Imperative for CT Child Tax Credit Remains Unmistakable, Advocates Intensify Efforts

Imagine parents having the freedom to invest in their children's future, without constantly worrying about paying for basic necessities. This financial stability is out of reach for the 39% of Connecticut families who are living paycheck to paycheck across every zip code, United Way of Connecticut points out. Meanwhile, they observe, “our state budget is flourishing with new record-breaking four billion-dollar surpluses.”

Last legislative session, United Way of Connecticut led the CT Child Tax Credit Coalition in advocating for a permanent, fully refundable Connecticut Child Tax Credit – a proven solution that nationally lifted 16 million low-income children out of poverty in 2021, including 119,000 Connecticut children.

However, despite legislators proposing four bills to advance the CT Child Tax Credit, with a total of 47 co-sponsors, the General Assembly did not adjust the underlying budget for 2025 in the second year of the state’s two-year budget. As a result, and not wanting to stray from the legislature’s self-imposed fiscal constraints imposed in a previous legislative session, they did not adjust any policies related to taxation or revenue, forestalling the establishing a state Child Tax Credit.

With Connecticut the only high-cost-of-living state with a broad-based personal income tax that does not adjust for the number of children or child care expenses, Connecticut parents are struggling to afford what their kids need and are demanding tax relief, United Way emphasized.

“It's time to close this gap with a CT Child Tax Credit. Putting money back into families’ hands is a proven solution, giving parents the flexibility to buy what their children need most,” says Daniel Fitzmaurice, Director of Advocacy for United Way of Connecticut. “This spending also boosts our economy and state budget – it's a win-win.”

The CT Child Tax Credit Coalition is comprised of more than 40 nonprofits, foundations and agencies in Connecticut, including 14 regional Connecticut United Way organizations.

With the 2025 legislative session half a year away, more than 500 people have recently signed a CT Child Tax Petition urging the Governor and General Assembly to enact a Connecticut Child Tax Credit that is fully refundable at $600 per child. . The goal is 5,000 signatures before the General Assembly opens in January.

“I have a grandchild and I see how her parents are struggling with mortgage, taxes, utilities and food. Everything is going up but the paychecks,” United Way quotes a Danielson grandmother as observing.