No, the government is not giving parents $5,000 for each child who is a US citizen | Fact check
The claim: The US government gives parents $5,000 per month for each child
[En Español: No, el Gobierno no da a los padres $5,000 por hijo que sea ciudadano de EE.UU.]
A Feb. 21 Instagram video (direct link, archive link) shows a shirtless man holding a child, who he claims is his daughter. He said he does not work because he receives $5,000 every month from the government since she is a U.S. citizen.
“The government gives you $5,000 a month for each child," reads the caption in Spanish.
The post was liked more than 4,000 times in two days. The same video, which originated on TikTok, was also shared on Facebook.
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Our rating: False
There is no government program giving $5,000 a month to parents of each U.S.-born child. No government websites list any such program, and no reputable media outlet has reported on it.
No program offers parents free $5,000 per month
The post presents no proof of such a program, and there's no reference to it on any government website. USA TODAY also found no credible media reports of any such program.
While the government doesn’t provide that amount, some programs do give families extra cash or tax relief for children.
The Child Tax Credit gives parents of a child under age 17 a $2,000 credit per child in 2023, said Alejandra Castro, an IRS spokesperson.
Fact check: Image of IRS memo authorizing refunds for all taxes since 1913 is forgery
For a child or dependent to qualify for the Child Tax Credit, they must have a Social Security number valid for employment in the U.S., according to the IRS. Social Security numbers are assigned to U.S. citizens and people lawfully admitted to the U.S. on a permanent basis, according to the Social Security Administration.
There are other programs for low-income families with children:
SNAP or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps eligible individuals and families buy nutritious food and groceries. Only U.S. citizens and certain lawfully present non-citizens may qualify for SNAP benefits.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women provides supplemental nutritious foods and nutrition information to pregnant women, infants and children under 5 years old.
USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post and the TikTok user who created it for comment but did not immediately receive responses.
Our fact-check sources:
IRS, updated Jan. 10, Child Tax Credit
Social Security, accessed Feb. 23, Types of Social Security Cards
Alejandra Castro, Feb. 22, Email and phone call exchange with USA TODAY
Department of Agriculture, Feb. 21, Putting Healthy Food within Reach for Those in Need
Department of Agriculture, Nov. 1, 2023, SNAP Eligibility
Department of Agriculture, April 7, 2023, About WIC - WIC at a Glance
USA TODAY, Jan. 3, How much is the child tax credit for 2023? Here's what you need to know about qualifying.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim US gives $5,000 for each citizen child | Fact check
