United Way of the Capital Region Blog

Tax Preparation Program Gives Local Man Peace of Mind

For Jeff Myers, the Money In Your Pocket (MIYP) program is more than a transaction to complete his taxes. The program is a life line at a critical time in his life. A resident of Steelton, Jeff was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1992. The disease has made it difficult for him to remember and process information. The free tax preparation services offered through the MIYP program gives him the security of knowing his taxes are completed correctly. 

 

For the last five years, Jeff has gone to Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg where trained local volunteers and students of Professor Michael Hussey, who teaches federal income taxation, prepare taxes every Saturday morning during tax season. The volunteers prepare and file state, local and federal returns, using an online program for the state and federal returns. Since Jeff doesn’t own a computer, he is very grateful to have this service.

 

Program Provides Free Tax Prep for Low- to Moderate-Income Families

Many of us continue to feel the impact of our troubled economy. Tax time can provide an opportunity for many working families to take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Millions of dollars in tax credits go unclaimed each year, a fact we’re working very hard to change.

During the week of January 30, the Money in Your Pocket (MIYP) campaign will be opening multiple sites throughout Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties to provide free income tax preparation for low- to moderate-income families. The sites are staffed by trained, certified volunteers who will prepare and electronically file taxes for area families.

This is the tenth year that MIYP will be operating free tax sites for qualified families. We are committed to helping as many families as we can, and this requires that we keep expanding to meet the ever growing demand.

Prosperity Centers Help Families In Tough Times

Helping families weather tough times is at the heart of United Way of the Capital Region’s (UWCR) work in our community. UWCR has long supported critical services to help families deal with the unexpected - be it a natural disaster, a child with special needs, or a physical disability. Beyond dealing with a crisis, we also want families to have the skills and tools they need to be self-sufficient.

UWCR has launched Prosperity Centers as one of the ways to help families be economically self-sufficient. The purpose of the centers is to empower individuals and families in the Capital Region to be financially prosperous. The centers provide a service in the community by building on the three pillars of financial stability - financial literacy, access to mainstream benefits and case management. The centers assist individuals and families to plan, manage and improve their financial resources. Trained volunteers help families learn to budget, plan and manage their money, build their assets, reduce their debt, and gain financial stability. Assistance at the Prosperity Centers is not based on income level. Everyone is welcome. All services are free and confidential.

Prosperity Centers offer people the opportunity to think about their money in new ways and build for a stronger financial future. With a little support and guidance, achieving a more prosperous future can be a reality.   

Helping Families Become Financially Stable

Strong and financially self-sufficient families are critical to building a successful community. Here at United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR), we understand that more and more families are struggling to make ends meet and need the assistance of local agencies. 

No family sets out to live on the charity of its community, but this is a growing concern in our region. The cost of living in the Capital Region is outpacing wages.  The 2010 Self-sufficiency Wage for Dauphin and Cumberland counties was about $55,000 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 children under 5 years old) (Pathways PA).  Yet, the Dauphin County median household income in 2009 was $48,792.  What does this mean? It means thousands of people in the Capital Region are under-employed and unable to obtain sufficient income to maintain a home.

Here is breakdown of the unemployment and under-employment statistics in our area:

Dauphin County
Unemployment: May 2010 = 8.3%; May 2011 = 7.2%
Under-employment:  May 2011 approx. 18%

Cumberland County
Unemployment: May 2010 = 7.2%; May 2011 = 6.4%
Under-employment:  May 2011 approx. 16%

Perry County
Unemployment: May 2010 = 8.2%; May 2011 = 7.2%
Under-employment:  May 2011 approx. 18%

Finding My Place…Through Volunteering

Law school can be a very distant and cold environment... until you meet the right people. Sometimes those people come out of the least expected places: like a room full of people interested in taxes.

In late 2008, I was encouraged by a close friend to attend an informational session about the Widener Law Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Clinic, which is a part of the Money In Your Pocket Campaign. I quickly discovered I had a found a niche worth pursuing. It was at this meeting that I was first mentored by Professor Michael Hussey. He showed a room full of students, alumni, and community members what a compassionate attorney should be. I immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of his team.

Three years later, we are getting geared up for the upcoming tax year at the Clinic. I look forward to serving a small, but vital, role as part of the team that is capable of so much good. We service a broad range of persons representing many aspects of our community; our clients are united in a need for expertise without judgement.

Money In Your Pocket Campaign Helps Families Claim Much-Needed Tax Refunds

The Money in Your Pocket (MIYP) campaign is one of several ways United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR) is helping families get back on track. Through the program, trained volunteers, assist low- and moderate-income families with their taxes. The focus is to secure the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) for qualifying families.

The EITC can mean as much as a 45 percent pay increase for some families. In fact, national statistics show that this program lifts more than 9 million individuals above the poverty line annually. Locally, 95 percent of clients surveyed at our sites reported they would use their returns to pay for basic needs, such a food, clothing, and transportation.

Many experts consider this to be the greatest anti-poverty program ever implemented. The purpose of these credits is to offset income and payroll taxes, supplement wages, and provide a work incentive. It actually reduces taxes workers may owe.