Mental Health IssueTAKE-UPNCT06146621
Targeting Access and Knowledge of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Utilization and Policies
A study testing Low-touch text messaging, Personal tax filing support and Information about free tax-filing support in people with Mental Health Issue and Food Security, run by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) at 1 site in United States.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 64 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mental Health Issue, Food Security, Well-being
- What is being tested?
- Low-touch text messaging, Personal tax filing support and Information about free tax-filing support
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 84 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2024to 1 Jul 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 64 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 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
Show all 10Show fewer
- 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.
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Sacramento, California, 95834
About this study
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).
- Conditions
- Mental Health Issue, Food Security, Well-being
- Being tested
- Low-touch text messaging, Personal tax filing support, Information about free tax-filing support, Financial assistance
- Keywords
- poverty, safety net
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Low-touch text messagingBehavioural
To address families' lack of awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the ways they may benefit from filing taxes, one study arm will receive low-touch text messages. These act in part by increasing awareness of programs and eligibility rules and in part as reminders to overcome limited attention to filing. Study participants receiving this intervention will receive behavioral science-informed text messages in English or Spanish from WIC that inform them about the EITC throughout tax season (i.e., January-April) 2024. We will personalize message contents (e.g., EITC benefit size mentioned in message based on participant income, marital status, and number of dependents) due to suggestive evidence that a tailored, individualized text message has the potential to be effective
Personal tax filing supportBehavioural
Participants randomized to this intervention will be connected with a human assistor who will work with them to ensure they access resources to help them file taxes and apply for the EITC. The English- and Spanish-speaking assistors will be study team staff trained to provide personalized support to help families access resources for which they are eligible. The assistor will be available by text or phone to talk with people if they encounter barriers and will call to follow-up on a mutually agreed upon schedule.
Information about free tax-filing supportBehavioural
Basic information about where to find free tax filing support in their community will be provided to all participants by email once upon enrollment.
Financial assistanceBehavioural
Also called Cash incentive
Participants randomized to this intervention will receive a $100 cash incentive for tax filing, designed to offset the time, hassle, and resources spent on tax preparation and filing, as well as psychological frictions like inattention that prevent some people from filing. This will be provided to recipients as soon as they show proof of tax filing, to provide a more immediate reward relative to the delays in receiving a federal tax refund. We will test the feasibility of delivering this via gift card, check, or other modalities, in addition to evaluating the framing and incentive amount.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Information about free tax-filing support | Active comparator | Basic information about where to find free tax filing support in their community will be provided to all participants by email once upon enrollment. Receives: Behavioral: Information about free tax-filing support |
| Low-touch text messaging | Experimental | To address families' lack of awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the ways they may benefit from filing taxes, one study arm will receive low-touch text messages. These act in part by increasing awareness of programs and eligibility rules and in part as reminders to overcome limited attention to filing. Study participants receiving this intervention will receive behavioral science-informed text messages in English or Spanish from WIC that inform them about the EITC throughout tax season (i.e., January-April) 2024. We will personalize message contents (e.g., EITC benefit size mentioned in message based on participant income, marital status, and number of dependents) due to suggestive evidence that a tailored, individualized text message has the potential to be effective Receives: Behavioral: Low-touch text messaging; Behavioral: Information about free tax-filing support |
| Personal tax filing support | Experimental | Participants randomized to this intervention will be connected with a human assistor who will work with them to ensure they access resources to help them file taxes and apply for the EITC. The English- and Spanish-speaking assistors will be study team staff trained to provide personalized support to help families access resources for which they are eligible. The assistor will be available by text or phone to talk with people if they encounter barriers and will call to follow-up on a mutually agreed upon schedule. Receives: Behavioral: Personal tax filing support; Behavioral: Information about free tax-filing support |
| Financial assistance | Experimental | Participants randomized to this intervention will receive a $100 cash incentive for tax filing, designed to offset the time, hassle, and resources spent on tax preparation and filing, as well as psychological frictions like inattention that prevent some people from filing. This will be provided to recipients as soon as they show proof of tax filing, to provide a more immediate reward relative to the delays in receiving a federal tax refund. We will test the feasibility of delivering this via gift card, check, or other modalities, in addition to evaluating the framing and incentive amount. Receives: Behavioral: Information about free tax-filing support; Behavioral: Financial assistance |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of participants who filed taxes
Determine whether participants filed taxes in the 2022 tax year
Measured: 0-12 months after intervention
Number of participants who received the EITC
Determine whether participants received the EITC in the 2022 tax year
Measured: 0-12 months after intervention
Secondary outcomes (6)
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)
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.
Measured: 0-12 months after intervention
Number of participants living with depressive symptoms. Survey Instrument: General Anxiety Disorder-7
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.
Measured: 0-12 months after intervention
Number of participants living with food insecurity.
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.
Measured: 0-12 months after intervention
Number of hours spent tax filing
Amount of hours participant spent tax filing
Measured: 0-12 months after intervention
Number of participants living with anxiety/perceived stress. Survey Instrument: General Anxiety Disorder-7
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.
Measured: 0-12 months after intervention
Amount of money spent on tax filing
Dollar amount that participant spent on tax filing
Measured: 0-12 months after intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Nov 2023
- Study start1 Mar 2024
- Primary completion1 Jun 2025
- Study completion1 Jul 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Mental Health IssueStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 84 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of California, Berkeley, Boston University, University of California Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Merced, Blue Shield of California Foundation
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Rita Hamad, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)
- Investigators
- Wendi Gosliner, DrPH, Principal investigator, University of California Nutrition Policy Institute
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06146621
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CA-0221018
- Acronym
- TAKE-UP
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 7 Nov 2023
- Last updated
- 19 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Interested and qualified third-party researchers can apply to access de-identified data used in this study by contacting the PIs.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Targeting Access and Knowledge of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Utilization and Policies
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06146621
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TAKE-UP / CA-0221018
- Conditions
- Mental Health Issue, Food Security, Well-being
- Keywords
- poverty, safety net
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 84 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of California, Berkeley, Boston University, University of California Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Merced, Blue Shield of California Foundation
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jul 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Nov 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Information about free tax-filing support | Active comparator | Behavioral: Information about free tax-filing supportBasic information about where to find free tax filing support in their community will be provided to all participants by email once upon enrollment. |
| Low-touch text messaging | Experimental | Behavioral: Low-touch text messaging, Behavioral: Information about free tax-filing supportTo address families' lack of awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the ways they may benefit from filing taxes, one study arm will receive low-touch text messages. These act in part by increasing awareness of programs and eligibility rules and in part as reminders to overcome limited attention to filing. Study participants receiving this intervention will receive behavioral science-informed text messages in English or Spanish from WIC that inform them about the EITC throughout tax season (i.e., January-April) 2024. We will personalize message contents (e.g., EITC benefit size mentioned in message based on participant income, marital status, and number of dependents) due to suggestive evidence that a tailored, individualized text message has the potential to be effective |
| Personal tax filing support | Experimental | Behavioral: Personal tax filing support, Behavioral: Information about free tax-filing supportParticipants randomized to this intervention will be connected with a human assistor who will work with them to ensure they access resources to help them file taxes and apply for the EITC. The English- and Spanish-speaking assistors will be study team staff trained to provide personalized support to help families access resources for which they are eligible. The assistor will be available by text or phone to talk with people if they encounter barriers and will call to follow-up on a mutually agreed upon schedule. |
| Financial assistance | Experimental | Behavioral: Information about free tax-filing support, Behavioral: Financial assistanceParticipants randomized to this intervention will receive a $100 cash incentive for tax filing, designed to offset the time, hassle, and resources spent on tax preparation and filing, as well as psychological frictions like inattention that prevent some people from filing. This will be provided to recipients as soon as they show proof of tax filing, to provide a more immediate reward relative to the delays in receiving a federal tax refund. We will test the feasibility of delivering this via gift card, check, or other modalities, in addition to evaluating the framing and incentive amount. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 64 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (10 listed)
- 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
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Low-touch text messagingTo address families' lack of awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the ways they may benefit from filing taxes, one study arm will receive low-touch text messages. These act in part by increasing awareness of programs and eligibility rules and in part as reminders to overcome limited attention to filing. Study participants receiving this intervention will receive behavioral science-informed text messages in English or Spanish from WIC that inform them about the EITC throughout tax season (i.e., January-April) 2024. We will personalize message contents (e.g., EITC benefit size mentioned in message based on participant income, marital status, and number of dependents) due to suggestive evidence that a tailored, individualized text message has the potential to be effective | Behavioural | Low-touch text messaging |
| Personal tax filing supportParticipants randomized to this intervention will be connected with a human assistor who will work with them to ensure they access resources to help them file taxes and apply for the EITC. The English- and Spanish-speaking assistors will be study team staff trained to provide personalized support to help families access resources for which they are eligible. The assistor will be available by text or phone to talk with people if they encounter barriers and will call to follow-up on a mutually agreed upon schedule. | Behavioural | Personal tax filing support |
| Information about free tax-filing supportBasic information about where to find free tax filing support in their community will be provided to all participants by email once upon enrollment. | Behavioural | Financial assistance, Information about free tax-filing support, Low-touch text messaging, Personal tax filing support |
| Financial assistanceAlso: Cash incentiveParticipants randomized to this intervention will receive a $100 cash incentive for tax filing, designed to offset the time, hassle, and resources spent on tax preparation and filing, as well as psychological frictions like inattention that prevent some people from filing. This will be provided to recipients as soon as they show proof of tax filing, to provide a more immediate reward relative to the delays in receiving a federal tax refund. We will test the feasibility of delivering this via gift card, check, or other modalities, in addition to evaluating the framing and incentive amount. | Behavioural | Financial assistance |
Primary outcome
Number of participants who filed taxes
Time frame: 0-12 months after intervention
Determine whether participants filed taxes in the 2022 tax year
Number of participants who received the EITC
Time frame: 0-12 months after intervention
Determine whether participants received the EITC in the 2022 tax year
6 secondary outcomes
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)
Time frame: 0-12 months after intervention
Number of participants living with depressive symptoms. Survey Instrument: General Anxiety Disorder-7
Time frame: 0-12 months after intervention
Number of participants living with food insecurity.
Time frame: 0-12 months after intervention
Number of hours spent tax filing
Time frame: 0-12 months after intervention
Number of participants living with anxiety/perceived stress. Survey Instrument: General Anxiety Disorder-7
Time frame: 0-12 months after intervention
Amount of money spent on tax filing
Time frame: 0-12 months after intervention
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Aug 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Interested and qualified third-party researchers can apply to access de-identified data used in this study by contacting the PIs.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Wendi Gosliner, DrPH principal investigator
University of California Nutrition Policy Institute
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Low-touch text messaging, Personal tax filing support and Information about free tax-filing support in people with Mental Health Issue and Food Security, run by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 10 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of participants who filed taxes (time frame: 0-12 months after intervention). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Aug 2025.