Title and content excerpted and adapted from an original press release. 

Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan has launched a new website offering step-by-step guidance for parents to ensure they receive the expanded Child Tax Credit. 

The website outlines how parents could be eligible, how to get the expanded Child Tax Credit and includes a list of frequently asked questions. 

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) includes:

•    Increased Child Tax Credit to $3,600 per year for children under 6 years old. 

•    $3,000 per year for children 6-17 years old.

Therefore, a single parent with a 4-year-old and 7-year-old would receive $6,600. 

The tax credit does not count as additional income that could affect eligibility for public assistance. The expanded Child Tax Credit will be paid out in regular payments rather than once a year, with monthly payments from the IRS of $250-$300 per child expected to start in July. 

The first step to receive the tax credit is to file taxes for 2020. Parents of children under 18 may be eligible to receive this money, even if they have not previously filed taxes and have low or no earnings.

This expansion of the Child Tax Credit is temporary; the American Rescue Plan has put it in effect for one year.

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Read the full press release.