More New York children fell into poverty after the Covid-19 pandemic while other children in the country saw improvement, according to a new report from New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
Federal stimulus money and an expansion of tax credit programs during the pandemic helped dramatically improve the fortunes of children in the state and nation. But the expiration of many of those programs has put the state’s child poverty rate at its worst level since 2016, according to the report, which examines data through 2022.
A chart showing child poverty rates in New York.
“This decline shows that tools are available to reduce child poverty,” DiNapoli wrote in the report. “However, the temporary federal benefits have expired, and many more of the nation’s children are now living in poverty.”
DiNapoli found that if New York’s child poverty rates kept pace with national trends there would be roughly 100,000 fewer children in poverty. He called for Congress and state lawmakers to pass more tax credits aimed at helping children in poverty.
“Agreement on a bold roadmap is needed at both the federal and state levels, starting with the enactment of the enhanced federal Child Tax Credit,” the report states.
During the pandemic, Congress passed more than $3 trillion worth of financial support including stimulus payments and expanded tax credits — like the Child Tax Credit and Dependent Care Credit — meant to bolster people in poverty. The federal relief also included food and housing assistance.
“These programs had remarkable child poverty-reducing effects,” the report states, putting New York’s 2021 child poverty rate at its lowest recorded level of 9%.
In 2022, however, that number more than doubled to 20% while also widening the gap between New York and the rest of the country. With federal financial support, New York’s child poverty rate was within 2% of the national average. Without federal assistance that gap widened to 4%.
Bronx and Kings (Brooklyn) Counties had the state’s highest child poverty rates, 35% and 28% respectively. The comptroller’s report notes these rates have been consistently high with little recent change. Manhattan’s child poverty rate was 21%, Queens at 16% and Staten Island at 15%.
Overall New York City had 23% of children living under the poverty level in 2022. But in cities like Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo the rate was almost twice that.
A chart showing child poverty rates in New York.
The report said impoverished children are more likely to do worse in school, use drugs and commit crimes.
DiNapoli’s report also found another surprising trend: New York’s older children are now poorer than those under five. Typically, the report stated, children under five have a 1% higher rate of poverty than those between five and 17. In 2022, more older children were considered poor compared to younger children.
Even without more federal funding, DiNapoli said additions to this year’s state budget may buoy poor children’s futures, including an expansion of the Empire State Child Credit, the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit, increased childcare subsidies and a higher minimum wage.
“Research shows public spending on children produces a substantial return on investment in the form of greater productivity when these children grow up,” the report concluded.
