The mother of four from Durham, NC used it to pay for the basics like food, gas and bills.
And in the months since they ended, there’s evidence that the families who needed the money the most have already slipped back into financial trouble.
Wilbur manages eight rental units in a small town in Bradford County, PA, and said during the six months when the tax credits were paid, no one was late on rent or utilities.
“Three of the rentals have small children, two of which are single working mothers,” he said.
One woman who went by the name “Fallon” for privacy reasons said she worried her boss would fire her if she kept missing work due to not being able to afford a sitter.
Having that reliable deposit can make a big difference, especially in the event of an emergency, a job loss or even just unstable scheduling.
Taxes are due on April 18th, so many families still have the remainder of the child tax credit coming as part of their annual refund.