White House says double child tax credit payments possible in February

White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Friday said that the Biden administration is looking into the possibility of making double child tax credit payments in February if the president’s social spending package is enacted in January.

“If we get it done in January, we’ve talked to Treasury officials and others about doing double payments in February as an option,” Psaki said during a gaggle with reporters aboard Air Force One. 

Psaki’s comments come as monthly child tax credit payments established under President Biden’s coronavirus relief law are set to expire at the end of the year. As part of the relief law, tens of millions of families received monthly payments from July to December of up to $300 per child under age 6 and up to $250 per child ages 6 to 17.

The White House and congressional Democrats want to extend the payments as part of a massive social spending and climate package. However, the bill is not on track to become law before the end of the year due to concerns from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Democratic lawmakers have indicated that they don’t have a viable backup plan to extend the monthly payments before they expire. 

Psaki said that Biden wants to see the social spending package advance “early next year.” 

“The president wants to see this move forward. It’s a priority for him as soon as Congress returns,” she said.