Since the IRS began distributing advance Child Tax Credits in July, over one million Michigan households with children are receiving average monthly payments of $443 to meet household needs – whether that means paying for food and rent or saving for college.
The changes to the Child Tax Credit have already been transformative – the U.S. Treasury estimates over 26 million children in families with low incomes nationwide will receive this expanded credit, many of whom may not have received the full benefit in the past because they earned too little.
Rapid data are already giving us an idea just how important this credit is for families. Based on Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey Data, food insecurity in households with children has fallen in the weeks since July 15, when credits first began appearing in bank accounts. As children began returning to school in August, families used the credit for clothing and school supplies in addition to food and household bills.
Source: Census Bureau Household Pulse Surveys, week 36
Yet while most tax filers may have seen credits arrive automatically, approximately 3% of children in Michigan are missing out.
Nearly 65,000 Michigan children have not yet received the Child Tax Credit payments for which they are eligible, likely because their families may not have been required to file taxes in the last two years. This includes children throughout the state, including approximately 16,000 children in Wayne County and nearly 9,000 in Oakland County. And although fewer eligible children live in Northern Michigan overall, the share of children not yet claimed for the Child Tax Credit is highest in Keweenaw (5.9%), Lake (4.8%), and Houghton (4.7%) counties.
The culprit of this gap is that newly eligible families may not have enough income to file a tax return. Families who did not file a tax return in 2019 or 2020 will need to provide updated information to start receiving credits. Families can sign up through GetCTC to claim the Child Tax Credit as well as the three economic stimulus payments disbursed since March 2020, which can add up to an additional $3,200 plus $2,500 per dependent child on top of the Child Tax Credit. If filing a state return, Michigan families may also find they are eligible for state credits, like the Michigan EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) or the Homestead Property Tax Credit.
Kids Count data tell us 18% of Michigan children are living in poverty and 8% are living in extreme poverty. The benefits of reducing child poverty extend long into adulthood – from improving rates of college attainment and reducing mortality and crime to increasing employment. Tax credits are an effective tool to combat poverty when accessible. For too long, the Child Tax Credit has failed to lift up families most in need, many of whom will need support beyond the December deadline.
The Child Tax Credit recognizes that families need support to offset the rising costs of raising children, and December is simply too soon to cut off support for families who are still recovering from the financial hardships brought on by the pandemic. Extending the credit will help all families succeed, whether that means helping families meet basic needs like food and bills or providing support for child care and enrichment activities. An expansion of the Child Tax Credit remains a must as America works to Build Back Better.
For more assistance on whether you qualify for the expanded Child Tax Credit, you can reach out to:
- United Way of Southeastern Michigan
- Accounting Aid Society
- Or call 211 for assistance
Click here to encourage your member of Congress to invest in what matters to you and your community!
Betsy Zobl-Tar 
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
