Meng Urges New York Families to Check Their Bank Accounts and Mailboxes for Expanded Child Tax Credit Payments that They’ll Begin Receiving Today

July 15, 2021
Press Release
QUEENS, NY – Today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) urged families in Queens and throughout New York to check for the expanded Child Tax Credit payments that will start hitting their bank accounts and mailboxes today.
This expanded Child Tax Credit, which is the largest-ever Child Tax Credit, was recently established by Congressional Democrats and President Biden as part of the American Rescue Plan – the COVID-19 relief package that Meng helped to pass through Congress in March. It will provide advanced monthly payments of up to $300 per month per child beginning today through December.
"As the mother of two young boys, I know how important this historic relief is to hard working families across Queens and New York City," said Meng. "Many need help with paying for important expenses and continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this tax credit will put money in their hands right now. It will assist millions of families, and I'm pleased to have helped make the American Rescue Plan a reality with Democrats and President Biden."
Approximately 82% of children in Meng's sixth congressional district could benefit from this expanded and improved Child Tax Credit — 120,500 children.
About 38,500 households in the district could get an average total benefit of $2,400.
See attached photo of Meng marking the beginning of today's payments.
Additional details on the expanded Child Tax Credit are below.
How Much Is the Child Tax Credit Expansion from the American Rescue Plan?
The American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit to up to $3,600 per child for children ages 0 to 5 and $3,000 per child for children ages 6 to 17.
The American Rescue Plan also authorized advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit through December 2021. Beginning today and running through December, qualifying families can get up to:
  • $300 a month per child for children ages 0 to 5.
  • $250 a month per child for children ages 6 to 17.
Families will get their remaining expanded Child Tax Credit when they file their 2021 tax return.
Who Qualifies?
Families qualify for a full credit if their income is below $75,000 for single filers, $112,000 for people filing as head of household, or $150,000 for people who are married and filing jointly.
How Do I Get the Payment?
  • Nearly all hardworking families should get their monthly payments automatically beginning today with no further action required. If you've filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020, or if you signed up to receive a stimulus check from the Internal Revenue Service, you will get this tax relief automatically. You do not need to sign up or take any action.
  • Families who did not file a tax return for 2019 or 2020 and who did not use the IRS Non-filers tool last year to sign up for the Economic Impact Payments, should go online and use the IRS Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool to sign up today.
  • Families who got their refunds from the IRS through direct deposit will get these payments in their bank account around the 15th of every month until the end of 2021. People who don't use direct deposit will receive their payment by mail around the same time.
  • Families are able to determine their eligibility, manage their payments and more at IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021.