End Child Poverty Act: The program that could send $393 monthly payments

A group of lawmakers is proposing a bill to revive the practice of sending monthly checks to families with children, to help them afford necessities such as housing, food, childcare, and healthcare.

Representatives Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Chuy Garcia recently reintroduced the End Child Poverty Act, which establishes a benefit of $393 a month per child, to be given until the child turns 18.

Under the act, all families with children would benefit from the program regardless of income, with no cap being set. Children would be automatically registered when they are born.

Replacing the Child Tax Credit

The new benefit would take the place of the Child Tax Credit, which delivers a subsidy of up to $2,000 per year. The CTC was expanded when the pandemic hit to $3,000 per child aged six to 17 and $3,600 per child aged five and below, with half of the amount being paid in monthly installments.

The program reverted to its pre-pandemic status with no monthly payments, during the period when inflation began to surge. Higher prices pushed families with children into financial difficulties and credit card debt as they struggled to make ends meet.

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End Child Poverty Act: A benefit for all children

The bill’s proponents say that the new monthly subsidy would reduce child poverty by 64%. Despite having a worthy objective, the proposed law is expected to see some pushback, particularly because it sets no income limits.

Many families with less resources could certainly use the added income, but having no income qualification also means that even rich families will be given the benefit, which they do not need.