The Ohio Benefit Bank

The Ohio Benefit Bank is a web-enabled, counselor-assisted program being implemented by The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks and used by faith-based and community groups and public agencies at sites across Ohio, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Benefit Bank sites allow low and moderate-income Ohioans to file electronically their federal and state income tax returns, while simultaneously finding out their eligibility, and completing applications, for tax credits and benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, food stamps, child care subsidies, home energy assistance and children’s health care insurance.

The Ohio Benefit Bank breaks down barriers to access to credits and benefits through one-stop, counselor-assisted sites located at convenient locations, often sponsored by faith-based and community groups. The program converts complex eligibility requirements into easy-to-answer questions written at a fourth-grade reading level, posed by a trained counselor, as prompted by a web-based computer program, resulting in completed tax returns and benefits applications.

In less than a year of start-up operations, with funding from The Columbus Foundation and the Ohio Department of Development, the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks has trained over 1,400 Benefit Bank counselors and empowered more than 250 faith-based and community organizations to establish more than 400 Benefit Bank sites. These organizations are in turn using their staff and volunteers, and partnering with public agencies in their counties, to provide Benefit Bank outreach and access. Faith-based and community groups are also integrating the Benefit Bank into their existing programs (for example, into case management) to assist clients in moving out of poverty into self-sufficiency.

The Ohio Benefit Bank provides weekly reporting of results, available by site, groups of sites, and for the State, and anonymous information about the clients served. Across the entire State of Ohio, in less than two years of start-up operations, Ohio Benefit Bank sites have together assisted low and moderate-income clients in claiming over $8 million in credits and benefits to help move them out of poverty into self-sufficiency. The work of the faith-based and community organizations and public agencies through the Benefit Bank also spurs economic development, through use of credits and benefits, most of which will be spent in local communities and spur additional economic activity through multiplier effects.

The support of the State of Ohio – for programming, maintenance, training and outreach – will expand the use of The Ohio Benefit Bank by faith-based and community organizations and their staff and volunteers, in partnership with public agencies, to bring more help in credits and benefits to Ohio families and communities struggling with poverty and job loss. Thank you to Governor Ted Strickland, the Ohio General Assembly and numerous funders and community partners for your support of The Ohio Benefit Bank and to the Ohioans we serve!

For more information about establishing an Ohio Benefit Bank site, arranging for counselor training, sponsoring clinics and promoting Benefit Bank outreach in your community, please call The Ohio Benefit Bank hotline number at (800) 648-1176.

Other programs offered with help of AmeriCorp*VISTAs across Ohio

e-filing taxes for income eligible families

The OBB takes numerous, complex and lengthy tax and benefits forms and reduces them to simple, easy-to-understand questions written at a fourth-grade level. At OBB sites, trained counselors guide clients through questions seeking information needed for tax returns and to project eligibility for work support tax credits and public benefits. Individuals sit side-by-side with counselors who assist them with entering information into an internet-based system.

The OBB e-files tax returns and is being programmed to allow e-filing of benefits forms in the future. The OBB also sponsors a new self-service web site for free federal and state income tax preparation and electronic filing. OBB services are available to Ohioans earning under $54,000 per year.

Free federal and Ohio income tax assistance for those earning under $54,000 per year, including:

Refunds within 7-10 days

Direct deposit of refunds

Split direct deposit of refunds

Back taxes (up to three years)

Free assistance with claiming federal tax credits, including the:

Earned Income Credit

Child Tax Credit

Additional Child Tax Credit

Child and Dependent Care Credit

Hope Education Credit

Lifetime Learning Credit

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

OASHF is in its third year of partnership with the Ohio Department of Development, Office of Community Services to raise awareness to the community regarding the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). OASHF and Ohio’s Second Harvest Foodbanks and member charities distributed have distributed more than 575,000 Home Energy Assistance Applications to Ohioans.

This unique public-private partnership has allowed OASHF to partner with 25 community and faith based organizations by providing them with capacity building grants to help Ohioans complete Home Energy Assistance applications through The Ohio Benefit Bank. In addition to providing grants to community and faith based organizations, OASHF has assembled a HEAP clinic team that is traveling the state setting up in communities around Ohio assisting individuals in completing an application where they live, work, play, and pray.

In addition to distributing HEAP Applications, OASHF partnered with six Community Action Agencies. OASHF provided each Community Action Agency with a technology grant of a computer, printer, and wireless internet so that they may provide assistance to families in filing their taxes free of charge. With this modest investment, the Community Action Agencies were able to assist their families in claiming more than $414,117 in benefits and tax credits! That represents a Return on Investment of more than 16:1!

There are five primary ways for Ohioans to get involved The Ohio Benefit Bank and to connect low and moderate-income Ohioans with work support tax credits and public benefits:

1) Serve as an OBB Counselor

You could be a vital part of community-based efforts to help individuals and families claim the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax credits and benefits. You could help low and moderate-income Ohioans move toward self-sufficiency by service as a Benefit Bank counselor. Training sessions (one day for benefits, one day for taxes) are being scheduled across Ohio. Community Trainers are located in every region of the State and will conduct training sessions at times and in locations convenient to you. For more information on availabe positions please click here.

2) Establish an OBB Site

You could work with your place of worship or business or with a faith-based or community organization to establish an Ohio Benefit Bank site to help low and moderate-income Ohioans. Each site can generate as much as $650,000 in credits and benefits which, when spent in local communities, generate large multiplier effects and boost local economies. Regional Coordinators work with organizations to help them establish sites and arrange trainings for counselors.

3) Sponsor an OBB Clinic

You could work with organizations in your community to sponor clinics to provide tax, food stamp, health care, child care or home energy assistance -- or any combination of these. Ohio Benefit Bank field staff, working with trained counselors in your area, are available to set up these temporary clinics to meet needs in your your community. Click here for more information about hosting a successful Benefit Bank clinic in your community.

4) Organize utreach efforts

You could with local faith-based and community groups and government officials to promote free income tax and public benefits assistance using The Ohio Benefit Bank as an outreach tool. Regional Coordinators are available to speak to organizations interested in sponsoring sites or recruiting counselors. These Coordinators work with local partners to build outreach efforts.

5) Promote the Ohio Benefit Bank

You could also distribute professionally-prepared, multi-color promotional materials within your organization or in your community. You may view, download and print promotional materials concerning all OBB services, and about specific work supports such as child care subsidies, food stamps, health insurance, home energy and income tax assistance, including tax refund outreach posters. You may also order copies of OBB promotional materialsand OBB tax materials.

6) Tell us about your experience

Let us know what you and your clients think about the whole Ohio Benefit Bank Experience to help us better help you and those you serve. This form is an interactive Pdf. that can be filled out on line or printed then submitted. Thank you for your time and help.

Corporation for National and Community Service

AmeriCorps

How to apply

My AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps Alums

OBB VISTA Program

National Service Catalog

National Service Resource Center

Ohio Community Service Council

Share Your Success Story with Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks

Outreach materials for the Ohio Benefit Banks. Order on-line at no charge.