Schakowsky Lauds Impact of Child Tax Credit Monthly Payments on Chicagoland Area
489,300 Chicagoland Households Could Get Up to $300 Per Child Every Month July-December as Part of American Rescue Plan Schakowsky Helped Pass, Raising 134,000 Area Children Out of Poverty
1 Click on image for video of Press Conference
CHICAGO – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, celebrated the start of the Enhanced Child Tax Credit passed into law by the American Rescue Plan. She joined the staff and families of Christopher House, a family of schools in Chicago that enrolls children from six weeks through the 8th grade, and provides comprehensive support for their families to succeed in school, the workplace, and life. They encouraged hardworking families to be on the lookout for advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit of up to $300 per month, per child that started today. In Schakowsky's district, 33,200 households, covering 70.2% of all children, will benefit from the Expanded Child Tax Credit.
"Parents and caregivers cannot go back to work, grow our economy, and build better lives for their families unless they know their children are cared for," said Congresswoman Schakowsky. "The American Rescue Plan included an expansion of the Child Tax Credit, which will provide financial support for families to help them afford childcare, food, clothing, and other daily expenses. This program is cutting child poverty in half across the nation, and raising more than 134,000 Chicagoland children out of poverty."
"At Christopher House, we are well aware of the social and financial realities that our families are navigating," said Libby Shortenhaus, CEO of Christopher House. "Our education continuum model along with our Parent School will give us the opportunity to share the tax credit details, answer questions and make sure the opportunities are clear to our families. This ambitious and much needed legislation has the potential to be a truly life-changing initiative, now and for the years to come. We celebrate Congresswoman Schakowsky and her peers' efforts in making these tangible solutions a reality for families around the country."
Most families will not have to take any action to receive the credit. And because this tax credit is fully refundable, parents and guardians who haven't filed taxes or normally wouldn't need to can also receive the benefit. Everyone can visit www.childtaxcredit.gov to check their status or use the non-filer tool to receive the tax credit. Congresswoman Schakowsky's office is also available to help constituents with questions about the program. The Child Tax Credit Monthly Payments are part of the American Rescue Plan Schakowsky helped pass into law.