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

Understanding the Basics:

What Earned Benefits Are and Why They

Matter

• 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

Earned benefits and other income supports are crucial for two reasons:

1. Family Success

2. Workplace Success

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

Workplace Success:

Decreased absenteeism

Increased retention

Greater employee commitment

Higher-levels of productivity 

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

Earned Benefits 101

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

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

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

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

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

• National School Food Program

• Commodity Supplemental Food Program • Healthy NY

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

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

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

• Privately owned subsidized housing

• Public Housing

• Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)

• State Child Care Subsidies

• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

• Veterans Benefits

Earned Benefits Outreach in the

Workplace

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

Workplace Outreach:First Steps

What outreach works best for your organization?

• Communication methods• Existing programs• What worked in the past• Special Considerations

Self-Assessment:

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

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.

Workplace Outreach:Use Existing Resources

Access Information Online:

- ACCESSNYC

- NYC.gov

- Bridging the Gap

Workplace Outreach:Use Existing Resources

- 311

- 211

- Growing up Healthy

Hotline

- Food Emergency

Hotline

Use Referral Services:

Workplace Outreach:Use Existing Resources Connect with Enrollment Specialists:

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

hlazar@nassembly.org

LEARN MORE!