CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Shannon Haber, 213-393-1289 June 21, 2021
[email protected]
Superintendent Austin Beutner Joins Efforts
By Federal, State and Local Officials To Raise Awareness
Of the Child Tax Credit Available to Most Families in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (June 21, 2021) – Today, Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner joined Congressman Jimmy Gomez to raise awareness of the Child Tax Credit available to most working families in Los Angeles beginning July 15.
“We know first-hand the struggles working families face and schools have done more during this crisis than any other organization to help those most in need,” Superintendent Beutner said. “We provided 140 million meals along with 40 million items of much-needed supplies to children and adults, computers and internet access to 500,000 students and their families, 2 million COVID tests to students, school staff and their families and access to vaccinations for 86,000 school staff members, 300,000 students and thousands of community members. All at local, neighborhood schools. Now we want to help the half-million families we serve receive the Child Tax Credit which can provide them with up to $3,600 per child to help them make ends meet.”
More than 80% of the families we serve, as well as a considerable number of Los Angeles Unified employees, are eligible to receive money under this program.
“The past year was hard on all of us, but especially so for children and their working-class families,” Congressman Gomez said. “While we’re hopeful we’ve moved past the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of my low-income constituents continue to struggle to pay the bills and keep a roof over their head. But come July 15, millions of American families are going to get more help with payments through the enhanced child tax credit. I’d like to thank the elected officials, local leaders, and working families who joined me today in East Los Angeles for helping us express the importance of this truly transformative policy achievement within the American Rescue Plan.”
President Biden’s American Rescue Plan increased the amount of the 2021 Child Tax Credit to support families with children to $3,000 per child 6-17 years old and $3,600 per child under 6. The full benefit of the Child Tax Credit is now $300 per month per child under age 6 and $250 for each child age 6-17.
Superintendent Beutner added, “We’re in regular dialogue with the largest group of families in the Los Angeles area who qualify to receive money under this program. It makes sense to try to tie the pieces together at schools to make sure the families we serve receive the benefits they’re entitled to.”