Bridging the Gap Webinar Series, 2011 Hillary Lazar, Program Director, NHSA

1. Bridging the Gap Webinar Series, 2011 Hillary Lazar, Program Director, NHSA Connecting Frontline Workers and their Families to Critically Needed Supports in Tough Times

2. Understanding the Basics: What Supports Are Out There and Why They Matter

3. Understanding the Basics – What Income Supports Exist Examples of Existing Supports • 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

4. Understanding the Basics – Why Income Supports Matter Now Some Hard Numbers: 46+ Million People in America in poverty 78+ Million People in America can’t afford healthy food 50+ Million People in America are uninsured

5. BUT! 48+ Million People in America could afford healthy foods through SNAP 35+ Million Children Covered by Medicaid/CHIP 9 Million Women and Children were supported by WIC However . . . 7% Percentage of families who claim all four major benefits

6. Understanding the Basics – How Income Supports Help Benefit programs and other income supports are crucial for several reasons: 1. Family Success 2. Workplace Success 3. Community Success

7. Understanding the Basics – How Income Supports Help Family Success: Budget Gap – Single parent, 2 children, working as a childcare provider, $8.00/hour Budget Surplus: Up to $2000+/year 2011 Poverty Line for Family of 3 $18,530/Year

8. Understanding the Basics – How Income Supports Help Child Care Rent & Utilities Transportation Basic Needs Medical Expenses The programs help workers keep working and care for themselves and their children.

9. Understanding the Basics – How Income Supports Help Workplace Success: • Decreased absenteeism and presenteeism • Increased retention • Greater employee commitment • Higher-levels of productivity • Saves on expenditures and profit-loss

10. Understanding the Basics – How Income Supports Help Decreased Absenteeism/Presenteeism: • Routine illness – 29% • Problems with child care – 22% • Transportation for family – 10%

11. Understanding the Basics – How Income Supports Help Puts Money Back Into the Economy. Employee Support

12. Income Supports 101

13. Income Supports 101 – The Earned Income Tax Credit What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: Up to $5751 in cash back Workers who earn up to $48,000 Largest available income booster Must file taxes VITA SITES

14. Income Supports 101 – The Additional Child Tax Credit What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: Up to $1000 credit per child Workers with qualified children ($110k – married, $75k single) Helps offset cost of raising kids Must file taxesVITA Sites

15. Income Supports 101 – Other Major Tax Credits • Child and Dependent Care Credit • American Opportunity Tax Credit

16. Income Supports 101 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: Pays for groceries with Electronic Benefit Transfer Card (EBT) Low-income families and individuals Up to 29k (family of four) Healthy food means a healthy body Online application

17. Income Supports 101 - Women, Infants, and Children Program What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: Pays for nutrition-related health services Low-income mothers w/kids under 5 Up to 41k (family of four) Helps moms and kids stay healthy Check-up

18. Income Supports 101 – Other Major Nutrition Programs • School Food Programs • Emergency Nutrition Assistance • Other Food Assistance

19. Income Supports 101 - Medical Assistance/Medicaid What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: Low and no-cost health insurance Uninsured low-income individuals and families Up to 17.5k (family of four) Covers medical bills and care for uninsured Insurekidsnow.gov

20. Income Supports 101 - Children’s Health Insurance Program What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: Low and no-cost Health Individuals and children who don’t qualify for Medicaid Covers medical bills for uninsured Insurekidsnow.gov

21. Income Supports 101 – Other Major Health Programs • State Pharmacy Assistance Programs • State and local insurance programs

22. Income Supports 101 - Home and Energy Assistance Program What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: Help with heating, cooling and weatherization Low-income and at-risk households Heating and cooling are central to home safety Liheap.ncat.org

23. Income Supports 101 - Foreclosure Assistance What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: Help with loan modification and refinancing Homeowners at-risk for losing their homes Home is essential for family stability

24. Income Supports 101 – Other Housing Assistance Programs • Privately owned • subsidized housing • Public Housing • Housing Choice • Voucher Program • (Section 8)

25. Income Supports 101 – Other Benefits and Programs • State Child Care Subsidies (Child Care Works) • Temporary Cash Assistance • Veterans Benefits • Unemployment Insurance

26. Income Supports Outreach

27. Income Support Outreach: First Steps First Steps Self-Assessment: • What outreach works best for you and your organization? • Who do you want to connect w/ these supports • What’s your role • Existing programs • Communication • Special Considerations

28. For Employers/HR: How to Raise Awareness • Include fliers with paychecks/stubs or when distributing W-2s • Put up posters in the break room or bathrooms • Talk about programs during staff meetings • Offer to do one-on-one conversations about supports, when talking about other benefits • Bring in a VITA volunteer counselor or • other agency representative • for an information or enrollment session

29. For Providers: How to Raise Awareness • Mail out info • Put up posters throughout the site • Talk about supports, provide enrollment assistance, refer clients to enrollment single-stop sites • Piggyback on existing programs • Bring in an enrollment counselor for an information or enrollment session • Become a single stop site or join a community outreach campaign

30. For Employers and Providers: How to raise awareness 7 is the MAGIC number.

31. For Coalition-builders: How to Raise Awareness Distribute info and direct workers/ clients to free enrollment sites Conduct outreach events and create opportunities to provide enrollment services Get in position to enrich and sustain outreach efforts in the future Expand and improve enrollment services Engage others in reaching out through their own networks

32. For Coalition-builders: How to Raise Awareness PARTNERSHIPS

33. How to Talk About Income Supports Talking points to emphasize: • It’s for working families • They earned it – they should get it! • The financial crisis • It’s a simple process • It’s money for healthy food, medical care, and more Use Language That’s Positive and Empowering.

34. Workplace Outreach: Use Existing Resources Access Information Online: • - www.govbenefits.gov • - State and city gov pages • - Bridging the Gap

35. Workplace Outreach: Use Existing Resources • Use Referral and Info Services: - 211 - www.Insurekidsnow.gov 1-877-Kids-Now - www.ncat.org

36. Workplace Outreach: Use Existing Resources Connect with Enrollment Specialists:

37. Stay Tuned: Upcoming Webinars! Tuesday, November 29th, 1-2:30 EST – Healthy Families, Healthy Communities: From Help with Groceries to Free Health Care Tuesday, December 6th, 1-2:30 EST – Home is Where the Heart is: Benefits for the Home and Family Tuesday, December 13th, 1-2:30 EST – Money that Matters: Tax Credits for Working Families

38. LEARN MORE! For more information about benefit outreach or the Bridging the Gap Initiative please contact: Hillary Lazar, Program Director – NHSA 202-347-2080 x15 • Ph 202-393-4517 Fax hlazar@nassembly.org