New Article: The Case For a U.S. Child Benefit
Posted by Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity on June 24, 2025
In this Spotlight Exclusive, we highlight Jane Waldfogel’s new book Child Benefits: A Smart Investment for America’s Future, which explores why the U.S. remains the only wealthy country without a universal child benefit program. Waldfogel, a professor at Columbia University’s School of Social Work, notes that the gap persists despite international evidence that unconditional payments to families improve child well-being. Though there is growing bipartisan interest in child-focused policies like expanding the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and creating baby bonds, the current CTC still excludes many low-income children. Unlike other nations that offer frequent, inclusive child benefits, the U.S. system conditions support on parental earnings and delivers aid annually, limiting its effectiveness. “Currently, one quarter of American children don’t get the full $2,000,” she says. “Some of them get nothing. That is just crazy.” Waldfogel urges policymakers to adopt a truly universal approach and cites studies showing that families consistently use child benefits for essential needs.
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