She came to us after being quoted $800 & $400 filing fees by H&R Block and Hewitt.
Who we are and what we do: Developed by Solutions for Progress Inc., The Benefit Bank is an online service designed to secure funds and services for individuals and families working to overcome poverty and to build long-term financial stability. Dollar Value of benefits and tax refunds received since 2006:
$639,003,113 Clients Served 2011: 86,540 Counselors Trained 2011: 4,595
Supported Programs
SNAP
Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program
Healthy Start
& Healthy Families
Medicaid
Child Care Subsidies
HEAP
OH Home Energy
Assistance Program
Ohio Works First
Medicare Rx Extra Help
FAFSA
Free Application for
Federal Student Aid
Federal Tax Returns
State Tax Returns
Federal back taxes
Voter Registration
The Ohio Benefit Bank is an Internet-based, counselor assisted service that connects low- and moderate-income families to tax credits and work supports. As a response to the declining economic plight facing thousands of Ohioans, The Ohio Benefit Bank connects individuals and families to the support they need where they live, work, play, and pray.
The Ohio Benefit Bank is supported through a public-private partnership between the State of Ohio, the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF) and Ohio’s foodbanks as well as over 1,100 faith-based, nonprofit, governmental and private partners. The creation of this service as a tool to assist those in need has put the state of Ohio in the forefront of fighting hunger and poverty, while linking those in need to the supports that help in their day to day lives.
Congratulations to The Ohio Benefit Bank for assisting Ohioans access tax credits and work supports valued at more than $500 million; a major milestone in OBB’s history and the history of The Benefit Bank online service!
The Ohio Benefit Bank's new RV equipped with satellite internet, 8 laptops, 2 work stations and a generator to go anywhere in Ohio and provide functionality at plant closings or disaster areas. OBB will be able to set up a mobile benefit bank clinic just about anywhere.
The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks has trained over 5,200 Benefit Bank counselors and has established more than 1,180 Benefit Bank sites. These Counselors assist those in need with the completion and submission, either manually or electronically, of applications for state and federal taxes with the goal of maximizing each applicant’s refund when available, the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA), food assistance (formerly known as food stamps), Medicaid, child care and home every assistance (HEAP), along with many other forms of community supports.
The Ohio Benefit Bank provides weekly reporting of results, available by counselor and site, groups of sites, and for the State, and anonymous information about the clients served. Throughout all 88 counties of Ohio, The Ohio Benefit Bank has assisted over 145,000 Ohioans gain access to over $295 billion in tax credits and work supports. The goal of The Ohio Benefit Bank is to connect eligible Ohioans to tax credits and work supports; infusing much needed money into our local and state economies!
A Boon for Ohio’s Economy
Nationally over $49 billion in Federal funds for low and moderate income families go untouched each year, nearly half of which are available in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
In Ohio, more than $1.7 billion dollars in tax credits and work support programs are unclaimed by Ohio citizens.
Nearly 95% of those benefits and credits are Federal dollars.
When claimed, these funds can have a significant impact on Ohio’seconomy, by maximizing the benefits provided to eligible Ohioans and stimulating economic development for local communities where the funds would be spent.
Our Partners
The OBB works with partners, such as community or faith-based organizations, senior service programs, food banks or food pantries, health providers, and housing programs, in order to customize the outreach programs to the needs of individual communities.
The involvement of Ohio businesses and faith-based and community groups is particularly important, because these organizations are well-positioned to reach underserved populations that might not access benefits through traditional channels.
Key funders and supporters of the Ohio Benefit Bank include The Columbus Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, the Ohio Departments of Job and Family Services, Development, Rehabilitation and Correction, Aging, Mental Health, the Ohio Community Service Council, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services.
History of the Ohio Benefit Bank
The Benefit Bank is a project of the National Council of Churches (NCC), the Jewish Council on Public Affairs and several other national organizations.
In early 2006, NCC chose Ohio as a pilot state for the Benefit Bank and outreach soon began when Episcopal Community Services Foundation of Southern Ohio started recruiting counselors and establishing Benefit Bank sites.
The Columbus Foundation and the Ohio Department of Development’s Office of Community Services provided substantial initial funding for community outreach.
Later in 2006, the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF), the state’s largest charitable response to hunger, became the lead non-profit agency implementing the Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB).
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