Illinois could be eligible for thousands of dollars in newly available stimulus funds

Individuals and families in Illinois are eligible for thousands of government dollars through temporary Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) increases, but must file their taxes 2021 to benefit from the advantages. Many people who don’t normally earn enough to file their taxes don’t realize they’re still eligible for those stimulus dollars. The Get My Payment IL Coalition helps ease the process by connecting individuals and families to free tax filing resources and helping them understand their eligibility for benefits, as well as providing grants from $15,000 to 20 $000 to community organizations in Illinois that directly serve eligible populations. .

CHICAGO (PRWEB) February 23, 2022

Individuals and families in Illinois are eligible for thousands of government dollars through temporary Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) increases, but must file their taxes 2021 to benefit from the advantages. Many people who don’t normally earn enough to file their taxes don’t realize they’re still eligible for those stimulus dollars. The Get My Payment IL Coalition helps ease the process by connecting individuals and families to free tax filing resources and helping them understand their eligibility for benefits, as well as providing grants from $15,000 to 20 $000 to community organizations in Illinois that directly serve eligible populations. .

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

• Some families with minor children have already automatically received half of their CTC in monthly payments from July 2021, but will need to file a tax return to receive the other half of their payments. Credit amounts have been increased to $3,600 per child under age 6 and $3,000 per child age 6 to 17 for most families.

• Families with minor children who have not received their monthly payments should apply to receive the maximum amount for which they are eligible, including the CTC, EITC, and Child and Care Credit. charge (CDCC) higher. The amount of child care expenses covered by CDCC has increased from 35% of expenses up to $8,000 to 50% 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 capped at $2,100 per family. More low- and middle-income families also qualify, with families with incomes up to $125,000 eligible for the full credit.
• Adults without children and people with very low incomes can also benefit from the temporary increase in the EITC. Those who earn up to $21,430 are eligible for up to $1,502 (instead of $543). Young adults aged 19 to 24 without eligible children are also now eligible, unless they are full-time students (24) or have been in foster care (18). Seniors aged 65 and over are also now eligible for the EITC 2021.
• People who never received their stimulus checks can also claim them. 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, students, and adults with disabilities.

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

“Early on in the pandemic, we learned that many low-income families we serve lack the technology and hands-on assistance to access tax filing resources. Supporting community organizations through training, capacity building, and capital will help us connect all Illinois children to a crucial lifeline against poverty. Beneficiaries have strong ties to communities,” said Barbara Martinez, asset building programs manager, Heartland Human Care Services.

“We are thrilled to support a variety of organizations, each with a unique approach to reaching and helping families receive all available tax credits. These organizations will reach low-income communities across the state, from new mothers to families of school-aged children, to those who are homeless,” said Anna Phelan, manager of the Get My Payment IL hotline.

The following organizations received grants:

• The Cunningham Township Supervisor’s Office in Urbana, IL is a public agency that provides direct assistance each year to more than 5,000 local residents who face the ravages of homelessness, unemployment or disability. The Township of Cunningham will work with families who are insecurely housed or homeless, those who lack access to technology, limited transportation, limited literacy, and who cannot bank or report income.

Press contact: Danielle Chynoweth, 217-721-7223, danielle@cunninghamtownship.org

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

Press contact: Irais Flores Medina, 773-733-5055, iflores@universidadpopular.us

• Inner Voice in Chicago, Illinois 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 health and recovery platform after a period of homelessness. Inner Voice will directly help community members and transitional housing residents obtain their CTC through neighborhood events and effective word-of-mouth communication.

Press contact: Andrew Gaddy, 901-848-1392, agaddy@ivchi.org

• The Peoria Public Schools Foundation in Peoria, IL dedicates its expertise and fundraising abilities to serve as a catalyst to implement bold ideas that achieve remarkable results for Peoria public school children. The Peoria Public Schools Foundation will help families access the CTC during drop-in days at the school district’s Wraparound Center, a community service center located in a district school, during door-to-door visits and with flyers in community centers, such as churches and pantries.

Press Contact: Trish O’Shaughnessy, 309-696-3406, patricia.oshaughnessy@psd150.org

• The Public Health Foundation, through the Stephenson County Health Department in Freeport, Illinois, provides public health services to community members. They will be distributing tax credit information to families with children in their existing program, as well as new mothers giving birth and residing in Stephenson County.

Press contact: Craig Beintema, 815-235-8353, cbeintema@stephensoncountyil.gov

The Get My Payment IL Coalition website connects individuals to free online tax filing services and provides guides to 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 without internet access, a telephone helpline is available at 888-553-9777 in English and Spanish. Additionally, the Coalition can share the necessary tax forms and paper filing instructions.

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

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About the Get My Payment IL Coalition

In 2020, several nonprofits have come together as the Get My Payment IL Coalition to help ensure that more low-income Illinois can get their stimulus checks and receive those funds faster. In 2021, the coalition expanded its work to help more Illinois access the newly available monthly child tax credit payments and other increased tax credits tied to the temporary stimulus. The Coalition includes the Economic Awareness Council, New America Chicago, Heartland Alliance and Heartland Human Care Services. The Coalition works with government, private and non-profit partners, including libraries, food pantries and banks, to help increase awareness and accessibility.

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