New York state will send $300 direct payments to families throughout the month of August, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced last week.
It is estimated that more than one million families will benefit from these additional payments, worth up to $330 per child.
The money is being sent through the Empire State Child Credit, which will provide about $350 million to families in need this month.
The money is available to low- and middle-income families, and no application is necessary, Hochul said.
Previously, Hochul has worked to reduce the cost of living in New York, providing $2.6 billion in additional payments to New Yorkers starting in 2022. The state also recently launched a digital portal to help residents get financial help with child care costs.
Much of the $2.6 billion being returned to New Yorkers comes from the 2022 Homeowners’ Tax Credit, the 2022 Supplemental Earned Income Tax Credit and previous Empire State Child Tax Credit payments.
“We are putting money back in the pockets of more than a million New Yorkers because this administration is working for working families,” Hochul said in a statement. “Our work is far from done. From expanding tax credits to improving access to child care assistance, I will never stop fighting to lower the cost of living for working parents and help them create a brighter future for their children.”
Last year, the Empire State’s child tax credit was expanded to include children under the age of four, meaning an additional 600,000 children would benefit from the child tax credit.
New York taxpayers who qualify for the extra payment won’t have to do anything to get the money. As long as you received at least $100 in Empire State child tax credit on your 2023 state tax return, you’ll get another check in the mail.
The state said it will send out the child tax credit payment during the first week of August and continue distributing the money in subsequent weeks.
“I am proud that under my leadership, the Senate Majority has proudly fought to make child care more affordable for working families, including expanding the Child Care Assistance Program to broaden income eligibility, making more families eligible for the program, and supporting families who need it most,” state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in a statement.
“The one-time additional payments through the Empire State Child Tax Credit program will be life-changing for families across our state and come at a critical time when so many are struggling with the high cost of living.”
The exact amount you’ll receive depends on your federal adjusted gross income. Families earning less than $10,000 will receive a payment equal to their child tax credit amount, while those earning more will receive at least 25% of that amount.
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