New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Bureau of Employment and Advancement Services Presenter: Mark Schaffer April 2011

 To enhance the economic security of low- income working families  To assist work-capable public assistance recipients in achieving entry into the workforce  To assist individuals with priority needs other than work-readiness in accessing appropriate benefits and services  To enhance child well-being and reduce child poverty

 Earned Income Tax Credit  Other Tax Credits  Volunteer Income Tax Assistance  Work Supports  MyBenefits  Partnerships

 Statistics  Noncustodial EITC  EITC Qualifying Limits  EITC Maximum Credits  Miscellaneous EITC Facts  Claiming the EITC

 Nationwide EITC: 26 million households claimed $57,000,000,000 in Federal EITC  NYS: 1.6 million households claimed $3.5B in Federal EITC and over $800M in NYS EITC

Qualifying ChildrenIncome No Qualifying Children$13,660 ($18,740 MFJ) 1 Qualifying Child$36,052 ($40,964 MFJ) 2 Qualifying Children$40,964 ($46,044 MFJ) 3 or more Qualifying Children$43,998 ($49,078 MFJ)

Qualifying ChildrenMaximum EITC Amount No Qualifying Children$603 1 Qualifying Child$4,022 2 Qualifying Children$6,645 3 or more Qualifying Children$7,476

 Individuals who earn $8 to $10 an hour OR  Households whose income is between $13,000 and $20,000 per year Are usually eligible for the maximum EITC

 EITC will not impact TANF and FS benefits  Grandparents with earned income can claim EITC on behalf of their grandchildren  EITC may be claimed retroactively

To claim the EITC, a tax return MUST BE FILED!!! Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

 Provide free income tax preparation and filing services by trained volunteers  Available to households with income up to $49,000  VITA sites are located in every county in NY  Call the IRS at for a VITA site near you or the Information Line

 Free tax preparation saves each tax payer at least $150-  No “Refund Anticipation Loans”  Only 2% of returns which claim EITC are filed at a VITA site

 Child Tax Credit  Empire State Child Credit  Education Credits  Federal and State Dependent Care Credit

 10 th Year Anniversary  22 LDSS VITA sites in TY ‘09  Over 200 volunteers  7,195 returns  University partnerships

 Goals of WorkPays NY  What supports are available?  Work Supports Marketing Campaign  WorkPays NY Materials  myBenefits  How you can help

 To share information on work support programs and other economic resources which can be leveraged to increase the income of working families struggling to make ends meet  To introduce the myBenefits website:

 Food Stamps  Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)  EITC (Federal and State)  Other Tax Credits  Health Insurance  Child Care Subsidy  Child Support  Others

19 New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Earnings and Average Work Supports for Single-Adult Family of Three Living outside NYC (One Child Under Four, One Child Over Four)

 A large number of eligible working New Yorkers do not claim EITC  Many eligible working poor are not accessing Food Stamps  Trend continues with public health insurance programs

 Complex program eligibility requirements  Lack of information about available benefits  Limited access points  Stigma  Others

 Outreach to New Yorkers who struggle to make ends meet  Networking with community service providers and multi-level government agencies  Connecting with business community

FREE Materials:  myBenefits palm card  WorkPays NY Flyer (Eng/Sp)  WorkPays NY Posters (Eng/Sp)  WorkPays NY Resource Guide/Checklist  Employer Resource Guide  WorkPays NY video Place orders online at:

 Information on major programs  Links to OTDA’s Resources for Working Families and the Department of Labor  Multi-program screening tool for potential eligibility  Will be expanded to allow users to apply for multiple programs

 Quick, easy, confidential  Users input minimal household information  Results show potential eligibility for multiple programs, where to apply, what to bring, and provides a printable FS app.

 Nutrition Programs  Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)  Tax Credits  Health Programs  Temporary Assistance

In many counties in New York State, people can now apply online for food stamps using the food stamp electronic application!

 Promote economic supports with people served by your organization and other partners  Dispel myths and help reduce stigma  Utilize myBenefits and provide access to internet for screening  Add link to your agency’s website  Include information in your newsletters  Disseminate WorkPays NY materials

 myBenefits website  Resources for Working Families  VITA sites statewide credits/vita  Access NYC  The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

 Internal Revenue Service  United Way and the CA$H Coalitions

 Stephanie Boshart  Director, Jobs Program    Mark Schaffer  EITC/VITA Statewide Coordinator  