Giving mom a break: The impact of higher EITC payments on maternal health

The 1993 expansions of the Earned Income Tax Credit created the first meaningful separation in benefits between families containing two or more children and those with only one child. If income is protective of health, we should see improvements over time in the health for mothers eligible for these higher EITC benefits. Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey, we find improvements in self-reported health for affected mothers. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we find reductions in the probability of having risky levels of biomarkers for these same women.