Rep Bill Pascrell, Coalition of Orgs, and Local Families Tout New $300 Per Child Monthly Tax Credit New Jersey Families To Start Receiving This Month

Today, Representative Bill Pascrell, a coalition of organizations, and local families held a press conference to raise public awareness about a brand new and historic $300 per child tax credit that New Jersey families will soon be receiving monthly. This event was part of “Keep Families Afloat” Week of Action to raise awareness about the new child tax credit that will be distributed to families on July 15th.

The Child Tax Credit, which was expanded and made monthly by the American Rescue Plan passed by the Democratic Congress and signed into law by President Biden, will give most families in the state a new tax credit of $300 a month per child.

Economists have stated that the historic expansion will cut child poverty in half in the state and throughout the nation.

Most parents will begin receiving the monthly payments automatically on July 15, and parents can find more information and learn how to claim their credit at ChildTaxCredit.gov.

“The expanded Child Care Tax Credit is a historic measure in cutting child poverty, lifting more New Jersey children out of poverty than the entire child population of Mercer County in one fell swoop. We must ensure that all families who are eligible, including low-income households who did not have to file tax returns, receive the benefit. They can easily do that by signing up online with the Non-filer Sign-up Tool found on the IRS website,” said Mary E. Coogan, Esq., Vice President at Advocates for Children of New Jersey.

“For so long, we’ve danced around the obvious – that the best way to mitigate poverty is simple cash. By investing in families, we’re showing that we trust American parents to know best how to raise their own children, and we are renewing our nation’s promise that your children can lead a better life than you did,” said Greg Nasif, Political Director at Humanity Forward.

“Thanks to the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit, more than 80 percent of New Jersey children and their families will benefit,” said Peter Chen, Senior Policy Analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP). “That includes reducing child poverty by almost one-third statewide, including by 30% for Black children and 37% for Hispanic/Latinx children. But this poverty reduction will only have lasting effects if the expansion is made permanent, and if all families with children file their taxes or apply for the credit directly with the IRS.”

“Over the years, childcare costs have significantly outpaced median income, leading to higher rates of child poverty. The payments this year from the updated and expanded Child Tax Credit are vital for making parenthood sustainable for low- and moderate-income families, but Congress must make them permanent,” said Yarrow Willman-Cole, NJ Citizen Action Workplace Justice Program Director. “The financial challenges of raising kids are not going away – a permanent problem requires a permanent solution.”

Margarita Rodriguez, member and community leader from Make the Road New Jersey said, “I am the sole provider to my three children, two of whom are U.S. citizens. When I lost my job, we survived from bread lines and assistance from community organizations. However, we have not received any type of financial assistance for more than a year because of my immigration status. The Child Tax Credit will help me pay for groceries for my family and allow for me to miss work to take my child to the doctor. However, this is just a temporary solution. We urge our Members of Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit to continue permanently until our kids turn 18 — to ensure every working family can not only recover but thrive.”

The Week of Action events were organized by Economic Security Project Action, Children’s HealthWatch, Community Change Action, Color Of Change, Groundwork Action, Fighting Chance for Families Action, Children’s Defense Fund, Income Movement, MomsRising, People’s Action, the Care Can’t-Wait coalition, ParentsTogether Action, United States of Women, and Advocates for Children NJ, NJ Citizen Action, Humanity Forward, LEAMNJ, Make the Road NJ, New Jersey Policy Perspective, Passaic Family Head Start.

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