Cranston, RI – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Jim Langevin today joined local advocates and parents of young children at the Pastore Youth Center in Cranston to highlight the more than $200 million provided to local families through the expanded Child Tax Credit included in the American Rescue Plan. The Rhode Island delegation is strongly advocating for a continuation of the expanded Child Tax Credit program to be included in Democrats’ pending Build Back Better legislation.
About 173,000 Rhode Island children have benefitted from the advanced Child Tax Credit payments so far this year. With the November payments released today, the total amount disbursed to Rhode Island parents through the program has increased from $174 million as of last month to well over $200 million.
“The pandemic has been tough on parents and this new tax cut for families has delivered much needed relief to help them afford the necessities of life – food, shelter, medicine, clothes, child care, and other expenses. This extra money may not be a lot to some, but it makes a world of difference to working families. We want every eligible Rhode Islander to benefit from this boosted tax break and will continue working to make it permanent so that we can build a stronger middle class and broad, sustainable economic prosperity,” said Senator Reed.
“An entire generation of Rhode Island children is off to a stronger start thanks to our expansion of the Child Tax Credit,” said Senator Whitehouse, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight. “This program represents a fundamental shift in the level of support available to help families get into the middle class and stay there. I’m going to keep fighting to make these changes permanent because every single child should have food on the table and a stable roof over their head.”
“The expanded Child Tax Credit has slashed child poverty nearly in half, and it’s already helping thousands of Rhode Island families to cover the cost of child care, groceries, rent, and other everyday necessities,” said Congressman Langevin. “Unlike the tax cuts passed by the previous administration, the expanded Child Tax Credit will benefit millions of working families, not just large corporations and the wealthiest Americans. As we emerge from this pandemic, we must build back better by extending these middle-class tax cuts for years to come.”
“The American Rescue Plan expanded Child Tax Credit is lifting children out of poverty here in Rhode Island and all across the country,” said Congressman David Cicilline. “For the 173,000 Rhode Island children who can benefit from this program, we must extend the tax credit. This — and paid family leave, the earned income tax credit, and better and affordable childcare — are why we need to pass the Build Back Better Act.”
The expanded Child Tax Credit is projected to cut child poverty in half and reduce overall poverty by a third nationwide. The number of households that reported not having enough to eat dropped by 3.3 million—nearly one-third—in the weeks after the IRS issued the first payment.
“The Child Tax Credit has been an important supplement to the income of our consumers,” said Joanne McGunagle, Executive Director of Comprehensive Community Action Program. “We are grateful to our delegation for their continuous support of our residents and their quality of life.”
The American Rescue Plan, which was passed by Democrats in Congress, was signed into law by President Biden in March. The legislation increased the Child Tax Credit to $3,600 per child under the age of six and $3,000 per child ages six through seventeen for 2021. Families receive the full credit if they make up to $75,000 for a single filer, $150,000 for a couple, or $112,500 for a family with a single parent who files as a head of household. The law temporarily made the credit refundable, meaning families benefit even if they owe no income taxes.
Since July, the upgraded Child Tax Credit has been sent to families in monthly installments to provide consistent support. Parents receive payments up to $300 per month for children up to five years old and $250 per month for children ages six to seventeen. The vast majority of payments are made by direct deposit. The final payments for 2021 will be disbursed next month and the rest of the credit will be included in tax refunds during the filing season next spring.
For low-income families that do not typically need to file income taxes, today is the last day to apply for the 2021 monthly Child Tax Credit payments at IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021. Families signing up now will receive half of their total Child Tax Credit on December 15. This means a payment of up to $1,800 for each child under six, and up to $1,500 for each child age six to seventeen.
Chip Unruh (Reed), (202) 224-4642
Meaghan McCabe (Whitehouse), (401) 453-5294
Matt Fidel (Langevin), (202) 631-1010
Jennifer Bell (Cicilline), (202) 365-0827
