Unlocking Solutions: 2025 Policy Agenda 

Connecticut United Ways are committed to building a brighter future with and for ALICE families. During the next legislative session, we will work tirelessly alongside community partners to:

• Establish a fully refundable Connecticut Child Tax Credit
• Reduce the cost of housing, childcare and food

Create a fully refundable 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.
• For every $1 in child tax credit, families spend $1.38 – a significant return on investment for our 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)

Economic Well-Being: A Crisis of Affordability

Housing, child care and food are out of reach for too many Connecticut families. Connecticut United Ways work alongside ALICE families and community partners to advocate for proven solutions that make life more affordable. We’re working behind the scenes with leading advocates on these issues. 

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