Bridging the Gap Training Series, March 2010 Hillary Lazar, Benefits Outreach Coordinator, NHSA
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Transcript of Bridging the Gap Training Series, March 2010 Hillary Lazar, Benefits Outreach Coordinator, NHSA
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Bridging the Gap Training Series, March 2010Hillary Lazar, Benefits Outreach Coordinator, NHSA
Supporting Employees and Strengthening Workplaces
The Whys and Hows of Earned Benefits Outreach in an Economic Crisis
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Understanding the Basics:
What Earned Benefits Are and Why They
Matter
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• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC/EIC)• (Additional) Child Tax Credit (CTC)• State Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly Food Stamps)• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)• Medicaid• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)• Housing Assistance Programs• Subsidized Child Care
Examples of Earned Benefits
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Earned benefits and other income supports are crucial for two reasons:
1. Family Success
2. Workplace Success
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Family Success:
Income Income
Food Stamps
Medicaid
Rentand Utilities
Other
FederalTax Credits
State and CityTax Credits
HEAP
Budget GapFood
Health Care
Transportation
$0
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
$25,000
$30,000
Annual Expenses Annual Resourcesbefore Benefits
Annual Resourceswith Benefits
2009 Poverty Line for Family of 3 $18,300/Year
Budget Gap – Single mother, 2 children, working as a childcare provider, $8.00/hour
Budget Surplus: Up to $2000/year
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Workplace Success:
Decreased absenteeism
Increased retention
Greater employee commitment
Higher-levels of productivity
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The Hard Numbers:
7.6 Million Families in poverty before the financial crisis
3 Million+ Frontline human service workers
People who lost their jobs since 20073 Million+ 1.35 Million Home foreclosures in 2008
8 Billion+ Dollars in benefits that get left on the table each year
7% Percentage of families who claim all four major benefits
45% Percentage increase in annual income for some EITC recipients
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Earned Benefits 101
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What it is:
Who it benefits:
Why it’s important:
How to claim it:
In NY:
Up to $5657 in cash back
Workers who earn up to $48,000
Largest available income booster
Must file taxes
NYS & NYC EITCVITA, AARP Tax-Aide
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What it is:
Who it benefits:
Why it’s important:
How to claim it:
In NY:
Up to $1000 credit per child
Workers with qualified children
Helps offset cost of raising kids
Must file taxes
Empire State Child Credit & NYC Child CreditVITA, AARP Tax-Aide
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What it is: Who it benefits:
Why it’s important:
How to claim it:
In NY:
Formerly Food Stamps – Pays for groceries
Low-income families and individuals
Up to 22k (family of four)AccessNYC311, Food Emergency Hotline
Healthy food means healthy body
Online application
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What it is: Who it benefits:
Why it’s important:
How to claim it:
In NY:
Pays for nutrition-related health services
Low-income mothers w/kids under 5
Up to 40k (family of four)311, Growing Up Healthy HotlineACCESSNYC
Helps moms and kids stay healthy
Application and check-up
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What it is: Who it benefits:
Why it’s important:
How to claim it:
In NY:
Low and no-cost health insurance
Uninsured low-income individuals and families
Up to 17.5k (family of four)311ACCESSNYC
Covers medical bills and care for uninsured
Application
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• National School Food Program
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program • Healthy NY
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What it is:
Who it benefits:
Why it’s important:
How to claim it:
In NY:
Low and no-cost Health
Individuals and children who don’t qualify for Medicaid
Child Health Plus – up to 35k (family of four)311ACCESSNYC
Covers medical bills for uninsured
Application
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What it is:
Who it benefits:
Why it’s important:
How to claim it:
In NY:
Help with heating, cooling and weatherization
Low-income and at-risk households
Heating and cooling are central to home safety
Application
Up to 47k (family of four)Regular, Emergency, and Repair311, Heat LineACCESS NYC
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What it is:
Who it benefits:
Why it’s important:
How to claim it:
In NY:
Help with loan modification and refinancing
Homeowners at-risk for losing their homes
Home is essential for family stability
Call 888-995-HOPE
NYC Dept. Housing and PreventionNYS Bank Hotline
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• Privately owned subsidized housing
• Public Housing
• Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
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• State Child Care Subsidies
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
• Veterans Benefits
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Earned Benefits Outreach in the
Workplace
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Workplace Outreach: You Don’t Have to be an Expert
You do NOT have to be an expert to help families claim their benefits. You have two jobs:
1. Raise Awareness
2. Connect them with the Experts and Enrollment Specialists
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Workplace Outreach:First Steps
What outreach works best for your organization?
• Communication methods• Existing programs• What worked in the past• Special Considerations
Self-Assessment:
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Workplace Outreach:Raise Awareness Include fliers with paychecks/stubs or when
distributing W-2s
Put up posters in the break room or bathrooms
Talk about benefits during staff meetings
Offer to do one-on-one conversations about taxes and/or finances
Bring in a counselor for an information or enrollment session
Include them with other benefits in open enrollment
Offer earned benefits through your EAP
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Workplace Outreach: How to Talk About Tax Credits Talking points to emphasize:
It’s for working families
They earned it – they should get it!
The financial crisis
It’s a simple process
Use Language That’s Empowering.
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Workplace Outreach:Use Existing Resources
Access Information Online:
- ACCESSNYC
- NYC.gov
- Bridging the Gap
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Workplace Outreach:Use Existing Resources
- 311
- 211
- Growing up Healthy
Hotline
- Food Emergency
Hotline
Use Referral Services:
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Workplace Outreach:Use Existing Resources Connect with Enrollment Specialists:
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For more information about tax credit outreach or the Bridging the Gap Initiative please contact:
Hillary Lazar, Benefits Outreach Coordinator – NHSA202-347-2080 x10 • Ph 202-393-4517 Fax
LEARN MORE!