Millions of families receiving tax credit checks in effort to ‘end child poverty’

Monthly payments will close gaps in previous tax credit system, allowing the poorest families finally to benefit

Joe Biden heralded a giant step towards ending child poverty in America" on Thursday as he marked the beginning of the life-changing" expansion of the child tax credit system.

In remarks from the White House, the president predicted that the provision would lead to the largest one-year decrease in child poverty in the history of the US. Social scientists have estimated that under its impact more than 5 million American children will be lifted out of poverty - more than half those currently living below the poverty line.