions or Need Help?

Contact us anytime with questions or to update your contact information. If possible, use the same email or phone number from your application.

• Email: support@nurturingfutures.aidkit.org
• Phone or text: 720-734-4999

We will respond within five days.

To qualify, you must:

• Live in Boulder County now and stay here for the whole time you are in the program.
• Have a child born on or after Nov. 3, 2022.
• Be 18 or older when you apply
• Have a household income before taxes at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI). AMI is the middle income for the area. If you’re already in Nurturing Futures and are applying again, there is no income limit.

One application per household: A child under 4 can be named on only one application. If two households share custody of the same child, only the first application submitted is accepted.

How We Figure Your Income

When you apply, we look at your household income before taxes, sometimes called your gross income. It must be at or below 30% of AMI.
To add up your income before taxes, include all money, taxable and not taxable, for everyone in your household. That means you, your spouse or partner, and anyone who depends on you, such as children, students, or family members who are elderly, sick, or disabled.

Note: The meaning of “household income” changes from program to program. This is the meaning for Nurturing Futures.

What Counts as a Household

A household is a group of people who live together and share expenses. Your household includes you, your spouse or partner, and anyone who depends on you for most of their expenses. If you live with people who support themselves, you count as separate households. Do not count roommates or tenants.

Your Payments and Benefits

Can I spend the money on anything?

Yes. You can spend it on whatever your family needs.

How could Nurturing Futures affect my other benefits?

The money could change some of the other public benefits you get. Here are four ways to find out how.

Read the Benefits Guide

Start with our Benefits Guide in English (Guía de beneficios en español). It explains how the payments may affect each type of benefit.

Meet With Our Personal Finance Team

Boulder County’s Personal Finance Program offers free, private, one-on-one help. You can meet by phone, video, or in person. The team can help you:

• Look at how your benefits might change
• Talk through “what if” situations
• Understand your options before you decide

Schedule a free appointment with the Personal Finance Team or call 720-564-2279.

Check Your Benefits With MyFriendBen

MyFriendBen is a free online tool. It shows benefits your family may qualify for, like help with rent, food, healthcare, and childcare. It takes about six minutes. You don’t need to give your name, email, phone number, or Social Security number.

Tip: When the tool asks about income, add $600 a month for Nurturing Futures. That way your results show what may change in 2027.

Check your benefits on MyFriendBen

MyFriendBen gives estimates. Each program makes its own final decision.

Contact the Agencies That Manage Your Benefits

For questions about a specific benefit, talk with your caseworker or call the agency:

• Boulder County Human Services for SNAP, Medicaid, Colorado Works, and childcare assistance: 303-441-1000
• Boulder County Public Health for WIC: 303-413-7500
• Boulder County Community Services: 303-441-3980
• Connect for Health Colorado for health insurance: 855-752-6749
• Social Security Administration for SSI and Social Security: 800-772-1213

Do I pay taxes on this money?

Boulder County cannot give tax advice. For any tax questions about money you get from Nurturing Futures, please talk to a tax professional. See the tools below for tax resources:

• Find local resources and assistance in Boulder County
• Find free tax help in Colorado

What happens to the money that does not go to families?

We use it to run the program. This includes:

• Paying AidKit to run the application system
• Staff costs
• Communications
• Other program expenses

After You Apply

How are people selected?

Families already in Nurturing Futures who still meet the rules get the first chance to continue. After that, a computer randomly selects new families to fill the remaining spots, up to 410 in total. Like a lottery, every new family who qualifies and applies on time has an equal chance.

When will I know if I was selected?

Within four weeks after the deadline, we will text or email every applicant. We will tell you whether you were:

• Selected for the program, or
• Not selected

If you are selected, you do not need to do anything else. Payments will start on the date we give you, using the payment method you chose. If you no longer want to take part, contact AidKit at support@nurturingfutures.aidkit.org or 720-734-4999.

I was not selected. Where else can I get help?

Visit the Boulder County Human Services website or Findhelp to learn about other programs.

How do I update my contact information?

Contact AidKit:

• Email: support@nurturingfutures.aidkit.org
• Phone: 720-734-4999

Your Privacy

What happens to my information?

We only use your application to check if you qualify for Nurturing Futures. We keep your information private and secure. We will not share it without your permission, unless the law requires it or we need it to run the program.

Why We Created Nurturing Futures:

In 2022, Boulder County used $6 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to create Nurturing Futures. We named it Nurturing Futures because the program helps families with young children. The program worked well, and because we are committed to supporting our community, Boulder County extended it through 2027.

What Is Direct Cash Assistance?

Direct cash assistance gives money directly to families who need it. Families can use the money for essentials like:

• Rent
• Food
• Utilities
• Healthcare
• Childcare

Why This Approach Works:

Parents know what their families need. By giving families money instead of deciding for them, we trust them to make the best choices.

This also helps our local economy. When families have money to spend, it supports local businesses and helps everyone.

Our Partner: AidKit:

AidKit helps governments pay people who need help. We chose AidKit because they:

• Make applications easy to use on mobile phones
• Process applications quickly
• Keep your information safe
• Prevent fraud