California lawmakers introduced a bill Monday to extend the Child Tax Credit, after Congress let the benefit expire last year.
Thousands of families with children under the age of 18 could benefit from this bill that lawmakers introduced this month to the California Assembly.
The only requirement to qualify would be to have a salary considered low income.
Currently, the $1,083 rebate is offered only to those with young children up to five years of age. But that could change very soon in the golden state.
Assemblyman Miguel Santiago presented bill ab 1128 to the California Legislature this month, which seeks to grant the Tax Credit for Children under 18 years of age.
“It’s to make sure that our families have a little bit of money to pay their rent, feed their children and make sure they have that food so they can go to school,” Santiago said.
“If the family lives in poverty and earns less than $30,000 a year, each qualifying child (could receive) this Young Child Tax Credit,” Santiago added.
The tax credit would also benefit children with disabilities or attending college, as long as the parents do not exceed the maximum income of $30,000 per year.
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“California must and can take this step to support all of our families, we know the costs don’t end at 6 years,” said Monica Lazo, Golden State Opportunity Policy Supervisor.
Mrs. Hermelinda Guadarrama could benefit from the approval of bill AB 1128. She assures that this year her rent was raised and with inflation the money is not enough.
“I am the main person in the home and my children are minors and my granddaughter is one year old,” Guadarrama said, adding that “hopefully many families will benefit and continue to expand.”
If AB 1128 passes, the reimbursement for having children under the age of 18 would be retroactive to January 2022.
The tax credit in that case would not be considered as annual income, so as not to affect the eligibility of any family for public assistance programs.
“By expanding credit to children, we will be making a difference for 700,000 more families, that is, almost a million children in total,” said Lazo.
The bill is expected to be discussed in the Senate Appropriations Committee as soon as March 18 and, if approved, would reach the governor’s desk in September of this year.