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SF Works Benefits Screening - One Worker's Story
Susan Lee*, a 35-year-old married Chinese-American woman, lives in San Francisco with her husband and one child. She earns $1,530 a month from her job at Goodwill, and they have a combined annual household income of $37,200.
When SF Works screened Susan for benefits at her Goodwill job site, the Benefits Enrollment Technology (BEN) determined that Susan was eligible for Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child and Dependent Care Credit, Childcare Tax Credit, the San Francisco Working Families Credit, and PG&E utilities assistance program. A Chinese-speaking SF Works’ staffer helped Susan complete the applications for the PG&E program and signed her up for a free tax preparation session at a SF Works/Tax Aid combined site the following Saturday. Finally, the staffer provided Susan with a list of other resources for which she might be eligible, including discounted Muni Lifeline passes for her and her husband.
In 15 minutes with SF Works and our screening technology, Susan was connected with household tax savings of more than $3,000, a PG&E program that will save her an estimated $180 annually, free tax prep at an estimated savings of $120, and Muni’s Lifeline program that can save her and her spouse another $240 annually. This year, the Lees will also be receiving $900 from the federal Economic Stimulus payment. Susan’s family stands to receive an income boost of more than $3,540 annually, $4,400 in 2008.
* not her real name
If you are interested in learning more about the portal, please contact portal(at)sfworks(dot)org.
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