The Storm is Already Here: 2026 Policy Agenda
Connecticut United Ways are committed to building a brighter future with and for ALICE families. During the 2026 legislative session, we will work tirelessly alongside community partners to:
Establish a Fully Refundable Connecticut Child Tax Credit
2025 Legislative
Session Update:
- New $250 EITC boost: The final state budget includes an additional tax credit of $250 to households who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
- CT Child Tax Credit still essential: 355,000 working families with children earn too much for the EITC but still struggle to make ends meet.
- Significant progress: A strong, refundable proposal passed the Finance Committee and appeared in every draft of the budget
- 5 Child Tax Credit bills were introduced this session.
- Over 100 lawmakers co-sponsored these efforts.
- Legislators can’t ignore the need for a CT Child Tax Credit
- Returning money to families enables them to buy essential items for their children that other programs don’t cover.
- A fully refundable CT Child Tax Credit of $600 per child benefits 550,000 children and 75% of families. (Eligibility: up to $100,000 annual income for a single filer, $200,000 for joint filers)
- A 100% refundable credit means that families who do not have a tax liability would receive the full value of the credit.
- Families spend these tax credits right away, boosting local businesses and the state economy.
- Estimated cost of the child tax credit for up to three children: $300 million per year. (Exact family benefits and total policy cost depends on income phaseout schedule)
Impact of CT Child Tax Credit
Supported by the CT Child Tax Credit Coalition
Research and Resources
- Parents Under Pressure: The U.S. Surgeon General Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents
- Opportunity Connecticut: Reimagining Our Workforce, Economy, and Quality of Life (Connecticut Business and Industry Association)
- Young People First (Connecticut Conference of Municipalities)
- Poverty in the U.S. and Connecticut, 2019-2023 (CT Voices for Children)
- The Role of a Connecticut Child Tax Credit (CT CTC) in Eradicating Poverty and Advancing Racial and Ethnic Equity (CT Voices for Children)
- A Connecticut Child Tax Credit (CT CTC) in Making Our Tax System Fairer and Stimulating Economic Growth (CT Voices for Children
- The proposed Connecticut Child Tax Credit: Estimating impacts for towns, legislative districts, and households by race and ethnicity (DataHaven)
Invest in 211 to Meet Increasing Demand
Since its inception in 1976 as a public-private partnership with the State of Connecticut, 211 has connected countless residents with essential services, from housing assistance to mental health support. When you call 211, a professional contact center specialist will listen and connect you with a wide range of resources and benefits that meet your needs. This is more than simply "patching people through" to agencies. It’s about providing comprehensive care and efficient support for your unique situation. This trusted one-stop shop of 40,000 essential services makes our social service ecosystem more effective and gives hardworking families the support they need to contribute to their communities and thrive.
2025 Legislative
Session Update:
- Critical need unmet: Despite broad support, the final budget did not include the additional $1.25 million annually needed to strengthen 211’s core Information & Referral services.
- Real consequences: When families can’t get through to 211 during a break at work or in a moment of crisis, they miss out on help they qualify for — housing support, utility relief, food assistance, and 40,000 more services and benefits.
Impact of 211
Top Service Requests in 2025 Across Connecticut
| Housing & Shelter | 620,348 |
| Mental Health & Addictions | 207,730 |
| Food | 179,872 |
| Employment & Income | 122,471 |
| Healthcare & COVID-19 | 77,750 |
| Utilities | 74,901 |
| Government & Legal | 53,601 |
| Clothing & Household | 44,255 |
| Transportation Assistance | 31,624 |
| Disaster | 19,734 |
| Child Care & Parenting | 19,118 |
| Education | 9,707 |
| Other | 262,756 |
Need help? Have an idea?
Need help? Have an idea? Our advocacy team is here for you.
Daniel Fitzmaurice, Director of Advocacy
Daniel.Fitzmaurice@CTUnitedWay.org
860-249-8788
Cheryl Hardgrave, Advocacy Coordinator
Cheryl.Hardgrave@CTUnitedWay.org
860-372-4216