bridging the gap webinar series, 2011 hillary lazar, program director, nhsa

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

Connecting Frontline Workers and their Families to Critically Needed Supports in

Tough Times

Understanding the Basics:

What Supports Are Out There 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 Existing Supports

Some Hard Numbers:

46+ Million People in America in poverty

78+ Million

50+ Million People in America are uninsured

People in America can’t afford healthy food

BUT!

35+ Million Children Covered by Medicaid/CHIP

7% Percentage of families who claim all four major benefits

9 Million Women and Children were supported by WIC

48+ Million People in America could afford healthy foods through SNAP

However . . .

Benefit programs and other income supports are crucial for several reasons:

1. Family Success

2. Workplace Success

3. Community 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

2011 Poverty Line for Family of 3 $18,530/Year

Budget Gap – Single parent, 2 children, working as a childcare provider, $8.00/hour

Budget Surplus: Up to $2000+/year

Medical Expenses

TransportationRent & Utilities

Basic Needs

Child Care

The programs help workers keep working and care for themselves and their children.

Workplace Success:

Decreased absenteeism and presenteeism

Increased retention

Greater employee commitment

Higher-levels of productivity 

Saves on expenditures and profit-loss

Decreased Absenteeism/Presenteeism:

• Routine illness – 29%

• Problems with child care – 22%

• Transportation for family – 10%

Employee Support

Puts Money Back Into the Economy.

What it is:

Who it benefits:

Why it’s important:

How to claim it:

Up to $5751 in cash back

Workers who earn up to $48,000

Largest available income booster

Must file taxesVITA SITES

What it is:

Who it benefits:

Why it’s important:

How to claim it:

Up to $1000 credit per child

Workers with qualified children ($110k – married, $75k single)

Helps offset cost of raising kids

Must file taxesVITA Sites

What it is:  

Who it benefits:

Why it’s important:

How to claim it:

Pays for groceries with Electronic Benefit Transfer Card (EBT)

Low-income families and individualsUp to 29k (family of four)

Healthy food means a healthy body

Online application

What it is:  Who it benefits:

Why it’s important:

How to claim it:

Pays for nutrition-related health services

Low-income mothers w/kids under 5Up to 41k (family of four)

Helps moms and kids stay healthy

Check-up

• School Food Programs

• Emergency Nutrition Assistance

• Other Food Assistance

What it is:  Who it benefits:

Why it’s important:

How to claim it:

Low and no-cost health insurance

Uninsured low-income individuals and families Up to 17.5k (family of four)

Covers medical bills and care for uninsured

Insurekidsnow.gov

What it is:

Who it benefits:

Why it’s important:

How to claim it:

Low and no-cost Health

Individuals and children who don’t qualify for Medicaid

Covers medical bills for uninsured

Insurekidsnow.gov

• State Pharmacy Assistance Programs

• State and local insurance programs

What it is:

Who it benefits:

Why it’s important:

How to claim it:

Help with heating, cooling and weatherization

Low-income and at-risk households

Heating and cooling are central to home safety

Liheap.ncat.org

What it is:

Who it benefits:

Why it’s important:

How to claim it:

Help with loan modification and refinancing

Homeowners at-risk for losing their homes

Home is essential for family stability

• Privately owned subsidized housing

• Public Housing

• Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)

• State Child Care Subsidies (Child Care Works)

• Temporary Cash Assistance

• Veterans Benefits

• Unemployment Insurance

Income Support Outreach: First StepsFirst Steps

What outreach works best for you and your organization?

• Who do you want to connect w/ these supports• What’s your role• Existing programs• Communication• Special Considerations

Self-Assessment:

For Employers/HR: How toRaise Awareness Include fliers with paychecks/stubs or when

distributing W-2s

Put up posters in the break room or bathrooms

Talk about programs during staff meetings

Offer to do one-on-one conversations about supports, when talking about other benefits

Bring in a VITA volunteer counselor or other agency representative for an information or enrollment session

For Providers: How toRaise Awareness Mail out info

Put up posters throughout the site

Talk about supports, provide enrollment assistance, refer clients to enrollment single-stop sites

Piggyback on existing programs

Bring in an enrollment counselor for an information or enrollment session

Become a single stop site or join a community outreach campaign

For Employers and Providers: How to raise awareness

7 is the MAGIC number.

For Coalition-builders: How to Raise Awareness Distribute info and

direct workers/ clients to free enrollment sites

Conduct outreach events and create opportunities to provide enrollment services

Get in position to enrich and sustain outreach efforts in the future

Engage others in reaching out through their own networks

Expand and improve enrollment services

For Coalition-builders: How to Raise Awareness

PARTNERSHIPS

How to Talk About Income Supports Talking points to emphasize:

It’s for working families

They earned it – they should get it!

The financial crisis

It’s a simple process

It’s money for healthy food, medical care, and more

Use Language That’s Positive and Empowering.

Workplace Outreach:Use Existing Resources

Access Information Online:

- www.govbenefits.gov

- State and city gov pages

- Bridging the Gap

Workplace Outreach:Use Existing Resources

- 211

- www.Insurekidsnow.gov

1-877-Kids-Now

- www.ncat.org

Use Referral and Info Services:

Workplace Outreach:Use Existing Resources Connect with Enrollment Specialists:

Stay Tuned:Upcoming Webinars!

Tuesday, November 29th, 1-2:30 EST – Healthy Families, Healthy Communities: From Help with Groceries to Free Health Care

Tuesday, December 6th, 1-2:30 EST – Home is Where the Heart is: Benefits for the Home and Family

Tuesday, December 13th, 1-2:30 EST – Money that Matters: Tax Credits for Working Families

For more information about benefit outreach or the Bridging the Gap Initiative please contact:

Hillary Lazar, Program Director – NHSA202-347-2080 x15 • Ph 202-393-4517 Fax

hlazar@nassembly.org

LEARN MORE!