I – 089 What are the general eligibility requirements for Early Head Start and Head Start?
There are two primary kinds of eligibility for Head Start: categorical eligibility and income eligibility. Categorical Eligibility: A child from birth to age five or a pregnant woman is categorically eligible for Head Start (child aged 3-5) or Early Head Start (child aged 0-3, or a pregnant woman) if: homeless, in foster care, or the recipient of public assistance (TANF or SSI). Grantees are not required to verify family income (pay stubs, W-2s or the like) for those categorically eligible for Head Start. However, the grantee must verify that the child/woman is either homeless, in foster care, or in a family that is receiving public assistance. Grantees are required to retain a record of the documents reviewed and relied upon to determine that a child/woman is categorically eligible accompanied by a signed statement of an employee of the Head Start grantee that the child/woman was found to be eligible. Income Eligibility: A child from birth to age five or a pregnant woman is income eli
