Non-elderly adults without children, one of the largest demographic groups in the United States, are left out of many economic and health security programs that are effective at reducing poverty and expanding access to health coverage for other groups.

The nation’s basic supports for low-income, non-elderly adults without children are weak, fragmented, and often highly restrictive, leaving many of these individuals without help they need to afford the basics.

The next fiscal stimulus package should make the Child Tax Credit fully available to the 27 million children in low-income families who currently receive a partial tax credit or no credit at all because their families’ earnings are too low.

Any subsequent round of payments should extend rebates to people with modest incomes who were previously left out — an estimated 15 million people in immigrant families and 15 million older children and adult tax dependents.