Why I didnt get child tax credit instead of credit for dependants?

[DoninGA]

A child older than 16 is not eligible for the Child Tax Credit.

If the child is age 16 or younger and you did not receive the CTC then review your answers in the My Info section of the program.  Check the child's date of birth, indicate the child lived with you for the Whole Year, that the child did NOT provide over one-half of their own support and that the Social Security number box for not valid for employment is NOT checked.  If all answers are correct, then delete the child as a dependent and re-enter.

[xmasbaby0]

How old was the child you claimed?   If the child was older than 16 at the end of 2020 you do not get the child tax credit.  You only get the $500 credit for other dependents for a child who was older than 16 at the end of 2020.   Or if the child was born in 2020 you have to say they lived with you the whole year,   The child must have a Social Security number in order to get the CTC.