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

1. Bridging the Gap Training Series, 2011 Hillary Lazar, Program Director, 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 – Why Earned Benefits Matter Now The Hard Numbers: 43.6 Million People in America in poverty 40+ Million People receiving Food Stamps 7+ Million Eligible for and not receiving Food Stamps 10 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

5. Understanding the Basics – How Earned Benefits Help Earned benefits and other income supports are crucial for two reasons: 1. Family Success 2. Workplace Success

6. Understanding the Basics – How Earned Benefits 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

7. Understanding the Basics – How Earned Benefits Help Child Care Rent & Utilities Transportation Basic Needs Medical Expenses The benefits help workers keep working and care for themselves and their children.

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

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

10. Understanding the Basics – How Earned Benefits Help Increased Retention, Commitment, and Productivity: Employee Support *An effective workplace demonstrates commitment to employees by providing benefit access and support programs along with other opportunities for career advancement and roles in decision-making, which leads to greater organizational and mission success.

11. Understanding the Basics – How Earned Benefits Help Saves on Expenditures: How much does it cost to fill a $16k job? $6,000 - $12,000 Employee Support

12. Earned Benefits 101

13. Earned Benefits 101 – The Earned Income Tax Credit What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In MD: Up to $5666 in cash back Workers who earn up to $48,000 Largest available income booster Must file taxes individuals.marylandtaxes.com/taxhelp/

14. Earned Benefits 101 – The Additional Child Tax Credit What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In MD: Up to $1000 credit per child Workers with qualified children ($110k – married, $75k single) Helps offset cost of raising kids Must file taxes individuals.marylandtaxes.com/taxhelp/

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

16. Earned Benefits 101 - Food Stamps What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In MD: Pays for groceries with Electronic Benefit Transfer Card (EBT) Low-income families and individuals Healthy food means a healthy body Online application Independence Card (MD’s EBT) Up to 35k (family of four), 44k (w/senior) - $668/month SAIL MD

17. Earned Benefits 101 - Women, Infants, and Children Program What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In MD: 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) fha.maryland.gov/wic

18. Earned Benefits 101 – Other Major Nutrition Programs in MD • School Lunch Program • School Breakfast Program • Special Milk Program

19. Earned Benefits 101 - Medical Assistance/Medicaid What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In MD: 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) SAIL MD

20. Earned Benefits 101 - Children’s Health Insurance Program What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In MD: 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) SAIL MD www.dhmh.state.md.us/mma/mchp/

21. Earned Benefits 101 – Other Major Health Programs in MD • Maryland Pharmacy Assistance Program • Medicare Buy-In Program

22. Earned Benefits 101 - Home and Energy Assistance Program What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In MD: Help with heating, cooling and weatherization Low-income and at-risk households Heating and cooling are central to home safety Application liheap.ncat.org/profiles/Maryland.htm MHEAP Hotline SAIL MD

23. Earned Benefits 101 - Foreclosure Assistance What it is: Who it benefits: Why it’s important: How to claim it: In MD: Help with loan modification and refinancing Homeowners at-risk for losing their homes Home is essential for family stability Call 877-462-7555 Maryland HOPE Initiative MDHOPE.org

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

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

26. Earned Benefits Outreach in the Workplace

27. 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

28. 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.

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

30. Workplace Outreach: Use Existing Resources Access Information Online: • – SAIL MD –marylandsail.org • - mdhope.org/ • - dhr.maryland.gov • - Bridging the Gap page

31. Workplace Outreach: Use Existing Resources • Use Referral Services: Benefits Hotline - 211 DHR General Information - 1-800-332-6347 MHEAP - 1-800-352-1446

32. 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