BOSS in Review: In Their Words

 

The Partnership’s Building Opportunities for Survivors’ Success (B.O.S.S.) Program is a regional initiative launched with support from the Allstate Foundation.

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Protecting Domestic Violence Victims in the Workplace

Partnership staff with Sen. Jackson and Carie Charlesworth at the SB 400 press conference

By Partnership staff

When Carie Charlesworth was fired from her teaching job at Holy Trinity School for being a victim of domestic violence, the nation expressed shock that being victimized at home could jeopardize your employment. Most domestic violence advocates know that it is not uncommon for victims to lose their jobs or places of residence due to the misperceptions surrounding domestic violence. An employer or landlord may think that he or she is doing the other employees or tenants a favor by evicting or firing a victim believing that this is the best means to protect all those involved. However, such actions leave survivors economically disadvantaged, and less likely to disclose their victimization and ask for help.

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At WEAVE, Inc. Clients Get Sound Financial Advice

By Nance O'Day

Teen Room at WEAVE's Safehouse

Here at WEAVE we recognize that two primary reasons survivors remain with their abusers, or return to them, is that they have no funds of their own and cannot afford housing. Nearly all have suffered from financial abuse and have had no say in how income is used or any access to resources.

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Finding Financial Independence in the My Sister’s House “Women to Work” Program

By Nilda Valmores, Executive Director

My Sister’s House is the Central Valley’s only domestic violence shelter that focuses on the needs of Asian and Pacific Islander women and their children. In recent years, we’ve noticed that the accessibility of the internet and the ease of international travel has increased the number of abusers who find their wives, girlfriends and victims in other countries. Our client May* was such a woman.

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At Women’s Empowerment Survivors Rebuild Finances from the Ground Up

By Kelsey Bardini, MSW 
Social Worker/“Money Matters Diva” at Women’s Empowerment 

When a woman decides to leave a violent relationship, she often has no place to turn and very few resources to draw upon. With the lack of affordable housing in California, many women are faced with the daunting choice between staying in a violent relationship or becoming homeless. At Women’s Empowerment, a Sacramento service agency for homeless women, 85% of our participants are survivors of domestic violence.

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Helping Survivors Prepare for the 2013 Tax Season

Tax season is upon us! As an advocate, one way you can assist survivors in improving their financial management skills is to make sure they are aware of the tax benefits and tax assistance available to them. With the 2013 Tax Season underway, the Partnership has gathered several tools to help you assist survivors in preparing their taxes. This tax season will be a little different from last year’s due to several changes in the law (American Tax Relief Act of 2012), but here are a couple things you should know:

• The deadline for filing taxes is April 15, 2013 
• The tax season started LATE this year – tax law changes enacted by Congress at the beginning of January delayed the tax season by one week – so you may have to wait until March to file certain forms 
• There is tax relief for disaster survivors of flooding, earthquakes, wildfires, and hurricanes, including last year's Hurricane Sandy. Tax relief can include some of the following help:  
• Additional time to file your taxes 
• Additional time to pay your taxes

• Quick tax returns for losses related to disasters There is a new process to file for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). These are issued to people who want to file their taxes but do not have a social security number.
• Scams and fraud are rampant this year, especially with phishing emails from fraudsters pretending to be the IRS. Find out how to help survivors protect their information. 

Tax Credits:

Each year, tax credits are available to low and moderate-income families. Changes in the law this year, have made some of these credits even more valuable. These family credits  include the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.   

• Up to $5,891 from the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
• Up to $1,000 per child from the federal Child Tax Credit.
• Up to $2,100 from the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.

Free Tax Preparation:

The IRS sponsors two free tax-preparation services:  Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE). These services may be available in your community for low-and moderate income families and tax filers over age 60. To locate a VITA site near you, call the IRS’ free hotline at 1-800-906-9887. You can also visit http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep.

Additional Tools

·         Helping Domestic Violence Survivors Claim the Earned Income Tax Credit

·         Innocent Spouse Relief

·         Your Money Matters: Tax Information for Survivors of Domestic Violence

·         Special Collection: Earned Income Tax Credit and Other Tax Credits

·         2013 Tax Credits Outreach Toolkit for Advocates

·         Family Tax Credits Fact Sheet

·         Checklist for Domestic Violence Advocates

·         State Child & Dependent Care Tax Provisions (Tax Year 2012)

Webinars

Tax Credits: What Families Need to Know

Tax Credits Outreach: Information for Child Care Providers

Tax Credits Outreach Made Easy: Tips and Tools for Advocates

Other resources

National Women’s Law Center

Internal Revenue Service

Mymoney.gov

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