US EditionAmerica’s Middle Class Is Struggling to Keep the Lights On—Literally
- A 2021 UCLA Health study revealed that the enhanced Child Tax Credit helped middle-income families with children avoid energy insecurity, but it showed no significant impact for the lowest-income households.
- Energy insecurity affected one in three U.S. Households, and researchers observed a 4% relative increase in middle-class families unable to pay energy bills after the credit expired.
- The impact concentrated on families earning 200-400% of the federal poverty level, while those under 200% saw no measurable benefit or change.
- Dr. Cecile Yama, lead author, emphasized that while expanded Child Tax Credit benefits helped middle-income families manage their energy costs, the most vulnerable households might require even greater assistance.
- The findings suggest that middle-class families require continued assistance to manage energy costs, while policies must better address energy insecurity among the lowest-income households.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Letter: Income inequality is at the root of current political crisis
During my 80+ years of life, I have always worked to understand the world around me as much as possible. A question that has bothered me recently is this: “How could the country that provided me such a good life descend into such a state of chaos, confusion and discord?” After much research I believe I have some answers. The first thing to note is that it has happened before. While the precise mix of events leading to each crisis is different, O…
America’s Middle Class Is Struggling to Keep the Lights On—Literally
In a country where the middle class once symbolized stability, financial stress is now flickering like a warning light on the dashboard. Across the United States, rising utility costs are forcing families to make impossible choices: skip retirement savings, carry…
The performance of prosperity in an age of insecurity
Tension: The middle class is caught between the aspiration to appear successful and the quiet anxiety of financial fragility. Noise: Social media ideals, outdated class markers, and consumer marketing distort what prosperity really looks like today. Direct Message: The performance of wealth has replaced the experience of it—and in that act, the middle class reveals its fear, not its fortune. Read more about our approach → The Direct Message Meth…
Expanded Child Tax Credit Helped Middle-Class Families Pay Energy Bills, but Not the Poorest
A new study from UCLA Health shows that the 2021 expanded Child Tax Credit helped prevent energy insecurity among middle-class families with children but provided no measurable benefit to the lowest-income households.
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