RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cash for Kids
JF RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences
FD Russell Sage Foundation
SP 43
OP 73
DO 10.7758/RSF.2018.4.2.03
VO 4
IS 2
A1 Marianne P. Bitler
A1 Annie Laurie Hines
A1 Marianne Page
YR 2018
UL http://www.rsfjournal.org/content/4/2/43.abstract
AB Although a growing number of studies suggest that providing poor families with income supplements of as little as $1,000 per year will improve children’s well-being, many poor children miss important sources of income support provided through the tax system because their parents either do not work or do not file taxes. Accessing assistance through means-tested programs is also challenging. We propose replacing the complicated array of benefits provided through the tax system with a universal child benefit of $2,000 per child that would be available regardless of parents’ work status. Our reform would ensure that all children receive enough assistance to make a difference and it would be simpler and more equitable than the current array of child benefits that are provided through the tax code.