"Monthly Child Tax Credit Improves Health, while Americans Pay More for Financial Services"

Monthly cash payments to eligible families under the temporary pandemic-era expansion of the federal Child Tax Credit led to better adult health and food security, according to a UCLA-led study. The policy, which expired at the end of 2021, has not been renewed due to concerns among legislators over the credit being overly generous, particularly to lower-income families with limited tax liability, and the lack of an associated work requirement. The researchers used data taken from about 39,500 respondents to the National Health Interview Survey from January 2019 to December 2021. These monthly payments reduced poverty by 40% in households with children, according to the researchers.