Public Benefits Content Topic Results

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Other Tax Credits

ckeene — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 16:46:41 +0000

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Other Tax Credits ckeene Fri, 08/12/2016 - 12:46

Published

January 16, 2025

Author(s)

Shaina Goodman

Marium Durrani

Breckan Erdman Winters

Casey Keene

In 1975, Congress authorized a federal tax credit program called the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). It was conceived as an incentive to "make work pay" by giving low-income workers a refund for a percentage of their earnings. Since its inception, the EITC has been heralded as one of the most successful anti-poverty strategies in the United States, and numerous other tax credit programs have followed. Today there are tax credit programs for low-income workers with children and other dependents and for individuals seeking higher education, as well as outreach efforts designed specifically for underserved populations.

This collection highlights key resources for the EITC, the Child Tax Credit, Health Coverage Tax Credits, and others. It includes general information and fact sheets, reports and research, information about how tax credits affect eligibility for other federal benefits, resources to access state specific statistics and contact information, and resources specific to four underserved populations (domestic violence survivors, Native Americans, workers who are immigrants, and workers with disabilities). It also provides information on free tax preparation services across the country and ways to avoid predatory lending and tax services. Please contact the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence with comments, questions, or suggestions for new additions to this collection.

This Special Collection draws heavily from the work of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, one of the nation's premier policy organizations working at the federal and state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals.

Special thanks to Anna Melbin, Founder of Catalyst Consulting and Training, for originally developing this collection in partnership with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) in 2012, and to former NRCDV staff Shaina Goodman and Marium Durrani for their contributions. This collection is updated annually with new information and resources.

Building Credit and Assets: Helping Survivors Recover from Economic Abuse

ckeene — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 12:54:29 +0000

Building Credit and Assets: Helping Survivors Recover from Economic Abuse ckeene Fri, 08/12/2016 - 08:54

Published

March 01, 2016

In many cases of domestic violence, financial abuse is one of many tactics used by an abusive partner to exert power and control in the relationship. It might include controlling how money is spent, withholding money or giving an allowance, not allowing a partner to work or earn money, stealing their partner’s identity or credit, ruining their partner’s credit, depleting available assets, and more.

Financial abuse can have an immediate impact on a survivor’s life – further isolating her, undermining her autonomy – and can also have long-term and far-reaching consequences, often trapping a survivor in poverty and interfering with her future economic stability.

As advocates, we know that poverty increases risk and vulnerability for those living in it; and it is therefore critical that we have at least a foundational understanding of how money and finances work. For example, a low credit score equals increased risk to a potential lender and consequently, higher interest rates and costs to the borrower. This means that survivors often pay more because of bad credit, despite being among the least able to afford that. In addition, the world of credit has drastically and rapidly changed over the years, both in terms of access and use. Understanding and devoting resources to credit building and repair is critical to survivor’s long-term security.

Additionally, access to traditional Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) and non-traditional Match Savings accounts can offer survivors the opportunity they need to jumpstart their personal asset building and begin to recover from the impacts of financial abuse. While many domestic violence programs or service providers may not have the infrastructure to actually provide these and other economic opportunities, understanding how they work is a key component of advocacy.

One of the most exciting endeavors in the economic justice field is combining the world of micro-lending and credit building. Small no- or low-interest loans for the sole purpose of credit repair coupled with thoughtful re-payment policies is quickly and dramatically changing the economic status of many survivors and their families.

The goal of this special collection is to help advocates better understand these important topics, how they intersect with each other, and how they can be leveraged to better support survivors.

Special thanks to Kim Pentico, Director of the Economic Justice Program at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, for her assistance in framing this updated collection, and to Anna Melbin, Founder of Catalyst Consulting and Training, for originally developing the Asset Building and IDA portion of this collection in partnership with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

Welfare and Domestic Violence

ckeene — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 19:35:44 +0000

Welfare and Domestic Violence ckeene Fri, 08/12/2016 - 15:35

Published

January 01, 2006

Collected in this area of VAWnet are materials related to welfare, now known as the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), with a particular focus on the Family Violence Option and related provisions and their implementation at the federal and state level. This special collection is designed to provide advocates ready access to documents, fact sheets, research, legislation and rules, and other materials to support informed discussions with policy-makers and welfare personnel and effective advocacy on behalf of survivors.

2025 Get It Back Toolkit: Earned Income Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit

ckeene — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 13:39:55 +0000

2025 Get It Back Toolkit: Earned Income Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit ckeene Mon, 01/31/2022 - 08:39

General Material

Published Date

January, 2024

Publisher(s)

Center On Budget And Policy Priorities (CBPP)

The Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit are important tax benefits that can help provide tax filers a significant income boost. While the temporary expansions to these tax credits have ended, the credits continue to provide valuable support to thousands of households. This toolkit includes messaging and materials to help you spread the word about the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit and how to get them.

Associated Links

2025 Get It Back Toolkit: Earned Income Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit

Material Categories

Raising Awareness

Financial Literacy / Asset Building

Economic Justice

Public Benefits

Seeking Safety, Equity and Justice: 2021 Ohio Statewide Survey Results: Domestic Violence Survivors’ Experience with Law Enforcement, Courts, Child Welfare, and Social Service Systems

ckeene — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 01:34:17 +0000

Seeking Safety, Equity and Justice: 2021 Ohio Statewide Survey Results: Domestic Violence Survivors’ Experience with Law Enforcement, Courts, Child Welfare, and Social Service Systems ckeene Mon, 02/28/2022 - 20:34

General Material

Published Date

February, 2022

Publisher(s)

Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN)

Ohio State Bar Foundation

Office of Criminal Justice Services

The seeds for this survey were planted in the months following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Like the advocates at our member programs, ODVN wanted to better understand how survivors—women of color, specifically, along with other marginalized groups—experience law enforcement and other parts of the response system. We surveyed 505 survivors across the state to get some answers.

Associated Links

Material Categories

Residential / Shelter Services

Child Welfare

Civil Legal Rights & Protections

What is the role of TANF programs in preventing and addressing IPV and how can TANF workers best support survivors?

berdman — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 19:18:29 +0000

What is the role of TANF programs in preventing and addressing IPV and how can TANF workers best support survivors? berdman Wed, 07/14/2021 - 15:18

General Material

NRCDV Publications

Published Date

March, 2021

Publisher(s)

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)

Author(s)

Janet Mickish

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and poverty are mutually reinforcing and correlated. The March 2021 TA Question of the Month explores how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) helps survivors afford the basics and rebuild their lives after violence.

See more TAQs on the VAWnet News Blog.

Associated Links

What is the role of TANF programs in preventing and addressing IPV and how can …

Material Categories

Will getting the EITC or CTC lower government benefits?

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 00:53:00 +0000

Will getting the EITC or CTC lower government benefits? Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/23/2014 - 20:53

General Material

Published Date

January, 2021

Publisher(s)

Center On Budget And Policy Priorities (CBPP)

Congress created legislation that permanently excludes any federal tax refund from counting as income in determining eligibility or the amount of benefit for any federally-funded public benefit program. The refund can include benefits from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), other tax credits, or refund of other withheld income tax.

This page explains why claiming the EITC and CTC does not generally reduce eligibility for government benefits.

Associated Links

Will getting the EITC or CTC lower government benefits?

Get It Back Campaign

Material Categories

Financial Literacy / Asset Building

Economic Justice

Public Benefits

Socioeconomic Class

Compensation Considerations for Self-Advocates Receiving Government Benefits

berdman — Fri, 18 May 2018 15:31:36 +0000

Compensation Considerations for Self-Advocates Receiving Government Benefits berdman Fri, 05/18/2018 - 11:31

General Material

Published Date

April, 2018

Publisher(s)

Vera Institute of Justice

This tip sheet gives basic information on some government means-tested benefits programs for people with disabilities and explains the potential effects that receiving compensation may have on their benefits. It also guides readers to additional resources for people with disabilities and their advocates.

Associated Links

Compensation Considerations for Self-Advocates Receiving Government Benefits

Material Categories

Disability Rights

Public Benefits

Disability

The Difference Between Surviving and Not Surviving: Public Benefits Programs and Domestic and Sexual Violence Victims' Economic Security

berdman — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 20:28:56 +0000

The Difference Between Surviving and Not Surviving: Public Benefits Programs and Domestic and Sexual Violence Victims' Economic Security berdman Thu, 01/11/2018 - 15:28

General Material

NRCDV Publications

Published Date

January, 2018

Publisher(s)

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)

Author(s)

Shaina Goodman

For domestic violence and sexual assault victims, the public benefits programs that support basic economic security are of critical importance. While we know that domestic violence and sexual assault occur across the socio-economic spectrum, there are unique challenges and barriers at the intersection of these forms of violence and economic disadvantage. Significant numbers of low-income women are abused or assaulted, and the violence perpetrated against them can make it nearly impossible to climb out of poverty. Abuse can also result in victims who were not previously considered low-income falling into poverty: violence often undermines victims’ ability to work, have a place to live, and do what is necessary to pursue a more stable life for themselves and their children. Poverty and economic instability can also make it more difficult to cope with the physical, psychological, and financial impacts of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Access to economic security programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) which provides direct financial assistance to families living in poverty, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as food stamps), unemployment insurance (UI), and other programs are critical in providing increased economic stability for survivors. These essential benefits enable survivors to afford the basics like food, housing, and healthcare and help rebuild their lives after violence. Far too often, though, survivors face considerable challenges when trying to access these programs, including barriers stemming from both policies and their implementation. While advocates, attorneys, and other service providers play a valuable role in facilitating access to these programs, it is often not enough to overcome the significant barriers that victims encounter. Strengthening the safety net is necessary to help survivors and their families attain economic stability, safety, and well-being.

This report discusses the findings from a 2017 survey of over 1,100 domestic and sexual violence advocates, legal services/legal aid providers, social services program staff, and housing/homelessness and anti-poverty advocates. It details barriers survivors encounter when trying to access public benefits programs, cross-sector collaboration and systems-level advocacy, and possible legislative changes to these critical programs.

Associated Links

NRCDV Radio Podcast: The Difference Between Surviving and Not Surviving

Associated Files

Attachment	Size
The Difference Between Surviving and Not Surviving: Public Benefits Programs and Domestic and Sexual Violence Victims' Economic	633.69 KB
The Difference Between Surviving and Not Surviving Infographic	299.63 KB
We Would Have Had to Stay: Survivors' Economic Security and Access to Public Benefits Programs	911.17 KB

Material Categories

Collaboration / Bridge Building

State-Funded Medical Assistance Programs

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 15:42:51 +0000

State-Funded Medical Assistance Programs Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/05/2014 - 11:42

General Material

Published Date

January, 2018

Publisher(s)

National Immigration Law Center (NILC)

This table presents a list of state funded programs that provide medical coverage for immigrants who are not eligible for federally funded Medicaid program.

Associated Links

Medical Assistance Programs for Immigrants

Material Categories

Healthcare

Immigration / Resettlement

Public Benefits

Health / Public Health

Immigrant / Refugee