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Help For Working Families

The City of Seattle Human Services Department has undertaken an initiative, Help for Working Families (HFWF), that provides one-stop access to several benefit programs – child care, food, health care and utility / energy assistance – for low and moderate income families and individuals.

In 2005, a staff member from HFWF was at the Downtown Seattle Library EITC site screening clients as they waited to have their taxes prepared. As a result, 397 taxpayers were screened for eligibility and 71 applied for basic health, 49 for food benefits and 52 for energy assistance.

According to information taxpayers filled out at the site, 21% received public benefits in 2004 and 17% were interested in receiving public benefits. Help for Working families also contacted customers at all sites who were interested in receiving benefits.

  • 911 were interested in Energy or Utility Assistance
  • 791 were interested in Health Insurance
  • 433 were interested in Food Assistance
  • 209 were interested in Child Care benefits

The next page shows the boost in income a family can receive if they are eligible for and access Help for Working Families benefits and the Earned Income Tax Credit.

91% of EITC Campaign customers reported having a bank account

Downtown Seattle Seattle Public Library

The EITC Campaign partnered with AARP to host a tax site at the downtown library. The site was open four days per week and had the capacity to serve up to eight taxpayers at once. The tax site proved to be very popular often having long lines waiting before the library opened.

In 2006 we will improve the service at this site by expanding the number of highly trained volunteers and increasing the operating hours.

  • Returns Prepared
1,547
  • Total Federal Refunds
$1,569,534
  • Average Refund
$1,015
  • Total EITC
$416,502
  • Average EITC
$992
  • # EITC Claimants
420
  • % EITC Claimants
27%
  • Total Child Tax Credit
$279,927
  • Average AGI
$21,305
"I helped a recently divorced man who had lost custody of his child. He said to me with a bit of a nervous laugh, "Please don't tell me I owe. It's been a tough year." As I processed his information it appeared that he was going to owe a substantial sum (over $1,500). Instead of telling him and having him panic, I started to ask more questions. I learned that he was still claiming 2 exemptions on his W-4 even though he was now single with no dependents. I also found out that he had started going back to school last year. I used the Hope Credit to get him a return of roughly $100! I then told him that he almost ended up owing approx. $1,500 and that first thing Monday he should reduce the exemptions on his W-4 and hang on to his tuition info. for the next year. I'm pleased to say that he left very relieved and happy!"
~EITC VOLUNTEER

DOWNLOAD EITC Report 2005(PDF*)

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