1. Neighbors Helping Neighbors Out of Poverty
North Texas Regional P-16 Council
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Fort Worth, Texas
Presented by: Camille D. Miller and Diana Maldonado 1

2. Texas Health Institute
Mission: To improve the health of Texans and their communities.
The Benefit Bank of Texas vision: to build a diverse network of volunteer and professional counselors at community organizations, businesses, churches, and health care and social service providers united in helping the 17.1%* of Texans in need.
Non-profit 501 © 3
State Affiliate
Role to implement and sustain The Benefit Bank state-wide (in all regions)
The challenge of our work:
Overcoming Poverty vs. Managing Poverty
*US Census Bureau 2009, Poverty Population Numbers 2 2

3. Texas Unclaimed Federal Dollars Per Year*
SNAP (food stamps)
$ 4.8 Billion
EITC (tax credit)
$ Million
SCHIP (children’s health)
$ Million
Children’s Medicaid (children’s health)
$ Million
Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (prescriptions)
$ Million
Pell Grants (college tuition)
$ Million
Total
$ 8.3 Billion
*Represents most recent data available: SNAP–2010, EITC-TY2009, SCHIP-2009, Medicaid-2007, Medicare , Pell Grants-2007 3 3 3

4. Help with Federal/State Taxes
The Challenge
Federal Poverty Level in Texas is 17.1%*
Medical Benefits
FAFSA / Pell Grants
SNAP
Help with Federal/State Taxes
What is the challenge of individuals accessing the work supports they are eligible for?
Multiple locations (SNAP, Medical, FASFA, TAX)
Multiple visits to complete an application
Time off work
Transportation
Childcare
Trust
Proud
NOT KNOWING – NEW POOR
* US Census 2009 4

5. Strengthens communities
A Solution
A tool that:
Supports workers
Stabilizes families
Strengthens communities
What we are going to show you today is a solution to theses challenges that will allow individuals and families to receive the work supports they are eligible for and that solution is The Benefit Bank of Texas. 5 5

6. The Benefit Bank of Texas
A counselor assisted one stop service
An eligibility calculator
An application completion tool
A free income tax assistance program
Offered where people live, learn, work, play, and pray 6

7. The Benefit Bank of Texas
Current Programs:
SNAP (Food Stamps)
Medicaid - CHIP, Perinatal CHIP, Medicaid for Children, Medicaid for Pregnant women, Medicaid for parents/caretakers of Medicaid children with income below TANF needs limit, Retroactive Medicaid and Spend down Medicaid
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)  
Federal Taxes - Earned Income Tax Credit, Childcare Credits
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Voter Registration
3 years back taxes 7

8. Family Budget on Low Wages Alone (1 adult in college with 2 children)
INCOME
EXPENSES
Wages
$ 15,080
Rent & Utilities
$ ,608
Food
$ ,032
Transportation
$ ,108
Health care
$ ,288
Child care
$ ,064
Taxes
$ ,416
Miscellaneous
$ ,940
College expenses
$ ,720
Total
$ ,176
A full time minimum wage worker in Texas earns $7.25 per hour / $ per week / $ per year.
Rent and Utilities - $634 per month / $7,608 per year
Food - $336 per month / $4,032 per year
Transportation - $259 per month
Childcare - $422 per month
Expenses exceed income by:
$ 16,096 8 8

9. Family Budget with Probable Work Supports
(1 adult in college with 2 children)
INCOME
EXPENSES
Wages
$ 15,080
Rent & Utilities
$ ,608
EITC
$ ,595
Food
$ ,032
SNAP
$ ,500
Transportation
$ ,108
Medicaid
$ ,788
Health care
$ ,288
Child Care Subsidy
$ ,764
Child care
$ ,064
LIHEAP $
Taxes
$ ,416
Additional Child Tax Credit
$ ,000
Miscellaneous
$ ,940
Work Pay Credit $
College expenses
$ ,720
Pell Grant
$ ,350
Total
$ 34,937
$ ,176
Let’s assume our example family assuming the mom has applied for all eligible work support benefits. Tax credits like EITC increase her income – but she has to file taxes. SNAP gives her a swipe card she can take to the grocery store for $4,500 ($375 per month - $125 per person) worth of food for her family for the year. Medicaid will help with medical expenses, LIHEAP for energy assistance, and she is eligible for child care subsidies so she can continue to work. Based on filling out the FAFSA, they are eligible for a Pell Grant and, based on filing her taxes.
Work Supports raise income by:
$19,857
Income exceeds basic expenses by:
$ 3,761 9 9

10. How TBB-TX Works Client chooses/enters own access password
Expertise is in the service
Explanatory help pop ups
Electronic filing with printed copy for client
Detailed follow up instructions for client
No information retained on local computer
Sophisticated reporting
No one but the client owns their information
It is a web-based system, so it is never stored on the computer
It is like a security box at a bank, where there has to be two keys to access the information… The counselor has one key and the client has the other.
When a client sits down for the first time with a counselor that counselor logs in and then the client logs in. Together they access the information.
The counselor there to empower the client. – does not make decisions for the client. 10 10

11. Tools You Can Use Check potential eligibility in a few minutes 11
Application completion tool
Eligibility determination calculator
Free income tax assistance program
Educational outreach program
Copyright © Solutions for Progress, Inc 11 11

12. QuickCheck - Basic Information
QuickCheck is based on:
Household size
Information for each person living in the household is entered.
Household income
How much earned and unearned income was there for the tax year?
Household expenses
How much is the person’s cost of living? What are their expenses?
Do not have to be a counselor.
Only need to go to
Only 1-2 minutes
Copyright © Solutions for Progress, Inc 12

13. QuickCheck – Eligibility Evaluation
The amount of stars under a program or tax credit indicates how likely a person is to be eligible to qualify for the credit or program based on the information provided during the Quick Check.
Two or more stars generally indicates a good possibility that a person would qualify for a program or tax credit.
Site Finder allows a person to locate the nearest TBB-TX site that provides the needed service(s). 13

14. Site Locator
To use Site Locator, go to 14

15. TBB-TX Self-Serve Tax & FAFSA Filing
Anyone in Texas with a household income of $60,000 or less can file their income taxes for free, right from home!
Here’s How:
Visit
Click, “The Benefit Bank Self-
Serve Login.”
3. Select your state and click, “Go!”
Complete and e-file your taxes!
You can also complete and e-submit a FAFSA application.
Copyright © Solutions for Progress, Inc 15

16. TBB-TX is Different
Tax returns and benefit applications prepared on and filed electronically from single platform
Wide range of benefits supported (more can be added)
Constant maintenance for conformance with current federal and state regulations 16 16

17. Proven Success in Multiple StatesPA NC FL SC OH IN KS TX AR MS
In Ohio, more than 5,000 counselors at over 1,100 sites have helped families claim $518 million in supports since Recognized as most successful program in US.*
In South Carolina, more than 1,750 counselors at 419 sites have helped South Carolinians claim more than $26 million in supports since January Results are at twice the pace of Ohio.
In North Carolina, 1,700 counselors at 340 sites have helped North Carolinians claim $24 million in supports since April 2010.
* Ohio Second Harvest Food Bank, 17

18. Making Headway Region 1 – Pilot Site / 32 sites / 81 counselors
As of February 10 – opened up to allow sites to come on board
Region 3 – Dallas / Ft. Worth – 8 sites with 50 counselors will be trained May (Tarrant County MHMR)
Region 6 – Houston / Galveston – 8 sites, including Children’s Defense fund, Houston, Alief & Spring Branch ISD, Sweeney Hosptial, St. Vinvent
Region 7 – Intrest 18

19. The Benefit Bank of Texas Overcoming Poverty vs. Managing Poverty
Provides access to enrollment where people:
Live
Learn
Work
Play
Pray
Overcoming Poverty vs. Managing Poverty 19

20. Examples of TBB Sites Home ownership programs Faith congregations
Asset building programs
Prisoner reentry programs
Education organizations
Advocacy group offices
Unions
Employers
Public agencies
Child and Family CBOs
Faith congregations
Health & social service organizations
Food and nutrition organizations
Community-based organizations
United Ways
Community Development Centers
Job-training programs
Homeless shelters 20
Copyright © Solutions for Progress, Inc

21. TBB Host Organization Roles
There are two TBB roles within each organization:
Site Administrator – primary contact
works with counselors to ensure they have a good working knowledge of TBB
ensures that the site is working effectively to assist clients
informs TBB-TX staff of changes of contact information for the organization or counselors
TBB Counselor – direct-service person
staff and/or volunteers proficient with computers
attends training for benefits and/or taxes
attends update training, as needed 21 21

22. Site Requirements Computer with internet connection Printer & Fax
Staff/Volunteer time
Private space for client sessions 22 22

23. Free Marketing Support23 23

24. The Benefit Bank Help Desk
Staff of trained professionals reached by a toll free number to answer technical questions about The Benefit Bank of Texas 24

25. 10 Easy Steps to Becoming a TBB-TX Site Step by Step Actions to Becoming a Site for The Benefit Bank of Texas
Receive and review a TBB-TX site agreement
Sign site agreement.
Identify potential counselors for your site (include an identified site administrator – primary contact for TBB-TX).
Schedule training for your counselors.
Fill out electronic site information sheet for locations, times of operation, inc.
THI sends an invoice for site membership fee (annual budget
< $1 million = $500/year; >$1 million = $1,000/year).
Pay invoice.
Attend training.
Utilize free marketing materials to inform clients of your new service.
Begin providing TBB-TX services to clients. 25

26. Thank you! Diana Maldonado Camille D. Miller
State Director of The Benefit Bank of Texas
Texas Health Institute
(512)
Amanda Royston
Vice President
Events, Education, Marketing and Communication
Camille D. Miller
President and CEO
Texas Health Institute
(512)
Sherry Wilkie-Conway
COO