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Washington – The United States is considering introducing a monthly child benefit for the first time, a seismic shift for the country that has some of the highest rates of child poverty in the developed world.
Democrats are hoping to include the measure – which could pay up to $300 (£217.50) per month per child – as part of a larger coronavirus (COVID-19) spending package.
President Joe Biden’s spokeswoman this week repeated that the current plans are focused on “emergency funding” rather than a more permanent shift.
But anti-poverty advocates, who have pushed for a monthly benefit for years, hope inserting such a programme temporarily will lay the groundwork for more lasting change.
BBC News
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image copyrightAFP via Getty Images
The US is considering introducing a monthly child benefit for the first time, a seismic shift for the country that has some of the highest rates of child poverty in the developed world.
Democrats are hoping to include the measure - which could pay up to $300 (£217.50) per month per child - as part of a larger coronavirus spending package.
President Joe Biden s spokeswoman this week repeated that the current plans are focused on emergency funding rather than a more permanent shift.
But anti-poverty advocates, who have pushed for a monthly benefit for years, hope inserting such a programme temporarily will lay the groundwork for more lasting change.