Neighbors Helping Neighbors Out of Poverty North Texas
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Out of Poverty North Texas Regional P-16 Council Tuesday, May 8, 2012 Fort Worth, Texas Presented by: Camille D. Miller and Diana Maldonado
Texas Health Institute Mission: To improve the health of Texans and their communities. The Benefit Bank of Texas vision: to build a diverse network of volunteer and professional counselors at community organizations, businesses, churches, and health care and social service providers united in helping the 17. 1%* of Texans in need. The challenge of our work: Overcoming Poverty vs. Managing Poverty *US Census Bureau 2009, Poverty Population Numbers 2
Texas Unclaimed Federal Dollars Per Year* SNAP (food stamps) $ 4. 8 Billion EITC (tax credit) $ 700. 5 Million SCHIP (children’s health) $ 537. 5 Million Children’s Medicaid (children’s health) $ 955. 2 Million Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (prescriptions) $ 763. 6 Million Pell Grants (college tuition) $ 583. 7 Million Total $ 8. 3 Billion *Represents most recent data available: SNAP– 2010, EITC-TY 2009, SCHIP-2009, Medicaid-2007, Medicare 2009 -10, Pell Grants-2007 3
The Challenge Federal Poverty Level in Texas is 17. 1%* Medical Benefits FAFSA / Pell Grants Help with Federal/State Taxes SNAP * US Census 2009 4
A Solution A tool that: • Supports workers • Stabilizes families • Strengthens communities 5
The Benefit Bank of Texas ü A counselor assisted one stop service ü An eligibility calculator ü An application completion tool ü A free income tax assistance program ü Offered where people live, learn, work, play, and pray 6
The Benefit Bank of Texas Current Programs: • SNAP (Food Stamps) • Medicaid - CHIP, Perinatal CHIP, Medicaid for Children, Medicaid for Pregnant women, Medicaid for parents/caretakers of Medicaid children with income below TANF needs limit, Retroactive Medicaid and Spend down Medicaid • TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) • Federal Taxes - Earned Income Tax Credit, Childcare Credits • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) • Voter Registration 7
Family Budget on Low Wages Alone (1 adult in college with 2 children) INCOME Wages Total EXPENSES $ 15, 080 Rent & Utilities $ 7, 608 Food $ 4, 032 Transportation $ 3, 108 Health care $ 3, 288 Child care $ 5, 064 Taxes $ 4, 416 Miscellaneous $ 1, 940 College expenses $ 1, 720 Total $ 31, 176 Expenses exceed income by: $ 16, 096 8
Family Budget with Probable Work Supports (1 adult in college with 2 children) INCOME EXPENSES Wages $ 15, 080 Rent & Utilities $ 7, 608 EITC $ 3, 595 Food $ 4, 032 SNAP $ 4, 500 Transportation $ 3, 108 Medicaid $ 2, 788 Health care $ 3, 288 Child Care Subsidy $ 3, 764 Child care $ 5, 064 LIHEAP Additional Child Tax Credit $ 560 Taxes $ 4, 416 $ 1, 000 Miscellaneous $ 1, 940 Work Pay Credit $ 300 College expenses $ 1, 720 Pell Grant $ 3, 350 Total $ 34, 937 Total $ 31, 176 Work Supports raise income by: $19, 857 Income exceeds basic expenses by: $ 3, 761 9
How TBB-TX Works • Client chooses/enters own access password • Expertise is in the service • Explanatory help pop ups • Electronic filing with printed copy for client • Detailed follow up instructions for client • No information retained on local computer • Sophisticated reporting 10
Tools You Can Use Check potential eligibility in a few minutes Copyright © Solutions for Progress, Inc 11
Quick. Check - Basic Information Quick. Check is based on: Household size Information for each person living in the household is entered. Household income How much earned and unearned income was there for the tax year? Household expenses How much is the person’s cost of living? What are their expenses? Copyright © Solutions for Progress, Inc 12
Quick. Check – Eligibility Evaluation 13
Site Locator To use Site Locator, go to www. thebenefitbank. org 14
TBB-TX Self-Serve Tax & FAFSA Filing Anyone in Texas with a household income of $60, 000 or less can file their income taxes for free, right from home! Here’s How: 1. Visit www. thebenefitbank. org 2. Click, “The Benefit Bank Self. Serve Login. ” 3. Select your state and click, “Go!” 4. Complete and e-file your taxes! You can also complete and e-submit a FAFSA application. Copyright © Solutions for Progress, Inc 15
TBB-TX is Different • Tax returns and benefit applications prepared on and filed electronically from single platform • Wide range of benefits supported can be added) (more • Constant maintenance for conformance with current federal and state regulations 16
Proven Success in Multiple States PA IN OH KS NC AR MS SC TX In Ohio, more than 5, 000 counselors at over 1, 100 sites have helped families claim $518 million in supports since 2006. Recognized as most successful program in US. * FL In South Carolina, more than 1, 750 counselors at 419 sites have helped South Carolinians claim more than $26 million in supports since January 2010. Results are at twice the pace of Ohio. * Ohio Second Harvest Food Bank, www. oashf. org In North Carolina, 1, 700 counselors at 340 sites have helped North Carolinians claim $24 million in supports since April 2010. 17
Making Headway 18
The Benefit Bank of Texas Provides access to enrollment where people: • • • Live Learn Work Play Pray Overcoming Poverty vs. Managing Poverty 19
Examples of TBB Sites • Faith congregations • Health & social service organizations • Food and nutrition organizations • Community-based organizations • United Ways • Community Development Centers • Job-training programs • Homeless shelters • Home ownership programs • Asset building programs • Prisoner reentry programs • Education organizations • Advocacy group offices • Unions • Employers • Public agencies • Child and Family CBOs Copyright © Solutions for Progress, Inc 20
TBB Host Organization Roles There are two TBB roles within each organization: • Site Administrator – primary contact – works with counselors to ensure they have a good working knowledge of TBB – ensures that the site is working effectively to assist clients – informs TBB-TX staff of changes of contact information for the organization or counselors • TBB Counselor – direct-service person – staff and/or volunteers proficient with computers – attends training for benefits and/or taxes – attends update training, as needed 21
Site Requirements • Computer with internet connection • Printer & Fax • Staff/Volunteer time • Private space for client sessions 22
Free Marketing Support 23
The Benefit Bank Help Desk Staff of trained professionals reached by a toll free number to answer technical questions about The Benefit Bank of Texas 24
10 Easy Steps to Becoming a TBB-TX Site Step by Step Actions to Becoming a Site for The Benefit Bank of Texas 1. 2. 3. Receive and review a TBB-TX site agreement Sign site agreement. Identify potential counselors for your site (include an identified site administrator – primary contact for TBB-TX). 4. Schedule training for your counselors. 5. Fill out electronic site information sheet for locations, times of operation, inc. 6. THI sends an invoice for site membership fee (annual budget < $1 million = $500/year; >$1 million = $1, 000/year). 7. Pay invoice. 8. Attend training. 9. Utilize free marketing materials to inform clients of your new service. 10. Begin providing TBB-TX services to clients. 25
Thank you! Camille D. Miller President and CEO Texas Health Institute (512) 279 -3910 cmiller@texashealthinstitute. org Sherry Wilkie-Conway COO Texas Health Institute (512) 279 -3910 swilkie@texashealthinstitute. org Diana Maldonado State Director of The Benefit Bank of Texas Health Institute (512) 279 -3910 dmaldonado@texashealthinstitute. org Amanda Royston Vice President Events, Education, Marketing and Communication Texas Health Institute (512) 279 -3910 aconway@texashealthinstitute. org
- Slides: 26