Photo: Michael Loccisano / Getty Images
At least 4.1 million children, of which 1.6 million would be Latino, will be below the poverty line in the United States without an extension of the Child Tax Credit (CTC).
The data were calculated in a new study conducted by the Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy, taken up in an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)
According to the calculation made, at least 3.7 million children in the United States managed to get out of poverty last year
with the money that the federal government provided through the CTC.
The CTC even opened the possibility for low-income families to start a business using the relief checks they received.
The Vice President of Federal Fiscal Policy of the CBPP, Chuck Marr, considered that in there is evidence of a social public policy as successful in reversing the lack of well-being of families as the CTC.
Marr assures that after the CTC expired earlier this year, at least 29% of the 3.7 million children who had come out of the poverty line returned, for which, he considers, an expansion of the program would be more than necessary
.
“The expansion is projected to further reduce child poverty in annual poverty figures (for 2021) that will count the remaining credit amounts to be paid as families receive their tax refunds.”, he stated.
The money that the families received for the CTC and its expansion for 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan it was destined mainly to cover basic needs
for families as.
Studies made on the use of this money indicate that the families that received the CTC used it mainly for:
– Buy food
– Pay utility bills
– Pay other basic expenses
The CBPP estimates that this year, millions of families will still be able to stay above the poverty line as they receive the second half of the CTC, along with their tax refund.
However, they fear that once this latest check arrives, more and more American minors will be relegated from the welfare line .
Although in the CBPP analysis, children of Latino origin are the ones who bear the brunt, other racial groups would also be affected if the CTC is not expanded.
At least 1.2 million white children would fall into poverty, 930,000 black minors and 132,02 of Asian origin, according to a calculation based on the families’ annual income.
According to the CBPP analysis, the lack of household income leads to children ending the day hungry, having to move frequently and absorbing the financial stress caused by the lack of income in families.
“The expanded Child Tax Credit provided financial stability for millions of children in low-income families , and the promulgation of an extended credit that is total reimbursable on a permanent basis and issued monthly would change the rules of the game.”, assured Marr.
The CTC handed out checks for $2,000 to $3,600 dollars, for minor, to families with children under 6 years of age and $3,000 dollars, retail, to families with children from 6 to 17 years, during 2021.
You may also like:
– How to find out what medical services Medi-Cal covers
– Child Tax Credit: families with income up to $54,000, the most pressured by inflation in food and public services
– IRS: Why Hispanics Should Ask for Help Filing Taxes