bridging the gap webinar series, 2011 hillary lazar, program director, nhsa
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Bridging the Gap Webinar Series, 2011 Hillary 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. Understanding the Basics – What - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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
LEARN MORE!