obb standard power point
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Ohio Benefit Bank 2013TRANSCRIPT
www.ohiofoodbanks.org
www.ohiobenefits.org
Ohio Association of Foodbanks
Introduction to The Ohio Benefit Bank™
The Ohio Association of Foodbanks is Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger.
Our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need.
Who We Are
Who We Are
The Ohio Association of Foodbanks serves as the home of The Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB™).
The OBB is implemented through a public-private partnership between the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, the State of Ohio, four federal agencies, nine state agencies, and about1,300 faith-based and community organizations across Ohio.
Who We Are
The Problem: Ohio’s Unclaimed FundsIn Ohio, more than $2.24 billion in work support programs and tax credits, provided to help stabilize low- and moderate-income families, go unclaimed each year.
About 95 percent of those funds are federal dollars which, if unused, Ohio must return to the federal government.
$1,276,485,6
20
$258,369,40
7
$76,227,280
$65,146,199
$272,255,780
$289,983,39
7
SNAP Benefits Not Accessed
EITC Funds Not Accessed
Federal Children's Medicaid Benefits Not Accessed
Federal CHIP Benefits Not Accessed
Medicare Part D Benefits Not Accessed
Value of Pell Grants Not Accessed
An Answer: The Ohio Benefit Bank
The OBB helps individuals and families to access these unclaimed funds, providing revenue to local economies.
Here’s an example of how the OBB could help to increase household stability for a family of one adult and two children with an earned annual income of $15,600 (or $10/hour for 30 hours/week):
$5,028 from the Earned Income Tax Credit
$4,728 in Food Assistance
$150 in Home Energy Assistance
= $9,931 in potential income enhancements
These benefits and credits alone would provide an increase in annual income of more than 64 percent!
How Does the OBB Work?
The OBB is a free online service that is:
• Internet-based, available in easy-to-read English and Spanish
• Question-guided• A tool to stimulate local economies and
household incomes
The OBB offers:
• A potential eligibility calculator that estimates eligibility for more than 20 work support programs and tax credits
• An application completion tool• A free income tax assistance program,
including free e-filing for federal and state tax returns
Programs Supported by the OBB• USDA Child Nutrition Programs• Food Assistance (SNAP)• Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)• Healthcare programs for families and children• Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps (BCMH)• Child and Family Health Services• Medicare Savings Program• Extra Help for Medicare Part D• Ohio Senior Community Service Employment Program• Golden Buckeye Program• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)• Ohio Cash Assistance (OWF)• Child Care Assistance• Vocational Rehabilitation Services• Big Brothers Big Sisters “Amachi”• Veterans Education Benefits• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)• Free tax filing (federal and state, including e-filing and back taxes)• The Ohio Youth and Young Adults in Transition Universal Plan
Current ResultsSince its inception in 2006, the OBB has returned more than $1.04 billion in potential work support programs and tax credits to over 486,000 Ohioans.
Those income enhancements go directly to local economies through medical expenditures, food purchases, and many other areas.
Study on the Impact of the OBB
A study conducted by the Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs found that:
• 50 percent of OBB clients surveyed would have been “unlikely” or “very unlikely” to apply for benefits without the OBB
• 83 percent of OBB clients surveyed rated their OBB experience as “good” or “excellent”
OBB Site Models: Adapting to Need
OBB Counselo
r-Assisted (Original Model)
OBB Self-
Serve
OBB Pro
OBB Access SSI/SSD
I
OBB Direct Access
OBB Counselor-Assisted
• New sites attend a one-hour, pre-training orientation
• Interested sites complete site enrollment paperwork
• Sites send new counselors to regional training, including hands-on practice on computers
• Separate trainings for benefits and taxes
OBB Counselo
r-Assisted (Original Model)
OBB Self-Serve
• The OBB Self-Serve edition is available from any computer with Internet access
• Self-Serve sites can provide access to OBB Self-Serve and receive detailed reporting just by attending a brief online training
OBB Self-
Serve
OBB Pro
• OBB Pro is meant for agencies with staff that provide extensive case management services
• Pro counselors must be authorized representatives for their clients, and they can work on applications without the client present
• Pro requires traditional OBB training and an additional webinar
OBB Pro
OBB Direct Access• OBB Direct Access is a highly specialized
process that must be carried out in partnership with the local County Department of Job and Family Services
OBB Direct Access
• In counties with Direct Access, sites with special training can provide on-site phone interviews with CDJFS caseworkers
OBB Access SSI/SSDI• Application completion assistance for
Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance
• This special online service provides staff with case management roles the ability to serves as authorized representatives and assist clients in their applications for SSI and SSDI
• Becoming an OBB Access SSI/SSDI counselor requires an additional training
OBB Access SSI/SSD
I
Helpful Resources: QuickCheck• Potential eligibility calculator estimates eligibility for
work supports and tax credits• Based on household size, income, and expenses• Uses a five-star rating to indicate the likelihood that
a person is eligible for one or more benefit• Go to www.ohiobenefits.org and click “QuickCheck”
Household size: Basic information for each person living in the household
Household income: Earned and unearned income for the year
Household expenses: Basic expenses are entered to calculate the household’s cost of living
Helpful Resources: Site LocatorThe Benefit Bank Site Locator is an interactive map that locates the OBB sites near an address or zip code.
Go to www.ohiobenefits.org, click “Benefit Bank Locator,” enter an address or zip code, and click “Search” to find OBB sites in your area.
Helpful Resources: Mobile ExpressThe OBB Mobile Express, powered by The Columbus Foundation, attends events that will target specific populations, including seniors, veterans, and people living with disabilities. These populations often face unique barriers to accessing and utilizing benefits, barriers the Mobile Express team helps overcome by identifying effective strategies that are then shared with the OBB network.
Reserve the Mobile Express for free for your next event!
Just go to ohiofoodbanks.org to submit a request today!
Getting Involved with the OBB• Become an OBB site
• To sign up for pre-training orientation, the first step in becoming a site, visit www.ohiofoodbanks.org
• Become a volunteer• Call our hotline at 1-800-648-1176 to be
connected with an OBB site near you where you can volunteer
• Spread the word• Order free marketing or connect clients with
OBB Self-Serve at www.ohiobenefits.org
For more information
• Contact us by e-mail• Our staff will make sure that your question
is promptly directed to the right person! Just e-mail [email protected].
• Visit our website• We have new partnership coordinators,
network development coordinators, and training & user support coordinators who can help. Find a specific staff person by visiting www.ohiofoodbanks.org/contact
Questions? Thank you very much!
Jason ElchertDeputy [email protected] ext. 224
Zach ReatDirector of Work Support [email protected] ext. 236
General Information: 614-221-4336OBB Hotline: 1-800-648-1176www.ohiobenefits.org