Targeting Access and Knowledge of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Utilization and Policies

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Well-being; Mental Health Issue; Food Security

• Registration Number: NCT06146621
• Lead Sponsor: Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)

Brief Summary

The earned income tax credit (EITC) is the largest United States poverty alleviation program, providing up to $6,600 for working families as a tax refund. Prior studies have shown the EITC's benefits for social outcomes and health. Effects are even more significant for single mothers and Black women. Despite these known benefits, 20%-33% of eligible individuals do not receive benefits, leaving $7 billion unclaimed annually. The Targeting Access and Knowledge of EITC Utilization and Policies (TAKE-UP) Study is a pilot randomized controlled trial that will develop and test the feasibility of several culturally tailored, scalable interventions to increase the take-up of the EITC among participants in the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-11-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-11-21
• Study First Posted: 2023-11-24
• Study Start: 2024-03-01
• Primary Completion: 2025-06-01
• Study Completion: 2025-07-01
• Status Verified: 2025-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-08-14
• Last Update Posted: 2025-08-19

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 84

Inclusion Criteria

• Enrolled in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• Eligible for but did not receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in the prior tax year
• At least one dependent under 18 years
• Having earned income (including income of spouse, if applicable) for the current tax year within EITC eligibility thresholds based on marital status and number of dependents
• English or Spanish-speaking
• Living in California and not planning to move within the next year
• Immigration status compatible with EITC eligibility
• Access to a phone that receives text messages
• Willing to share relevant fields from tax forms if filing taxes (e.g., adjusted gross income)
• Willing to be randomized.

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of participants who filed taxes	0-12 months after intervention	Determine whether participants filed taxes in the 2022 tax year
Number of participants who received the EITC	0-12 months after intervention	Determine whether participants received the EITC in the 2022 tax year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of participants living with depressive symptoms. Survey Instrument: General Anxiety Disorder-7	0-12 months after intervention	Evaluate an individual's level of depressive symptoms with a 5 point scale for how often depressive symptoms were experienced. Lowest point on scale: none of time, highest point on scale: all of the time. Higher points on scale indicated higher levels of depressive symptoms.
Number of participants living with material hardship. Survey instrument: Housing Insecurity/Instability/Homelessness Questions from Social Interventions Research & Evaluation Network (SIREN) at University of California San Fransisco (UCSF)	0-12 months after intervention	Evaluate an individual's level of material hardship: whether participant can afford housing, medical care, utilities/if their housing has basic utilities like stove/refrigerator.
Number of participants living with anxiety/perceived stress. Survey Instrument: General Anxiety Disorder-7	0-12 months after intervention	Evaluate an individual's level of anxiety/perceived stress with a 5 point scale for how often anxiety/perceived stress was experienced. Lowest point on scale: none of time, highest point on scale: all of the time. Higher points on scale indicated higher levels of anxiety/perceived stress.
Amount of money spent on tax filing	0-12 months after intervention	Dollar amount that participant spent on tax filing
Number of participants living with food insecurity.	0-12 months after intervention	6-item United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food security scale. Lowest point on scale: Never true, Highest Point on scale: Often true. Higher points on scale indicated higher levels of food insecurity.
Number of hours spent tax filing	0-12 months after intervention	Amount of hours participant spent tax filing

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); 🇺🇸 Sacramento, California, United States