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Kentucky United Ways respond to CHIP Challenge, are recognized nationally
 Out of 8 million children without health insurance in the U.S., 5 million are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP coverage, yet are not enrolled. In November 2008, 68,000 Kentucky kids were a part of that statistic. Two years later, only 12,000 remain, making Kentucky's efforts at CHIP outreach one of the most successful in the nation. That success is due, in part, to the efforts of United Ways across the Commonwealth -- and those efforts are being noticed.
In honor of the two-year anniversary of CHIPRA, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are recognizing 11 states that have used innovative approaches to outreach and enrollment. In a conference call last week with United Way Worldwide, CMS External Affairs Senior Advisor Donna Cohen Ross named Kentucky one of the states being honored.
Ross asked that United Ways in the state submit a brief outline of their work for the federal "Connecting Kids to Coverage" Challenge. Those submissions are now posted on the Challenge website.
We'd like to send very special thanks to our members who have helped to "insure" Kentucky's future!
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Governor Beshear urges eligible Kentuckians to apply for EITC, touts 2-1-1 Governor Steve Beshear launched his annual campaign last week, to encourage more Kentuckians to apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable federal tax credit for low- and middle-income working individuals and families. The press release from the Governor's Office also highlights the role of 2-1-1 and United Way during tax season. "The EITC is one of our best anti-poverty tools for low wage-earning families, and I want to make sure every eligible Kentuckian takes advantage of it and gets the money they deserve," Gov. Beshear said in announcing the campaign. "In addition, this is money that gets infused right back into Kentucky businesses - just the kind of economic injection our communities need." Nearly all of the funds from the credit, an estimated 97 percent, are infused into local communities. "For some low income households in Kentucky, the Earned Income Tax Credit is a tool that can quite literally lift them out of poverty," said Cate Mart, Central Kentucky Economic Empowerment Program manager for United Way of the Bluegrass. "Through the collaborative efforts of groups across the state, hundreds of millions of dollars can be put back in the hands of hard-working Kentuckians to increase their personal financial stability and create a more vibrant and prosperous state. The challenge is to make sure that eligible taxpayers are aware of the credit and its numerous benefits." Our next issue will feature the full list of Kentucky United Ways working on volunteer tax assistance, asset building and EITC outreach. Meanwhile, Kentuckians living in 2-1-1 calling areas can dial the information and referral service to find information on free tax preparation sites near them. For information about tax preparation sites outside the 2-1-1 calling area, taxpayers may call Community Action Kentucky at (800) 456-3452 or visit www.assistance.ky.gov. Read the full article at Kentucky.gov.
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Attention all payroll personnel!Millions of workers will see their take-home pay rise during 2011. The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 provides a two percentage point payroll tax cut for employees, reducing their Social Security tax withholding rate from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent of wages paid.
The Internal Revenue Service released instructions last month on how to help employers implement the cut in payroll taxes, along with new income-tax withholding tables that employers will use during 2011. For more information on how the change is affecting your organization, read the full article from the IRS.
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Google Docs offers free alternative to expensive software for small organizations The cost of new or upgraded software applications for small non-profits can be difficult to manage. Full versions of the most popular software suites can cost up to $300 per user license. Even Tech Soup, a non-profit software donation clearinghouse, charges an administrative fee and requires registration. Google Docs joins the likes of Open Office in providing a free solution for the most common office suite applications, and offers a broader package of apps for only $50 per user per year. Other benefits of Google Docs: it is hosted in the "cloud", which means you have access anywhere, and it allows for multi-user collaboration - which is great for those cross-organizational projects. Check it out!
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