Maryland Expands EITC to Younger Workers
By Devin Simpson
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) signed legislation this week to eliminate the minimum age requirement for the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), effectively expanding eligibility to younger workers across the state. The CASH Campaign of Maryland estimates that more than 40,000 low-income Marylanders will benefit from this expansion.
The federal and state EITC lift thousands of Maryland families out of poverty each year. However, like the federal EITC, Maryland’s credit was only available to workers 25 and older. Under the new legislation, younger workers – many of whom are just entering the workforce and struggling to meet basic needs on very low wages – will now have access to greater financial assistance. Maryland joins only the District of Columbia and Minnesota in expanding its EITC to younger workers.
Bill sponsors Senator Rich Madaleno (D) and Delegate Sheila Hixson (D) worked with the CASH Campaign of Maryland and Maryland Center on Economic Policy over several years to enact the expansion.
“So many low-income young people in need of a little financial assistance will be able to thrive and succeed in our great state thanks to this law. I’m thrilled we have finally accomplished this together: this is a great victory for Maryland,” Madaleno said.
For more information on Maryland’s EITC, as well as other state-level EITCs across the country, visit our 50-state map here.