Financial stress and depressive symptoms: the impact of an intervention of the Chicago Earned Income Tax Periodic Payment

- We compared Earned Income Tax Credit traditional lump sum and periodic payments on depressive symptoms.
- Lower levels of financial stress are associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms.
- Financial stress mediates the association between periodic Earned Income Tax Credit payments and depressive symptoms.
- Changes in the form that Earned Income Tax Credit is paid may affect health outcomes.