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Federal program now explicitly includes single fathers and legal guardians responsible for minors
Millions of Mexican families face the same challenge: raising their children alone, without a stable financial support network.
With that in mind, the Mexican government continues to operate, in 2026, the Programa para el Bienestar de las Niñas y Niños, Hijos de Madres Trabajadoras — a bimonthly economic support program created to ease the financial burden on those who raise children on their own.
The big news this year is the formal expansion of who the program serves. Until recently, it was aimed almost exclusively at working mothers. Now, the official rules explicitly recognize single fathers and legal guardians who have custody of a minor as well — whether grandparents, aunts and uncles, or other legally recognized caregivers.
Why this support exists
The program’s stated goal is to allow the person responsible for the child to work, study or look for a job without the lack of a childcare network becoming an obstacle. The money is deposited directly into the beneficiary’s account, without going through intermediaries, associations or “facilitators” — a point the government itself emphasizes heavily in its official communications.
How much the program pays
The amounts vary according to the child’s age and condition:
| Category | Bimonthly amount | Age range |
|---|---|---|
| Child without a disability | $1,650 pesos | From newborn up to one day before turning 4 years old |
| Child with a disability | $3,720 pesos | From newborn up to one day before turning 6 years old |
| Maternal orphanhood (absence of one or both parents) | $830 to $1,240 pesos | From 0 to 23 years old |
Support can be granted for up to 3 children per household, except in cases of multiple births, where this limit does not apply.
Under the maternal orphanhood category, the amount paid is tiered according to the age of the child or young person under guardianship:
| Age range | Bimonthly amount |
|---|---|
| 0 to 15 years old | $830 pesos |
| 16 to 18 years old | $1,130 pesos |
| 19 to 23 years old | $1,240 pesos |
Who can apply for the support
To be eligible for the federal benefit, the person responsible for the minor must meet at least one of the following conditions:
- Be employed, whether formally or informally
- Be actively looking for a job
- Be studying (in this case, an official proof of enrollment issued by the school must be submitted)
In addition, the applicant must not have access to childcare services provided by public social security institutions, such as IMSS or ISSSTE. Mothers and single fathers must also present letters proving they are not affiliated with those institutions — a requirement that legal guardians are exempt from.
Documentation required for enrollment
Enrollment in the federal program is in person and free of charge — there is no official online procedure for first-time registration. The list of required documents usually includes:
| Document | Detail |
|---|---|
| Valid official ID | Of the responsible adult (voter ID, passport, military ID, or, if a minor, birth certificate) |
| CURP (Unique Population Registry Code) | Of the responsible adult and of each child being enrolled, recent printout |
| Birth certificate | Of each child, legible |
| Proof of address | Recent (water, electricity, phone or property tax bill) |
| Sworn statement | A document in which the responsible adult declares, under oath, whether they work, are looking for a job, or are studying |
| Letters of non-affiliation with IMSS/ISSSTE | Required from mothers and single fathers; guardians are exempt from this requirement |
| Medical certificate | Required only when the child’s disability is not visible, issued by a public institution or a licensed specialist physician |
How and where to apply
Enrollment in the federal program does not follow a single national calendar — it opens through regional calls for registration, depending on each state’s budget availability. To apply, the responsible adult should:
- Watch for visits from the so-called “Servants of the Nation” in their area, or
- Go in person to the nearest “Bienestar” welfare modules
Some states, such as Hidalgo and the State of Mexico, also offer online pre-registration through their state secretariats, as a way to speed up the subsequent in-person appointment. Payment is made through the Banco del Bienestar card, linked directly to the beneficiary.
State programs that add to the federal support
Besides the national program, several states and municipalities maintain their own initiatives, with amounts and rules specific to each region:
| State program | State/Municipality |
|---|---|
| Tarjeta Mamá Soltera | Huixquilucan (State of Mexico) |
| Tarjeta Violeta | Baja California |
| Mujeres con Bienestar | State of Mexico |
Some of these municipal and state programs have their own rules regarding amounts and target audience. That’s the case of Tarjeta Mamá Soltera, run by the Huixquilucan DIF: the total support is $3,070 pesos, paid in two installments ($2,035 pesos in the first and $1,035 pesos in the second), aimed at women heads of household between 18 and 59 years old, with children under 18 and proven residency in the municipality. The funds are delivered through a chip card for personal, non-transferable use, with no e-commerce function — and meeting the requirements does not guarantee automatic enrollment, since selection also takes into account socioeconomic vulnerability criteria assessed by the DIF itself.
Other local initiatives are also worth the attention of those looking to supplement the federal support:
| Program | Coverage | Approximate amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bienestar de Madres Solteras Trabajadoras | Hidalgo | One-time payment of $10,000 pesos |
| Las Jefas | Iztapalapa (Mexico City) | $4,000 pesos, in 4 installments of $1,000 pesos |
| Madres Trabajadoras CDMX | Mexico City | $3,720 pesos bimonthly |
Since each state program has its own enrollment calendar, required documents and payment amount, it’s always best to check the current rules in the state where the family lives before applying — in many cases, it’s possible to receive the federal support together with the state support.
What to consider before applying
It’s worth reinforcing that the support is meant for those who genuinely face financial hardship and have proven custody of the minor. The basic documentation usually includes official ID, an updated CURP, the child’s birth certificate and a recent proof of address — but the exact requirements vary depending on the program chosen (federal or state).
Before applying to any of these programs, it’s also worth keeping a few practical points in mind: gathering all the documentation in advance helps avoid having the application rejected for a missing document; keeping an eye on official channels (the Secretaría de Bienestar’s social media, the municipal DIF, or the responsible state secretariat) is the safest way to know when regional registration calls will open; and being wary of anyone or any intermediary who charges a fee to “speed up” enrollment, since the process is always free and handled directly with the responsible public agency.