Policy Update, March 6, 2015

Thank you for your interest and support. The Indiana Association of United Ways usually provides its Policy Update on "odd Fridays" (1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays). Contact us if you have any questions or comments about content (past, present or desired for the future).

My Free Taxes, FAFSA and Free Tax Preparation

The tax filing season is at the half-way point. Just over five weeks remain to file your tax return. Most people who earned less than $60,000 may file their taxes for free through www.MyFreeTaxes.com. Employees of community- government and faith-based organizations may use this service, too! Post an informational flyer on your bulletin board.

Hoosiers are reminded that the Indiana deadline for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is Tuesday, March 10, in order to be eligible for state assistance. Apply online. If your taxes are not filed, you may complete the FAFSA with estimated information and then amend the application at a later date.

Free tax preparation sites are booked with appointments well into late March/early April.

Call 2-1-1 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Special Enrollment Plan for the Marketplace

While the deadline for enrollment into the Health Insurance Marketplace was February 15, certain Hoosiers may be eligible for a "Special Enrollment Period" (SEP), which allows enrollment after the official deadline.

Individuals may be eligible for an SEP if they had a:

* change in household (had a baby, got married, got divorced and lost insurance);

* change in circumstance (moved outside insurance coverage area, income change);

* change in status (released from prison, immigration status); or

* penalty for not carrying insurance in 2014 and did not know about options.

Consumers may still enroll for 2015 coverage. Go to www.healthcare.gov

or call 1-800-318-2596. Or call 2-1-1 for information or pre-screening. Or find an enrollment event near you.

Applying for HIP Plus

FSSA has prepared this infographic at the right to consumers and organizations understand the application process for HIP Plus. Consider posting this in your lobby or break room and providing to case management staff.

Key messages for consumers:

* Apply online.

* Pay for Plus.

* Make monthly payments.

* Review plan info or call number on the insurance card before using services.

Learn more or call 1-877-GET-HIP-9.

Half-time report at the Statehouse

Indiana Association of United Ways and Indiana Coalition for Human Services provided the mid-session webinar of our three-part legislative update series. The session includes a review of bills that passed the first half, those that have died and those where ICHS and/or IaUW are continuing to advocate. Review the recorded session or slides.

Recent key documents

We are receiving requests for a number of documents we prepared over the last month

One-page fact sheets on

Recent testimony about

Pre-K and child care in the budget,
HB1616, a bill to smooth the cliff effect,
SB129, a bill to smooth the cliff effect and to increase funding for child care subsidies, and
HB1349, a bill addressing various tax matters including State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and various tax credits such as Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) Tax Credits.
Work scheduling practices

Our quick summaries about

United Way at the Statehouse

John Peirce, Angie Moellering, Madeleine Baker and David Nicole from Allen County

On March 3, sixteen United Way volunteer, staff and partner agency leaders from around the state visited the Statehouse. Together, they advocated for 2-1-1 funding in the budget and early education (quality child care and pre-k). Constituents from Allen, Bartholomew, Cass, Daviess, DeKalb, Fayette, Huntington, Lake, Miami, Porter and Wells counties met with their senators and representatives to discuss issues important in their local communities. Thank you, advocates!

2-1-1 reports highlight "near-real-time" needs

Reports from Indiana 211 Partnership illustrate a snapshot of the needs around the state, as well as the resources and gaps in services.

The pie graph at the right illustrates the breakdown of caller needs from 2014, where assistance with utilities (18%), housing (14%), income support (11%), food (9% and health (8%) rank among the top five requests for help.

IN211 also tracks the resources available to meet needs. Two examples include the Healthcare Outreach and Enrollment Event Calendar and the Healthcare Navigator capacity map. Healthcare navigators around the state have been very busy enrolling Hoosiers into the Health Insurance Marketplace and into HIP 2.0, the Healthy Indiana Plan.

Stay informed and get involved

The Indiana General Assembly has kicked off its second half. while over 1,200 bills were filed, only a few hundred are still alive. Bookmark key sites below.

Tools from IaUW

Calendar of Third House / Meet Your Legislator in easy-view or printable format
Information is updated regularly on our IaUW Policy Page, including

Bill lists grouped by our priority areas of Education, Financial Stability, Health, Strong Communities and Other
IaUW Policy Priorities

General Assembly pages

Calendar is at right. Committee meetings are usually held Monday - Thursday. Session days are usually held Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Find Your Legislator.
Review the bills and the committees.

IaUW Public Policy

IaUW is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance policy principles and compromise solutions for the common good. We focus on policies that are aligned with the impact work in local communities conducted by our 61 United Ways and United Funds.

Education, so that children are prepared for and succeed in school;
Income/Financial Stability, so that individuals and families may achieve and sustain financial stability;
Health, so that individuals may access quality healthcare; and
Strong Communities, where a statewide 2-1-1 network and a strong charitable sector help communities thrive.

Our policy priorities are developed and guided by our Public Policy Committee and our IaUW members, based on their work in Hoosier communities.

Frequently Requested Links / Documents

iauw.org - Learn about the Indiana Association of United Ways, current trainings and conferences and the ways we support local United Ways/Funds, partners and communities.

IaUW Policy / Advocacy info - Review and download IaUW Policy Priorities, Third House calendar, bill lists, fact sheets, talking points and testimony.

Advocacy Action Center - Contact your member of Congress or State Legislator, provided through our partnership with United Way Worldwide.

IaUW Policy Update Archive - Read prior issues, special articles and key documents produced by IaUW related to public policy and advocacy.

NEW - Community Report Card - Check out key indicators in Education, Income and Health for your neighborhood, county or region.

IN211.org - Search for human service information available through the referral database or by calling 2-1-1. Download reports about resources, needs, gaps and trends from Indiana 211 Partnership.

NRN Calendar - Register for high-quality and affordable training for nonprofit staff and volunteers by the Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network.

Funding and Other Opportunities - Explore current requests for proposals, funding and recognition opportunities.

Indiana General Assembly

- Check the hearing or floor schedule, watch a live or recorded hearing or floor session and look up your legislators.

Library of Congress

- Look up bills introduced in Congress. Note that the THOMAS site will be maintained through 2014 and fully replaced by Congress.gov.