PORTLAND – Mainers can expect to receive checks from the federal government for the child tax credit starting next month.

More than 119,000 Mainers are eligible for the credit, which increases the child tax credit from $600 to $1,000 per child effective in 2003 and 2004.

This year, a typical family with one child will receive a check for $400. Families with two children will get $800.

Checks will be mailed by the U.S. Treasury Department depending on the last two digits of Social Security numbers. Checks for those with the last two digits of between zero and 33 will be mailed out July 25. For numbers between 34 to 66, the checks will be mailed out Aug. 1, and from 67 to 99 will be mailed out Aug. 8.

For 2003, the increased amount of child tax credit will be paid in advance to taxpayers who claimed a child tax credit on their 2002 tax return. The amount of advance payments will be based on taxpayers’ 2002 filing status and income, as well as the number of children claimed on their 2002 tax return who will still be under age 17 in 2003.