In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Rescue Plan provides historic investments in children and families, including the largest ever Child Tax Credit.

What You Need to Know

The American Rescue Plan raised the maximum Child Tax Credit in 2021 to $3,600 for qualifying children under the age of 6 and to $3,000 per child for qualifying children between ages 6 and 17, or up to $300 per month and up to $250 per month, respectively. Before 2021, the credit was worth up to $2,000 per eligible child and 17-year-olds did not qualify for the credit.

Eligible families will begin receiving monthly payments on July 15, 2021. It�s critical that families make sure they have filed taxes or used the Non-filer Sign-up Tool by then.

As a provision of the American Rescue Plan, this change to the Child Tax Credit is not permanent. Decision makers in Washington would like to keep this increase in years to come, but will not be able to do so without demonstrated interest from families.

What You Need to Do

If you�ve filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020, or if you signed up to receive a stimulus check from the Internal Revenue Service, you will get this tax relief automatically.

If you did not file taxes in 2020 or 2019, which may be the case for some income-eligible Head Start families, you are still eligible. You must use the Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool to enroll.

Carefully check your mail for anything from the IRS and encourage friends and neighbors to do the same. The IRS is mailing letters to non-filer households in the upcoming weeks to ensure families are aware of the steps they need to take to start receiving the increased benefit.

Resources to learn more:

The White House: Child Tax Credit

On Monday, Governor DeSantis issued a new executive order expanding eligibility of the vaccine to now include: 

• Long-term care facility residents and staff
• Persons 65 years of age and older
• Health care personnel with direct patient contact
• K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older
• Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older
• Firefighters 50 years of age and older
• In addition to hospital providers, licensed physicians, ARNP and pharmacists may also vaccinate persons whom they deem to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. The health department released a form for medical providers to fill out to authorize the vaccine. 

FEMA is using Lake Maude Recreation Park (1790 7th Street NE, Winter Haven) to distribute vaccines daily, now until Tuesday, March 9 from 9 a.m. � 5 p.m. No registration is required at this walk-up site. Those interested must meet current patient criteria as established by the state. This site will re-open 21 days later (March 24) for a 7-day window to administer second dose vaccinations. The anticipated number of daily vaccinations at the site is 500. Please note the City is providing the location, but the operations are managed entirely by FEMA.  Bring proof of employment. 

To help the community during this unprecedented PAST year, Tampa Electric and TECO Peoples Gas are granting $1 million in bill credits to customers in need. A one-time $85 BILL CREDIT will appear on JANUARY bills for residential customers who have received certain federal low-income assistance during 2020. Read more below.

A new Community Development Block Grant Mortgage and Rental Assistance Program is about to start for Polk residents, for a very limited time only.

The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens. In 2019 alone, Polk County Toys for Tots distributed 45,914 toys and supported 14,248 children! During this great time of need in our communities, please consider donating a new, unwrapped toy at any of our 3 participating drop-off locations.