1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Trends in TANF Receipt: Select Information for the Debate to Extend the Expanded Child Credit October 1, 2021 The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) temporarily expanded the child tax credit, transforming it int
2、o a near-universal cash benefit to families with children for 2021. For July to December, up to half of the credit is being advanced to families on a monthly basis. The expanded child credit was part of the policy response to the economic fall-out from the COVID-19 pandemic that included directing c
3、ash payments to households through the credit, expanded unemployment insurance, and economic impact (stimulus) payments. In fall 2021, Congress is debating whether to extend the expanded child credit, or even make parts of it permanent. This includes advance payment of the credit as a monthly cash b
4、enefit. The debate is occuring as the pandemic continues, but many of the temporary measures enacted in response to the economic fallout from the pandemic have expiredand the expanded child credit is scheduled to expire at the end of 2021. Directing cash on an ongoing basis to needy families is a de