Tens of millions of American families are beginning to receive direct cash payments as part of the expanded child tax credit, which was part of the COVID relief bill passed back in March.

Those payments top out at $3,600 a year per child — an amount experts say could lift tens of millions of children out of poverty. But the expanded credit is only scheduled to last one year. The question now is: will Democrats succeed in making it permanent?

Here's a breakdown of what you need to know from NPR's Andrea Hsu.

This episode contains excerpts from NPR's daily economics podcast The Indicator. Listen and subscribe via Apple, Spotify, Google, or Pocket Casts.

Additional reporting this episode from NPR's Cory Turner and Mara Liasson.

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