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Here’s what’s in the new bill to expand the child tax credit

Jan 17, 2024
The temporary 2021 expanded child tax credit helped millions out of poverty. A new bill will enhance the tax credit, although experts say it will have trouble passing in Congress.
Amber MacQuarrie, a member of the group Moms Rising, speaks during a press briefing about the importance of expanding the child tax credit.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Economic Security Project

Phasing out of pandemic-era federal aid for child care sparks alarm

Sep 22, 2023
A new report warns that the looming withdrawal of pandemic-era aid for childcare could hurt children and families.
More than 70,000 child care programs will likely close after they lose their federal pandemic aid, according to a recent report from the Century Foundation.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Your tax refund may be smaller this year

Apr 5, 2023
Pandemic tax credits have dried up, like the temporary expansion of the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit.
Without pandemic-era expanded tax credits, low- and middle-income families will likely see lower tax returns.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Child poverty fell by nearly half in 2021, Census Bureau says

Sep 13, 2022
The supplemental poverty rate fell to its lowest since 2009. Children living in poverty fell by almost half.
A volunteer hands out lettuce at a food pantry in December 2021. Last year, the supplemental poverty rate fell to 7.8%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

School lunches aren't free to everyone anymore. Some advocates think they should be.

Jun 30, 2022
There are a lot of benefits to making school lunch and other social benefits more universal. But, yes, it's expensive to do.
Despite the popularity of universal free lunches during the pandemic, lawmakers allowed the program to expire.
Jon Cherry/Getty Images

As the expanded child tax credit draws to a close, yet another study highlights its positive impact

Apr 20, 2022
It's been especially important to low-income families and families of color.
Studies show that many parents have used the expanded child tax credit to purchase healthier food and household necessities.  
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Did the enhanced child tax credit really reduce household poverty?

Early studies find that the enhanced credit reduced childhood poverty and food insufficiency.
"The expanded child tax credit did not have a negative short-term employment effect that offset its documented reductions in poverty and hardship," said Chris Farrell, Marketplace senior economics contributor.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for ParentsTogether

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Expect a messy tax season after last year's delays

Jan 17, 2022
Some 6 million returns from last year have yet to be processed. Delays could snowball for seasons to come.
File your taxes early, experts advise. Delays in moving last year's returns through the system could stall processing this year.
Drew Angerer via Getty Images

The increased child care tax credit has ended — for now

Jan 17, 2022
The payments typically came through about this time, but not this month. Some families had come to depend on that extra money.
A protestor and child in Brooklyn urge Congress to make the expanded child tax credit permanent in July.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for ParentsTogether

Families begin the new year without child tax credit payments

Jan 14, 2022
The one-year program increased payments and expanded eligibility to the poorest families. Congress has not moved to extend those changes. 
Child tax credit payments, a temporary part of President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan, ended in December. Congress has not acted to renew the payments.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images