State Child Tax Credits Held Down Kids Poverty Rates, Study Shows

A study by Columbia University's Center on Poverty and Social Policy has found that the implementation of refundable child tax credit programs in a dozen U.S. states during the pandemic helped to reduce child poverty rates in those states compared to states that did not implement such programs. The analysis indicates that the state-level child tax credits played a significant role in mitigating the economic impact of the pandemic on children and their families. The refundable nature of these credits allowed low-income families to benefit, even if they did not have any income tax liability. The study highlights the potential of targeted, state-level interventions to address child poverty, especially during times of economic hardship. The findings underscore the importance of policymakers considering the implementation of similar programs to support vulnerable families and reduce child poverty in their respective states.