Indianz.Com > News > Cronkite News: Payments for families set to run out unless Congress acts
First phase ending for child tax credit, a ‘game changer’ for families
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Cronkite News
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Arizona families may have seen the last – for now – payment Wednesday under an expanded child tax credit program that advocates say has been a “game changer” for low-income families in the state.
The program, passed earlier this year as part of the pandemic-relief American Rescue Plan, sent families monthly advance payments, from July to December, of the child tax credit they are expected to receive on their 2021 income taxes. Through November, the IRS had distributed more than $1.7 billion in advance payments to Arizona families, part of the $76.7 billion distributed nationwide.
Unless the Senate acts before the end of the year to extend the program, as part of the Build Back Better plan already passed by the House, the advance payments end with the December checks that went out Wednesday. After that, families will have to wait until they file their income taxes to get the second half of the tax credit they are owed in 2021.
Whatever happens, advocates said the first round of payments has made a real difference for the almost 1.4 million Arizona children who benefited under the program.
“These regular payments, which amounts to up to $300 for a child under the age of 6 or a little bit less for older kids, has made a real, tangible benefit on a monthly level for families to be able to afford groceries, child care, rent, school supplies, and all these other needs that have popped up,” said Andrew Sugrue, assistant director of policy and advocacy at the Arizona Center for Economic Progress.
Cox said that payments under the program have also helped push back “against historical and ongoing racial disparities.” “It narrows the difference between the child poverty rates of Black, Latino and Native American children versus white children,” Cox said. Not only are the advanced payments benefiting families, but they help the economy as well by pumping money back into local businesses. “To the extent that families spend their credits like many families are, on basic necessities, that money will go back into the economy and support businesses, support employees,” Cox said. “That money will recirculate into the economy.” Sugrue said the payments so far have “had a tremendous impact on our state.” “These millions of dollars are not just going to these families, but they’re also spending it in the economy,” he said. For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.The last Biden Child Tax Credit payments will go out this week to 35 million families. The Build Back Better Act would keep these payments going beyond their Dec. 31 deadline.
— Rep. Shontel Brown (@RepShontelBrown) December 13, 2021
We cannot let children and families down.
Note: This story originally appeared on Cronkite News. It is published via a Creative Commons license. Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
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