Communities Of Power:
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Our Voices: Winter 2006
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Table of Contents:
- Earned Income Tax Credit
- Free Online Tax Preparation
- Other tax resources
- Get Active
- A time for reform
- Join MDRC.
Earned Income Tax Credit
In a time when the pharmaceutical industry spent $150 million to lobby about Medicare prescription drug coverage, you have to look hard for anything that supports working families. There are still a few things, though, and an important one is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC). If you qualify, you can get a tax credit refund of up to $4,400.
The EIC is aimed a families with children who earn less than about $40,000 a year.
Michigan has a web site devoted to all things EIC, including eligibility information, sites for free tax form preparation (including filing for EIC), programs that help your hard-earned paycheck go further, and a lot of other good stuff. It is http://michiganeic.org/index_html and worth your time to check out.
Every year, a lot of people who would qualify for the EIC never get their refund because they don’t know about it, they think it isn’t worth their while, or they lose track of the filing deadline in the busyness of life. Don’t miss out on this opportunity.
You have to file a tax return to get the EIC so file before April 15.
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Free Online Tax Preparation for Earned Income Credit
If you have a computer, internet access, and the Internet Explorer browser, you can fill out your tax forms and your EIC application online! Go to http://michiganeic.org/icaneic to start. See the following:
Frequently Asked Questions about ICAN!-EIC
- What do I need to get started with ICAN!-EIC?
- What do I need to get started with ICAN!-EIC?
A computer connected to the internet and a printer with the Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser (most computers that run Windows have this browser installed). You don't need to download any special software - just point your browser at the ICAN!-EIC web site and off you go.
- What tax information do I need?
- W-2's for you, your spouse, and your children.
- Information about any other income, such as:
- Income from 1099s (example: self-employment)
- Income from Unemployment Benefits
- Income from interest, pension, retirement, annuity, rental property and other sources - Correct birth names and Social Security numbers for you, your spouse and children.
*If you do not have a Social Security Number, you cannot get the Earned Income Credit. You can file an "amended return" after you get a Social Security Number. And you can also file your taxes and receive the Child Tax Credit if you have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). - Your bank account's routing number and your email address - You ONLY need this if you want to e-file OR if you want the IRS to deposit your refund directly into your bank account. (If you don't have a bank or email account, ICAN can still help you complete your returns!)
- What if I need more time?
If you need more time or cannot finish in one sitting, I-CAN will give you a password. You can use your password to return to your work anytime.
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Other Tax Resources
Free Help with Tax Preparation
There are local sites in almost every county in Michigan where you can get free help with tax preparation and the EIC. There are too many to list here, but you can look at all of them by going to http://michiganeic.org/freetaxprep and clicking on your county.
Building Assets
The site also has information on programs that can help you build your long term financial strength, including Individual Development Accounts (which are tax free) and 529 programs for your child’s education. Go to http://michiganeic.org/savingopps for more information.
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Get Active! An Opportunity for Impact
Michigan Disability Rights Coalition and the Michigan Association of Centers for Independent Living are working together on a tool to increase our community’s impact on policy makers. The tool is called Get Active, and you can use it too!
If you would like to participate, go to http://ga3.org/mdrc/join.html and sign up. Your address will only be used to identify your senators and representatives. MDRC and MACIL control the uses of your personal information and you can change them or remove yourself at any time.
Our current campaign is to improve the availability of visitable homes in Michigan. Think about participating in this campaign.
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Time for Reform: Imagine the Possibilities
Many activists may see the current situation as unfriendly to support for those in our community. But, that doesn’t mean there are not great opportunities for change. Over the next few years, MDRC is going to focus on these possibilities of reform in 4 areas:
- Long Term Care
- Housing
- Mental Health
- Education
Long Term Care
As a result of active consumers and other advocates, long-term care is in the process of reform. There is active planning for Single Point of Entry pioneer sites that support people and their families in deciding where services should be provided. Additional Medicaid Waiver slots are available for people who choose to move from a nursing home into the community. These two initiatives that value choice will significantly re-balance the public commitment to LTC away from institutions.
Housing
Affordable and accessible housing is the most important factor in staying out of institutions (whether they are small or large). Along with many community partners, we will be developing both state and local initiatives to expand usable housing through assurance that disability community concerns are always part of housing development and planning.
Mental Health
The Department of Community Health wants to rebuild a consensus about what Mental Health supports are for. The Department has begun a series of discussions with a wide range of stakeholders on the polarization, short-sighted, and adversarial context for discussion of mental health supports and resource allocation that has developed over the last 15 years. We look forward to this opportunity to significantly impact Mental Health supports and services.
Education
There is no more rigid support system for our community than the one that has evolved in Michigan special education. This unbending and short-sighted framework needs to be broken open and re-framed from scratch.
We hope you will join us as we build strategies and take actions in this time of scarcity and intolerance, and turn it into a time of change. The disability community has power…It’s time to use it!
