HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - The public library system in Hartford is working with the city to help families take advantage of the new Child Tax Credit expansion.
With the American Rescue Plan's increase of the federal Child Tax Credit, eligible families can get up to $300 per month for each child under the age of 6 or up to $250 per month for each child between the ages of 6 and 17.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin stressed the fact that while families who file taxes are already seeing these automatic payments come in, many low-income families that are not required to file taxes may be missing out.
"In the city of Hartford, we estimate that that's about 2,000 children whose families are eligible for these Child Tax Credit payments but aren't yet getting them," Bronin said.
To help reach those families, the city is urging residents to visit any Hartford Public Library branch to get assistance in signing up for the Child Tax Credit.
According to Bronin, each branch is equipped to help residents see if they are eligible for the Child Tax Credit and, if so, to sign up for it.
"To be eligible for the Child Tax Credit, the only thing that needs to be true is that your kid has to have a social security number," Bronin said. "If you're not a citizen, but your child has a social security number, you are still eligible for that tax credit."
Bronin also explained that the process to sign up was simplified after municipalities across the country, including Hartford, called on the Biden Administration to make the process less complicated during its first roll-out.
Residents can also sign up on their own at GetCTC.org/Hartford.