“It helps a lot with light bills,” she said. “Of course we will miss it. I wish they could go on. “
Westbrooks was one of several parents whose families were taken on a Christmas shopping trip to a Walmart in Atlanta earlier this month, a trip organized by Councilor Andrea Boone and paid for with sponsorship from local businesses.
More than 20 children pushed carts around the store while Boone helped them choose coats, shoes, and toys.
Boone worries about the impact of lost checks on the families she represents. She hopes Washington lawmakers understand that the consequences at home could be dire.
“We need to make sure they have these resources so the families can continue to cook and feed these children and make sure they are eating right,” Boone said. “Make sure they live in a clean, comfortable environment. So we have to make sure that we are doing all we can. As elected officials, we must stand up for this and support this support for the children and their families. “
The payments were part of the American Rescue Plan Act, a coronavirus alleviation law that the Democrats passed without Republican support. President Joe Biden signed the measure in March.
The law increased the annual tax break for children from $ 2,000 to $ 3,000 for children over the age of 6, and from $ 2,000 to $ 3,600 for children under the age of 6. It also allowed parents of 17-year-olds to get payments instead of quitting at 16. The amount begins to decline once families hit income limits: $ 112,500 for single parents and $ 150,000 for couples.
More importantly, half of the money was split upfront through monthly payments that started in July. The last approved round of checks went to approximately 35 million households on December 15, covering 88% of US children and having a total value of $ 16 billion.
Democrats and social services organizations have suggested making both the higher tax credits and monthly payments permanent. The language approved by the US House of Representatives in November as part of the $ 1.8 trillion Build Back Better bill includes a one-year extension.
The Senate never voted on House law, largely because of concerns raised by two moderate Democrats: West Virginia, US Senator Joe Manchin and Arizona US Senator Kyrsten Sinema.
Some have questioned the effectiveness of child tax breaks and whether families use the money wisely. He also said that he would like work demands to be restored so parents can be eligible for the credit and lower income ceilings targeting America’s poorest families.
A survey by the US Census Bureau in October found that about half of recipients were spending the money on groceries, and about 40% said they would use it for household expenses such as rent, mortgage, or utilities. About 10% of parents used the money on childcare, and during the early months of school up to a third said they spend their money on materials and related costs.
The left-wing Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says a permanent change in child tax deduction could lift 4.1 million children above the poverty line and lower the child poverty rate nationwide by more than 40%.
Georgia U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock said these numbers demonstrate why the Senate’s extension of the program is a must.
“How can you reduce child poverty and have a year of monumental achievement and then go back and double what is going to happen,” he said when senators fail to act.
Manchin shocked his Democrats when he announced on Fox News on Sunday that he could not support the House version of Build Back Better, although he later announced that he was still open to negotiating with the Biden government and its colleagues.
Republicans opposed to the measure have avoided weighing up social spending, which often resonates with voters but has seen a decline in support. A recent survey by Morning Consult / Politico found that 47% of respondents were in favor of a one-year extension of the child tax credit – up from 53% earlier this month – while 42% were against.
Most GOP lawmakers have joined Manchin in criticizing the overall price of Build Back Better and expressing concern that it will add to national debt and contribute to inflation. Many Republicans have started to refer to the bill as a “build back broke”.
“The Democrats’ radical wish list has not been paid for in full. Instead, generations of middle-class Americans will pay for Biden’s agenda of higher taxes and higher prices at pumps and grocery stores, “Georgia MP, Buddy Carter, said in a statement after the bill was passed in November.
The bipartisan budget bureau of Congress said the move would create deficits of about $ 160 billion over the next decade, or about 0.5% increase over current national debt. Democrats say the bill will stimulate the economy and have a positive impact on the deficit.
Democrats don’t need Republican support to get the bill on Biden’s desk for it to be signed. But they need both Manchin and Sinema on board.
Alternatives being discussed behind closed doors include returning the tax credits to the earlier lower amounts, but continuing the policy of giving parents the full amount even if they have little or no income. Under previous policy, low wage earners could only get part of the money or nothing at all.
There is also discussion about continuing the monthly advance payments even with lower amounts.
No January payments could be devastating for families who view the money as another safety net during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Imani Muhammad, a mother whose family was taken on the trip to Walmart, said the tax credits benefited “families like mine who are struggling to maintain their living expenses.”
She said it helped her more easily access everyday necessities like groceries, rent, toiletries and medication, and she will be more concerned with budgeting and paying for essentials if the tax credit is not extended.
“It’s handy for low-income families who aren’t making enough money,” said Muhammad, who owns an aromatherapy business. “I would vote to keep it going because it helps so many people feed their children, pay the bills and just make a living. … It helps to smooth things out. “
Discover$ 1.9 trillion Build Back Better cleans up house with help from Georgia Democrats