By Tim Wenzl

Southwest Kansas Register

Access to government benefits and food stamps, and medical and cash assistance just got easier for the working poor in southwest Kansas.

It’s tax time and counselors with the Benefit Bank are ready to assist families in filing their federal and state taxes. This free service can mean big benefits and easier access to government programs:

• Federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

• Kansas Tax Credit for Child, and Dependent Care Expenses

• Federal Earned Income Tax Credit

• Kansas Earned Income Tax Credit

• Federal Child Tax Credit

• Food Stamps

• Medical and Cash Assistance

The above list of benefits and services can now be accessed through a computer program at Benefit Bank sites in Ford, Finney, Barton and Hodgeman Counties. Three of the sites are located in the offices of Catholic Social Service at Dodge City, Garden City and Great Bend. The search for more sites and the recruitment of volunteers throughout the diocese is ongoing. (See advertisement on page 16.)

"The Benefit Bank can make a big difference in the lives of many in our diocese," stated Debbie Snapp, executive director of Catholic Social Service. She said that "6.7 percent of the families in Kansas are living in poverty, however, there are 19 counties in southwest Kansas where that percentage is higher. The Benefit Bank can help people gain access to the benefits and programs the federal and state governments have put in place to help them meet their needs."

Coincidentally, the Benefit Bank is available as working families are thinking about filing their income tax forms. "The counselors at the Benefit Bank sites are ready to assist families in filling their federal and state taxes," stated Pattie McGurk, Benefit Bank coordinator. "If families with children file the 1040 EZ form, they may lose out on three or four thousand dollars. By filing out the 1040 form with our counselors, we can access tax credits that will provide money for families who in turn put money back into the local communities. This is a free service, so those families are also saving the money they would have spent to have someone prepare their taxes.

The Benefit Bank computer program simplifies the process for filing for benefits. "The programs are in both English and Spanish and we can toggle back and forth to assist any applicant," said McGurk. "We do have bilingual counselors at some sites and can have interpreters scheduled if needed."

"I became interested in the Benefit Bank because it’s much easier to use than when you go directly through SRS (Social Rehabilitation Services)," said Cristina Sotelo, a teen mother to a 2 year old son. "This is a lot easier." While Benefit Bank works in conjunction with SRS, the bank allows individuals to apply for programs without the many pages of often confusing paper work they would otherwise have to fill out. "They leave our offices with completed forms and just need to turn them in at an SRS office," stated McGurk.

There is an ongoing move to create more sites in the diocese and recruit more counselors. Persons from any county can visit any office that is currently operating in another county. "We are anticipating that other parishes in our diocese will want to become Benefit Bank sites so they can assist the families in their parishes," said McGurk. "The benefits and programs are already provided by the government. We are merely assisting people in gaining access to them."