Earned Income Tax Credit qualifies working families for 3SquaresVT

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can make life a little easier for working Vermonters struggling to make ends meet with a credit up to $6,044. In addition, any family with dependent children who receives the Vermont EITC is automatically income eligible for food benefits through 3SquaresVT ‘ meaning their income and resources don’t count. The IRS estimates one in five eligible taxpayers could miss out on EITC because they are unaware of this valuable tax credit.
‘Many people will qualify for EITC for the first time this year because their income declined, their marital status changed, or their families grew,’ says Faye Conte, 3SquaresVT Advocate at Hunger Free Vermont. ‘With the connection to 3SquaresVT, these same families not only save money with the tax credit, but also put more nutritious food on the table. The average monthly 3SquaresVT benefit is over $200 for a family with children. An added bonus is that children who get 3SquaresVT benefits also qualify for free school meals, further stretching families’ food budgets. I encourage anyone who earned less than $52,000 in 2013 to see if they qualify.’
EITC is a financial boost for working people hit hard by economic times while also providing economic stimulus for the state. In 2013, 45,000 Vermonters received EITC bringing over $83 million federal dollars into the state at an average credit of $1,800 per household. ‘Check with the IRS to see if you qualify, even if you don’t usually file taxes,’ Conte emphasizes, ‘And be sure to apply for 3SquaresVT! You’ve earned not only the credit, but all the added benefits that come along with it!’
To find out if you qualify for the EITC, call 1-800-829-1040 or visit www.irs.gov. For help preparing your taxes for free, dial 2-1-1 to make an appointment in your community. For information about 3SquaresVT, go to www.vermontfoodhelp.com or dial 2-1-1.About Hunger Free Vermont: Hunger Free Vermont is a statewide nonprofit organization that works with state agencies and community groups to end the injustice of hunger and malnutrition for all Vermonters. Since 1993 Hunger Free Vermont’s outreach programs have substantially enhanced Vermont’s nutrition safety net and increased access to nutritious foods. For more information, visit www.hungerfreevt.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on twitter.
February 3, 2014 (South Burlington, Vermont)