Join us in urging Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit now and invest in children. We cannot leave millions of children and their families – our neighbors – behind. Send your letter to your Members of Congress now.
What’s Happening?
On January 16, 2024, a proposal to expand the federal child tax credit was announced on Capitol Hill by congressional tax leaders. If it becomes law, the program would be more generous, primarily for low-income parents. If Congress acts quickly, this expansion would be in effect for the upcoming tax filing season.
Under this new law, low-income families would be newly eligible to receive the tax credit for every child – even if they do not qualify for the full $2,000 per child.
With the current child tax credit, a single mother with three children earning $10,000 annually only qualifies for $1,250 in child tax credit benefits. Under the emerging deal, the single mother with three children earning $10,000 annually would receive $3,750 – tripling what she currently receives.
Impact of Child Tax Credits
A temporary expansion of this program in 2021 gave a tax credit to families in need. Ninety percent of families with low incomes reported using the tax credit on food, rent, bills, and other necessities like childcare. Importantly, child poverty was cut nearly in half.
Through 2023, the Second Harvest Food Bank network has seen a 50% increase in the number of individuals requesting and receiving food assistance as compared to 2022. A bipartisan expansion of the Child Tax Credit would help offset rising costs for food, housing, and childcare with additional economic resources.
As we saw during the pandemic, we can increase food security when we all work together to make sound policies a priority.
Thank you for supporting our neighbors,
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