Summary of CTC Survey Findings

1) The claim process was slow, since one out of every four eligible families had not filed for the CTC four months after the federal tax return filing period had begun.

2) A lack of awareness about eligibility and the claim process was an important factor in people’s reasons for not filing: believing they were not eligible, not knowing where to file, or believing their income was too high.

3) CTC benefits did not arrive quickly. Forty-five percent (45%) of CTC claimants had not received the funds four months after the claim process had begun, and more than half had received identity verification letters, which further delays receiving the money.

4) The claim process was challenging for a large group of families, especially for those with the lowest incomes.

5) Despite high rates of poverty and the immediate scarcity it implies, 61% of eligible people said they saved the money or used it to settle debts. This suggests a long-term interest by families on improving their personal finances.

6) Academic level serves as a buffer for the difficulty and delays in receiving the disbursement, since claimants with college degrees were less likely to receive identity verification letters.

7) There is a preference for lump sum disbursements, especially among low-income families. The option to receive the funds as monthly installments was not available in Puerto Rico, and it is possible that the unavailability of this option skewed the preference for lump sum disbursements. Even so, it suggests the need for letting families choose between monthly installments and lump sum disbursements when receiving the CTC.