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Recent News

Click here for the Great Plains Native EITC Summit Registration Form

Click here to visit the Bridge to Benefits site! Rural Dynamics, Inc. & Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota Partner to Launch “Bridge to Benefits—Montana” Project to Improve Economic Stability of Families and Work Force Productivity  GREAT FALLS, MT – Today, Great Falls-based Rural Dynamics, Inc. and Children’s Defense Fund of Minnesota, with the support of Opportunity Link, launched Bridge to Benefits Montana.  Bridge to Benefits is a web tool where Montanans are able to gauge their eligibility for work support benefits anonymously through as few as 13 simple questions.    This is a much-needed initiative that will improve the economic condition of thousands of Montana children and their families and help stabilize the state’s economy and work force.  Bridge to Benefits will help connect eligible working individuals and families across Montana with work support benefits, such as energy assistance, health care, child care assistance, food support, school meals and the Earned Income Tax Credit.      “Too often, struggling families are forced to choose between medical care and keeping their homes warm in the winter because they don’t make enough at their jobs to afford basic necessities,” said Jim Koppel, Director of the Children’s Defense Fund of Minnesota.  “Bridge to Benefits is a project to improve their economic security by quickly helping them determine if they are eligible for work support benefits and then giving them the tools necessary to apply.  Many times these benefits make all the difference for a working family, and that stability makes them more productive members of the work force.” Low literacy levels, language barriers, lack of awareness, complicated enrollment processes, and confusing applications are all obstacles that prevent eligible Montana individuals and families from enrolling in programs.  The Bridge to Benefits project helps them surmount these barriers. Just a Few Clicks of a Mouse Can Mean Help for Struggling Families The Bridge to Benefits tool is simple and available to anyone at no cost.  The tool provides information and eligibility standards about each program and lets individuals and families avoid having to contact a number of different agencies to determine eligibility for assistance.     The Bridge to Benefits project also seeks to assist community organizations in their efforts to connect individuals and families to work-support programs.  The web-based tool not only helps these organizations screen for eligibility, it also directs clients to resources where they can get help completing the difficult application process.  The Bridge to Benefits website can be accessed at www.b2bmt.org. Anyone interested in learning more about Bridge to Benefits or with questions should call the program manager, Christina Barsky, at (406) 454-5717. About the Partners Rural Dynamics Incorporated is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1968 to provide financial education and credit counseling for residents across Montana and Wyoming. The organization provides programs and establishes partnerships to help youth, individuals, and families achieve economic independence.  For more information visit www.RuralDynamics.org. The Children's Defense Fund was founded in 1973 to provide a strong and effective voice for the children of America, since they cannot vote, hire lobbyists, or speak out for themselves.   The mission of the CDF is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. In January of 2001, the Northwest Area Foundation invited four regional communities to participate in a strategic planning process. The community convened a diverse group to begin the planning, calling the group the North-central Montana Community Ventures Coalition. In February of 2005, a new name and brand for the organization was adopted, and the North-central Montana Community Ventures Coalition formally became Opportunity Link, Inc.  Opportunity Link seeks to unite people, link resources, and fight poverty in eleven North-central Montana counties.

Economic Stimulus Plan

Starting in May, the Treasury will begin sending economic stimulus payments to more than 130 million households. To receive a payment, taxpayers must have a valid Social Security number, $3,000 of income and file a 2007 federal tax return. IRS will take care of the rest. Eligible people will receive up to $600 ($1,200 for married couples), and parents will receive an additional $300 for each eligible child younger than 17. Millions of retirees, disabled veterans and low-wage workers who usually are exempt from filing a tax return must do so this year in order to receive a stimulus payment.

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Tax Help Montana

Join us at several locations across the State of Montana! Anyone earning less than $40,000 may be eligible to have their taxes prepared by IRS certified VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) volunteers. Keep more of what you earned! The program electronically files all tax returns with refunds directly deposited into a checking or savings account. Refunds are received in as few as seven days! Christina Barsky manages the statewide Tax Help Montana initiative. “We are so grateful to the dedicated volunteers that make this possible,” Barsky stated. Tax Help Montana is part of MontanaFreeFile.org, a coalition dedicated to bringing free tax preparation services to Montanans. “Over the past few years Tax Help Montana has helped bring back over 5 million dollars in refunds to the Montanans who need it the most. I am excited to see this number continue to grow as we are able to serve a greater number of taxpayers throughout the state. This is great for Montana,” said
Barsky. Help get the word out about MontanaFreeFile.org. Make sure everyone in your community knows about the free tax filing options available! Hang a poster, share information with your clients, family, friends...anyone who may want to save money when filing their taxes this year!

To have your taxes prepared at a Tax Help Montana site bring the documents listed below for each person on the return. Documentation includes, but is not limited to:

• W2’s, 1099’s, etc.
• Social Security Cards
• Child Care Provider Information
• Last Year’s Tax Return
• Voided Check, etc. for direct deposit
• Other Tax Documents

Visit www.MontanaFreeFile.org for site locations and times across Montana. Vita Sites are available at the following locations: Anaconda, Ashland, Belgrade, Bigfork, Billings, Box Elder, Bozeman, Bridger, Browning, Butte, Columbia Falls, Columbus, Conrad, Crow Agency, Culbertson, Cut Bank, Deer Lodge, Dillon, Eureka, Fairfield, Forsyth, Fort Benton, Glasgow, Glendive, Great Falls, Hamilton, Hardin, Harlem, Harlowton, Hot Springs, Joliet, Kalispell, Lame Deer, Laurel, Lewistown, Libby, Livingston, Melstone, Missoula, Musselshell, Polson, Red Lodge, Ronan, Roundup, Saint Ignatius, Stevensville, Thompson Falls, Whitefish, Helena

April is National Financial Literacy Awareness Month

The new American mantra seems to be spend more money than you make.  As a nation, our lack of savings and overspending are as apparent as our lack of mainstream financial education. What we can do now for National Financial Literacy Month is to support local programs and build awareness about financial education opportunities.  Grassroots efforts of public and private collaboration seem to be the most practical solution to increasing consumer financial literacy.

Click here for additional articles and information.

Program Assists with Buying Medication

Many American consumers with illnesses such as depression or diabetes cannot afford their medication and thus do not take it. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance has assisted more than 4 million Americans get the prescriptions they need.

Click here to access this resource.