1 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 OVERVIEW

2 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 WHO ARE WE?

3 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 WHO WE AREN'T VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) VOLUNTEERS FREE INCOME TAX PREP ASSISTANCE TO: LOW-INCOME ELDERLY DISABLED TRAINED AND CERTIFIED BY THE IRS LESS COMPLEX RETURNS

4 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 TCE TAX COUNSELING FOR THE ELDERLY FREE TAX HELP – TO PEOPLE AGED 60 AND OLDER Part of AARP FOUNDATION

5 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 A non-profit nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to making life better for people 50 and over. Founded in 1958; currently nearly 36 million members Website; Organized into State Offices and Local Chapters Major Programs: –AARP Drivers Safety –AARP Grief and Loss –AARP Grass roots Advocacy and Public Policy

6 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 Offers a wide range of publications which include: – - AARP: The Magazine, published monthly – - AARP Bulletin, monthly newspaper – - AARP Segunda Juventud, quarterly newspaper in Spanish - NRTA Live and Learn, quarterly newsletter for 50+ Educators

7 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 WHAT IS AARP FOUNDATION AARP’S CHARITABLE ARM - THE HEART OF AARP. FOCUS ON SERVING THE MOST ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. HELP THOSE HAVING DIFFICULTY MEETING THEIR BASIC HEALTH AND FINANCIAL NEEDS IN THESECOND HALF OF LIFE. GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

8 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 FOUNDATION 501(C )3 AFFILIATED NONPARTISAN CHARITY ESTABLISHED IN 1961 FOUNDATION PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED BY GRANTS, TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM AARP MEMBERS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND AARP PROGRAMS INCLUDE: –AARP TAX-AIDE –AARP SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM –AARP BENEFITS OUTREACH PROGRAM –AARP LEGAL INFORMATION PROJECT –AARP MONEY MANAGEMENT

9 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 AARP TAX-AIDE IS: THE NATION’S LARGEST FREE VOLUNTEER-RUN TAX ASSISTANCE AND PREPARATION SERVICE. MISSION –TAX PREPARATION FOR TAXPAYERS WITH LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO THOSE AGE 60 AND OLDER. OVER 32,000 VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZED ON A REGIONAL, STATE, DISTRICT AND LOCAL LEVEL. ASSIST OVER 3 MILLION PEOPLE AT OVER 7000 SITES

10 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009  Other AARP Tax-Aide services:  Free year-round tax counseling on the Internet  Job Training and Placement  WORKSEARCH provides a variety of services: interest and ability inventories, skill assessments,  aarpworksearch.org  Women's Scholarship Program  Provides scholarship funds to women 40+  OTHER FOUNDATION SERVICES JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT WORKSEARCH PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SERVICES: INTEREST AND ABILITY INVENTORIES, SKILL ASSESSMENTS, aarpworksearch.org WOMEN'S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS TO WOMEN 40+

11 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 OTHER FOUNDATION SERVICES FINDING AND APPLYING FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS NAVIGATING THE MAZE OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS BENEFITS QUICKLINK WEBSITE HELPS TO FIND PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT MAY HELP PAY FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, HEALTHCARE OTHER NECESSITIES

12 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 OTHER FOUNDATION SERVICES FINDING AND APPLYING FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS “PREPARE TO CARE: A PLANNING GUIDE FOR FAMILIES” -FREE HANDBOOK THAT HELPS TO PLAN TO CARE FOR LOVED ONES— INCLUDING HOW TO START PLANNING, QUESTIONS TO ASK, ETC. FIND SUPPORT.

13 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 OTHER FOUNDATION SERVICES STAYING IN CONTROL OF FINANCES THE MONEY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PRESERVES INDEPENDENT LIVING AND ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR THOSE WHO NEED HELP WITH ROUTINE FINANCIAL MATTERS DUE TO AGE OR DISABILITY. VOLUNTEERS BALANCE CHECKBOOKS PAY BILLS TRACK FINANCIAL MATTERS

14 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 STAYING IN CONTROL OF FINANCES ESTATE PLANNING: HOW TO CREATE A PLAN HOW TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR DECISIONS LEGACY

15 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 HELP WITH TAXES AARP TAX-AIDE OFFERS FREE TAX ASSISTANCE AND PREPARATION FOR LOW- AND MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THOSE OVER 60. AARP TAX-AIDE IS THE LARGEST VOLUNTEER- RUN PROGRAM IN THE COUNTY

16 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 FIGHTING AGAINST FRAUD CONSUMER FRAUD PREVENTION PROJECT ALERTS OLDER CONSUMERS TO TELEMARKETING AND OTHER TYPES OF FRAUD THAT ENDANGER THEIR FINANCIAL SECURITY. VOLUNTEERS REACH FRAUD VICTIMS TO OFFER TIPS INFORMATION ON HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES

17 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 EDUCATING ABOUT REVERSE MORTGAGES REVERSE MORTGAGES CAN BE CONFUSING AND EXPENSIVE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON REVERSE MORTGAGES AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO HELP PEOPLE REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES

18 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 TAX AIDE CUSTOMERS 2009 TAX SEASON SERVED 3 MILLION CLIENTS OVER THE PAST 41 YEARS - MORE THAN 50 MILLION CLIENTS CUSTOMER AGE 10% % % % 70–79 19% 80+ CUSTOMER MARITAL STATUS 37% MARRIED 61% NOT MARRIED

19 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 TAX AIDE CUSTOMERS GENDER 64% FEMALE 32% MALE RACE/ETHNICITY 84% WHITE NON-HISPANIC 7% BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN 1% NATIVE AMERICAN 1% MULTIPLE ANSWERS 2% ASIAN/PACIFIC 1% OTHER

20 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 TAX AIDE CLIENTS HOUSEHOLD INCOME (ANNUAL) 37% UNDER $20,000 22% $30,000-$49,000 23% $20,000-$29,000 8% $50,000 OR MORE REPEAT CUSTOMERS 22% FIRST TIME 39% FOUR+ TIMES 37% TWO - THREE TIMES

21 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 TAX-AIDE CLIENTS EMPLOYMENT STATUS 66% FULLY RETIRED 32% NOT FULLY RETIRED CUSTOMERS’ PROXIMITY TO SITE 49% MILES 14% MILES 20% MILES 15% 10+ MILES

22 NY3 Instructor Training Albany 2009 INTERNET TAX ASSISTANCE OFFERED BY AARP TAX-AIDE SINCE 1998 AT TAXPAYERS CAN ASK QUESTIONS ONLINE 24-HOURS A DAY YEAR ROUND RECEIVCE QUALITY-REVIEWED ANSWERS BACK WITHIN A FEW BUSINESS DAYS INTERESTED VOLUNTEERS WITH WEB ACCESS - SIGN UP AT