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

Bridging the Gap Training Series, March 2010 Hillary Lazar, Benefits Outreach Coordinator, NHSA. Supporting Employees and Strengthening Workplaces The Whys and Hows of Earned Benefits Outreach in an Economic Crisis. Understanding the Basics: What Earned Benefits Are and Why They Matter.

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

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

  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 3 Million+ Frontline human service workers 3 Million+ People who lost their jobs since 2007 1.35 Million Home foreclosures in 2008 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 NY: Up to $5657 in cash back Workers who earn up to $48,000 Largest available income booster Must file taxes NYS & NYC EITC VITA, AARP Tax-Aide

  10. Earned Benefits 101 – The Additional Child Tax Credit 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 Credit VITA, AARP Tax-Aide

  11. Earned Benefits 101 – Other Major Tax Credits • Child and Dependent Care Credit • American Opportunity Tax Credit • Making Work Pay Credit • NYS Child and Dependent Care Credit

  12. Earned Benefits 101 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 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 Healthy food means healthy body Online application Up to 22k (family of four) AccessNYC 311, Food Emergency Hotline

  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) 311, Growing Up Healthy Hotline ACCESSNYC

  14. Earned Benefits 101 - Medicaid 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 Covers medical bills and care for uninsured Application Up to 17.5k (family of four) 311 ACCESSNYC

  15. Earned Benefits 101 – Other Major Nutrition and Health Programs in NYC • National School • Food Program • Commodity • Supplemental • Food Program • Healthy NY

  16. Earned Benefits 101 - Children’s Health Insurance Program 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 Covers medical bills for uninsured Application Child Health Plus – up to 35k (family of four) 311 ACCESSNYC

  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 Up to 47k (family of four) Regular, Emergency, and Repair 311, Heat Line ACCESS NYC

  18. Earned Benefits 101 - Foreclosure Assistance 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 Prevention NYS Bank Hotline

  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 • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families • Veterans Benefits

  21. Earned Benefits Outreach in the Workplace

  22. Workplace Outreach: You Don’t Have to be an Expert Youdo NOT have to be an expert to help families claim their benefits. You have two jobs: • Raise Awareness 2.Connect them with the Experts and Enrollment Specialists

  23. Workplace Outreach: First Steps Self-Assessment: • What outreach works best for your organization? • Communication methods • Existing programs • What worked in the past • Special Considerations

  24. 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

  25. 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.

  26. Workplace Outreach: Use Existing Resources Access Information Online: • - ACCESSNYC • - NYC.gov • - Bridging the Gap

  27. Workplace Outreach: Use Existing Resources • Use Referral Services: - 311 - 211 - Growing up Healthy Hotline - Food Emergency Hotline

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

  29. LEARN MORE! For more information about tax credit outreach or the Bridging the Gap Initiative please contact: Hillary Lazar, Benefits Outreach Coordinator – NHSA 202-347-2080 x10 • Ph 202-393-4517 Fax hlazar@nassembly.org

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