Digital divide could deny poorest Americans new child tax benefits

Despite a PR blitz from the Biden administration and local civic groups, advocates helping people navigate the child credit process say tech troubles and digital inequality put many Americans at risk of missing out when the first monthly payments for the expanded credit go out this week. — Reuters

WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES: At the Maryland nonprofit where Robin McKinney and her team help low-income Americans with their taxes, requests for help have been flooding in during the Covid-19 pandemic as libraries and other spots with free Internet access shut their doors.

Now the Cash Campaign of Maryland is worried the population it serves could be missing out on another benefit, as people struggle to use a new online portal meant to help vulnerable households apply for an expanded child tax credit that starts going out on Thursday, said McKinney.