Hochul announces beefed-up child tax credit

New York is giving over a million poor families as much as $330 per child through the Empire State Child Credit.

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — New York is giving over a million poor families as much as $330 per child through the Empire State Child Credit. That's according to Gov. Kathy Hochul, who held a press conference to announce the financial assistance on Tuesday.

Families won't need to sign up for the one-time supplemental payment, which is a refundable tax credit for income-qualified New Yorkers with children. Hochul's office said that Tuesday's announcement represents a payment added to the 2023 tax credit they've already gotten.

Anyone who got at least $100 from the Empire State Child Credit on their 2023 return will get a check in the mail, starting the first week in August. Hochul said, "One million New York families with children will be receiving a check in the mail by the end of August."

In total, the governor outlined $350 million in direct payments to low-income households with kids in New York. Actual dollar amounts would range from 25% to 100% of the child tax credit received from the state for the 2023 tax year.

You can estimate how much you'll receive online.

The precise funding formula came as part of state budget negotiations. They changed the eligibility rate from 4 years old and up to any age in 2023, which Hochul's office said covered 600,000 more kids per year.