Illinoisans Could Be Eligible For Thousands of Dollars in Newly Available Stimulus Funds

CHICAGO, Feb. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Individuals and families in Illinois are eligible for thousands of dollars from the government via temporary increases to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC), but need to file their 2021 taxes to receive the benefits. Many people who don't normally earn enough to file taxes don't realize they are still eligible for these stimulus dollars. The Get My Payment IL Coalition is helping make the process easier by connecting individuals and families to free tax-filing resources and helping them understand their benefit eligibility, as well as providing grants of $15,000-$20,000 to community organizations in Illinois that directly serve eligible populations.

Congress passed the American Rescue Plan in March 2021, which included one-time increases in the EITC and CTC and expanded eligibility to individuals who were previously ineligible. Although Congress has not extended these benefits beyond the 2021 tax year, millions of dollars of benefits are just kicking in for parents of minors, childless workers, and very low-income individuals.

• Some families with minor children already received half of their CTC automatically in monthly payments starting July 2021, but will need to file taxes to receive the other half of their payments. The credit amounts have been increased to $3,600 per child under 6 and $3,000 per child age 6-17 for most families.
• Families with minor children who didn't receive their monthly payments should file to receive the maximum amount they are eligible for, including the higher CTC, EITC, and Child and Dependent Care Credit (CDCC). The amount of childcare costs covered by the CDCC has increased to 50% of expenses up to $8,000 from 35% of expenses up to $3,000, for a maximum credit of $4,000 for one child and $8,000 for two or more children. The credit previously maxed out at $2,100 per family. More low- and middle-income families are also eligible, with families with incomes up to $125,000 qualifying for the full credit.
• Childless adults and very low-income individuals can also benefit from the temporary increase in the EITC. Those making up to $21,430 are eligible for up to $1,502 (increased from $543). Young adults aged 19-24 without qualifying children are also now eligible unless they are full-time students (age 24) or were in foster care (age 18). Seniors aged 65+ are also now eligible for the 2021 EITC.
• Individuals who never received their stimulus checks can also still claim those. The third round of stimulus checks were larger: $1,400 for each taxpayer with a valid Social Security Number and $1,400 for each dependent, with no age limit for dependents. This helps families with many types of dependents including elderly family members, college students, and adults with disabilities.

The Get My Payment IL Coalition has granted $15,000-$20,000 each to five community-based organizations around the state that directly serve populations eligible for these increased government benefits.

"Early in the pandemic, we learned that many of the low-income families we serve lack the technology and hands-on assistance to access tax filing resources. Supporting community organizations with training, capacity building, and capital, will help us connect all Illinois children to a crucial antipoverty lifeline. Grantees have close connections to communities," said Barbara Martinez, Manager of Asset-Building Programs, Heartland Human Care Services.

"We are excited to support a variety of organizations, each with a unique approach to reaching and assisting families to receive all available tax credits. These organizations will be reaching low-income communities across the state from new mothers, to families of school-age children, to those experiencing homelessness," said Anna Phelan, head of the Get My Payment IL hotline.

The following organizations received grants:

• Cunningham Township Supervisor's Office in Urbana, IL is a public agency providing direct assistance to more than 5,000 local residents annually who are dealing with the devastations of homelessness, joblessness, or disability. Cunningham Township will work with families who are housing insecure or homeless, those without tech access, limited transportation, limited literacy, and who may not bank or file taxes.

Press Contact: Danielle Chynoweth, 217-721-7223, [email protected]

• Universidad Popular in Chicago, IL works with the Latino immigrant community in learning financial literacy, job skills, life skills, digital literacy, health literacy, and English language acquisition skills. Universidad Popular will incorporate presentations about the Child Tax Credit to existing programming, as well as posting information in neighborhood locations like libraries, laundromats, supermarkets, and on yard signs in schools and churches for residents to get help claiming the CTC.

Press Contact: Irais Flores Medina, 773-733-5055, [email protected]

• Inner Voice in Chicago, IL provides a combination of transitional and supportive housing, case management, and support services through a portfolio of 16 programs designed to help individuals and families use housing as a platform for health and recovery following a period of homelessness. Inner Voice will directly assist community members and residents in transitional housing in obtaining their CTC via neighborhood events and strong word-of-mouth communication.

Press Contact: Andrew Gaddy, 901-848-1392, [email protected]

• Peoria Public Schools Foundation in Peoria, IL devotes its expertise and fundraising capabilities to serve as a catalyst to implement bold ideas that achieve remarkable outcomes for children in Peoria Public Schools. The Peoria Public Schools Foundation will help families access the CTC during drop-in days at the school district's Wraparound Center, a community services center housed in a district school, during door-to-door visits, and with flyers at community hubs, like churches and food pantries.

Press Contact: Trish O'Shaughnessy, 309-696-3406, [email protected]

• Public Health Foundation through the Stephenson County Health Department in Freeport, IL provides public health services to community members. They will distribute information about the tax credits to families with children participating in their existing programming, as well as to new mothers who deliver and reside in Stephenson County.

Press Contact: Craig Beintema, 815-235-8353, [email protected]

The Get My Payment IL Coalition's website connects individuals to free online tax-filing services and provides guides to help make the process easier, especially for those who may not have filed taxes in the past. The website also includes information in Spanish, Arabic, Tagalog, Polish, and Chinese. For those who do not have internet access, a telephone hotline is available at 888-553-9777 in English and Spanish. Additionally, the Coalition can share necessary tax forms and instructions for paper filing.

To learn more about tax credit eligibility and where to get free tax-filing resources, visit GetMyPaymentIL.org. Experts are available to help via the free telephone hotline at 888-553-9777.

###

About the Get My Payment IL Coalition
In 2020, several nonprofit organizations came together as the Get My Payment IL Coalition to help ensure more low-income Illinoisans are able to receive their stimulus checks and to receive these funds more quickly. In 2021, the coalition expanded their work to focus on helping more Illinoisans access newly available monthly Child Tax Credit payments and other temporary stimulus-related increased tax credits. The Coalition comprises the Economic Awareness Council, New America Chicago, Heartland Alliance, and Heartland Human Care Services. The Coalition works with governmental, private and nonprofit partners, including libraries, food pantries and banks, to help increase awareness and accessibility.

Media Contact

Valentina Perez Botero, Heartland Alliance, 3128487384, [email protected]

SOURCE Get My Payment IL Coalition