Association of State-Level Earned Income Tax Credits With Rates of Reported Child Maltreatment, 2004–2017

Abstract

Poverty is an important predictor of child maltreatment. Social policies that strengthen the economic security of low-income families, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), may reduce child maltreatment by impeding the pathways through which poverty leads to it. We used variations in the presence and generosity of supplementary EITCs offered at the state level and administrative child maltreatment data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) to examine the effect of EITC policies on state-level rates of child maltreatment from 2004 through 2017. Two-way fixed effects models indicated that a 10-percentage point increase in the generosity of refundable state EITC benefits was associated with 241 fewer reports of neglect per 100,000 children (95% Confidence Interval [CI] [−449, −33]). An increase in EITC generosity was associated with fewer reports of neglect both among children ages 0–5 (−324 per 100,000; 95% CI [−582, −65]) and children ages 6–17 (−201 per 100,000; 95% CI [−387, −15]). Findings also suggested associations between the EITC and reductions in other types of maltreatment (physical abuse, emotional abuse); however, those did not gain statistical significance. Economic support policies may reduce the risk of child maltreatment, especially neglect, and improve child wellbeing.

Excess Google Searches for Child Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Infoveillance Approach

“…This pattern would be consistent with the hypothesis that the substantial loss in income from the end of the PUC program may have led to an increase in child abuse; this would be valuable to examine in future research. These findings are consistent with previous literature linking decreased family income downstream of policy changes to increased reports to Child Protective Services [ 25 - 27 ]. Child-witnessed IPV searches, but not exposure to IPV searches, increased at the time of SIP policies.…”

Embedding Financial Services in Frequented, Trusted Settings: Building on Families' Pre-existing Economic Mobility Efforts

“…28 In addition, the Earned Income Tax Credit has been associated with decreases in hospital admissions for pediatric abusive head trauma, reports of child neglect, and foster care entries and improvement in short-term Behavioral Problem Index scores. [29][30][31][32] Other studies have found cash transfers such as a onetime deposit into 529 college savings accounts at birth are associated with improved maternal mental health, child social-emotional development, and parental educational expectations, with low-income families experiencing larger benefits. 25 To facilitate the uptake of financial services with the goal of improving child health and development outcomes, embedded financial services need to offer guardians consistent, holistic support.…”

State Spending on Public Benefit Programs and Child Maltreatment

“…EITC benefits have previously been associated with reductions in selfreported child welfare involvement, 17 reports for neglect (but not abuse), 46 and foster care entry. 15,16 Klevens et al 31 reported a marginally significant effect for EITC reducing abusive head trauma.…”