Bridging the Gap Training Series, 2010 Hillary Lazar, Benefits Outreach Coordinator, NHSA

1. Bridging the Gap Training Series, 2010 Hillary Lazar, Benefits Outreach Coordinator, NHSA Supporting Employees and Strengthening Workplaces The Whys and Hows of Earned Benefits

2. Understanding the Basics: What Earned Benefits Are and Why They Matter

3. Understanding the Basics – What Earned Benefits Are Examples of Earned Benefits • 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 – How Earned Benefits Help Earned benefits and other income supports are crucial for two reasons: 1. Family Success 2. Workplace Success

5. Understanding the Basics – How Earned Benefits Help Family Success: Budget Gap – Single mother, 2 children, working as a childcare provider, $8.00/hour Budget Surplus: Up to $2000/year 2009 Poverty Line for Family of 3 $18,300/Year

6. Understanding the Basics – How Earned Benefits Help Workplace Success: • Decreased absenteeism • Increased retention • Greater employee commitment • Higher-levels of productivity 

7. Understanding the Basics – Why Earned Benefits Matter Now The Hard Numbers: 7.6 Million Families in poverty before the financial crisis 8 Million+ People who lost their jobs since 2007 1.35 Million Home foreclosures in 2008 3 Million + Home foreclosures expected in 2010 8 Billion+ Dollars in benefits that get left on the table each year 45% Percentage increase in annual income for some EITC recipients 7% Percentage of families who claim all four major benefits

8. Earned Benefits 101

9. Earned Benefits 101 – The Earned Income Tax Credit What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In PA: Up to $5666 in cash back Workers who earn up to $48,000 Largest available income booster Must file taxes PA VITA (DPW) Pathways PA

10. Earned Benefits 101 – The Additional Child Tax Credit What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In PA: Up to $1000 credit per child Workers with qualified children Helps offset cost of raising kids Must file taxes PA VITA (DPW) Pathways PA

11. Earned Benefits 101 – Other Major Tax Credits • Child and Dependent Care Credit • American Opportunity Tax Credit • PA Tax Forgiveness

12. Earned Benefits 101 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In PA: Formerly Food Stamps – Pays for groceries Low-income families and individuals Healthy food means healthy body Online application ACCESS CARD Up to 35k (family of four), 44k (w/senior) - $668/month COMPASS PA

13. Earned Benefits 101 - Women, Infants, and Children Program 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 Helps moms and kids stay healthy Application and check-up Up to 40k (family of four) PAWIC.com

14. Earned Benefits 101 - Medical Assistance/Medicaid What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In PA: Low and no-cost health insurance Uninsured low-income individuals and families Covers medical bills and care for uninsured Application ACCESS Card Up to 17.5k (family of four) COMPASS PA

15. Earned Benefits 101 - Children’s Health Insurance Program What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In PA: Low and no-cost Health Individuals and children who don’t qualify for Medicaid Covers medical bills for uninsured Application Up to 44k (free - family of four) Chipcoverspakids.com COMPASS PA

16. Earned Benefits 101 – Other Major Nutrition and Health Programs in PA • National School • Food Program • Expedited Food • adultBasic* • *Cut as 2011.

17. Earned Benefits 101 - Low-Income Home and Energy Assistance 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 (fall only) Up to 33k (family of four) Regular, Crisis LIHEAP Hotline COMPASS PA

18. Earned Benefits 101 - Foreclosure Assistance What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In PA: Help with loan modification and refinancing Homeowners at-risk for losing their homes Home is essential for family stability Call 888-995-HOPE Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Homeowners’ Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program Heretohelppa.gov

19. Earned Benefits 101 – Other Housing Assistance Programs • Privately owned • subsidized housing • Public Housing • Housing Choice • Voucher Program • (Section 8)

20. Earned Benefits 101 – Other Benefits and Programs • State Child Care Subsidies (Child Care Works) • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families • Veterans Benefits

21. Earned Benefits Outreach in the Workplace

22. Workplace Outreach: Raise Awareness • Include fliers with paychecks/stubs or when distributing W-2s • Put up posters in the break room or bathrooms • Send out email “benefit blasts” • Talk about benefits during staff meetings • Direct employees to Diakon Inroads EAP

23. 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.

24. Quick Tips for Workplace Outreach: And Remember! • Get creative • Think strategically • 7 is the magic number

25. Workplace Outreach: Use Existing Resources Access Information Online: • – COMPASS PA • - Heretohelp.pa.gov • - helpinpa.state.pa.us/ • - www.dpw.state.pa.us/ • - Bridging the Gap page

26. Workplace Outreach: Use Existing Resources • Use Referral Services: - 211 - 1-800-G0-BASIC - 1-800-986-KIDS - 1-800-986-BABY - 1-800-WIC-WINS - 1-800-PA-BANKS - 1-877-4-PA-KIDS

27. 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