With the pandemic stretching into its third year, our economy is showing many signs of distress, with prices skyrocketing and financial pressures mounting on families across Oregon and the nation. Thankfully, the American Rescue Plan provides many families with money derived from their expanded child tax credit for the filing year of 2021.

Although the child tax credit is not a new government program, the American Rescue Plan made some significant changes that allowed families to receive more money than ever before.

Under the plan’s expanded child tax credit, the credit amount was increased to $3,600 per child ages 0-6 and $3,000 per child ages 7-17; in contrast, the general CTC has historically had a $2,000 limit for all children ages 0-17. In addition to these expansions, families also had the option to get half of their credit amount through advanced monthly payments from July through December of 2021. Using child tax credit funds, parents and caregivers across the nation can pay for general expenses — including groceries, gas, utility bills, school supplies, and clothes — easing their financial burden and aiding in their economic, mental, and physical well-being.

As prices rise across nearly all sectors of our society, the child tax credit is an invaluable source for families to obtain additional help to offset the instability of our current economy.

Parents and guardians who received advanced monthly payments in 2021 can still receive the second half of their total credit this tax season. Meanwhile, families who have not yet received any child tax credit payments can claim the full amount.

The U.S. government has made resources available to families to help them claim their credit in a fast and accessible manner: getctc.org. Advocacy organizations in Oregon have supported awareness building and claiming of the child tax credit by providing information through educational webinars, tax aides, and tax navigators for families.

Apart from this, getctc.org will be launching a simplified filing form in May 2022, allowing parents and guardians to receive their child tax credit even after this year’s tax deadline. If families need a longer time to prepare and collect their tax documents, the IRS also allows tax filers to submit their taxes up to three years later.

According to findings from a November 2021 report from the Urban Institute, Latinx families have received their CTC funds at lower rates compared to their Indigenous, white, Asian, and Black counterparts; as well, across racial and ethnic groups, only 44-54% of adults with incomes below $25,000 reported receiving an advance CTC payment.

This disparity is mainly due to various limitations that our tax system upholds, including documentation status, verifiable income, and broader insecurity.

Latinx families surveyed over the last two years have shared how they did not receive the general child tax credit due to their documentation status or to being unable to provide proof of citizenship; the credit has historically not been available for ITIN filers without a Social Security Number. Regarding the restriction of verified income, many Latinx families are self-employed and cannot always show proof of earnings. Because American banks require proof of citizenship to open accounts, Latinx families often keep their money outside of the bank system and therefore cannot provide their proof of income. Lastly, the most significant barrier Latinx families have faced through this pandemic is overcoming long-standing and generational fears and insecurities surrounding US governmental programs and services. These sentiments come from valid experiences we have faced within our society. To trust that no retaliation will occur after claiming the credit, or any tax credit, for that matter, is a significant issue for the community.

I urge families, especially those who have not claimed any part of their child tax credit, to do so. For families who are not eligible for the credit, I encourage you to resist. For our senators and legislators, I plead that you consider all families in the process when it comes to decisions of eligibility.

Paola Velazquez serves as the community engagement and coalition building intern for Our Children Oregon. Our Children Oregon is a statewide nonprofit advocacy and child abuse prevention organization.