New bill would send families monthly payments of $393 per child

A new proposal would revive the practice of sending monthly checks to families

The End Child Poverty Act was introduced earlier this month by Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib, Michigan and Jesus Garcia, Illinois. The bill would establish a universal benefit to give families $393 per month until the child turns 18.

“Congress must take federal action to address child poverty and help millions of families afford basics like food, rent, childcare and healthcare. The End Child Poverty Act would cut childhood poverty by nearly two-thirds,” Omar said.

The new program would replace the Child Tax Credit. The CTC, which currently provides a credit of up to $2,000 a year, was expanded during the pandemic to $3,000 per child ages 6-17 and $3,600 per child aged 5 and younger, with half payable in monthly installments of up to $300. It was allowed to expire back to pre-pandemic levels and no monthly payments, however, with Congress seemingly resistant to making it permanent.

“The expanded Child Tax Credit lifted 2.9 million children out of poverty and cut child poverty in nearly half, but now that it has expired, too many families are struggling to make ends meet. In the richest country in the history of the world, no family should have to choose between keeping a roof over their head and putting food on the table to feed their children,” Tlaib said in a press release.

The newly proposed program would include no caps on income and children would automatically be enrolled at birth. Payments would be distributed by the Social Security Administration.

The payments – about $4,700 a year per child – would help reduce child poverty by 64%, proponents said.