Spotlight on Your Funds

March 2023

Home Care Benefit Fund Free Tax Preparation Assistance Program Helps Members File for the EITC

The Home Care Benefit Fund’s (HCBF) Tax Preparation Assistance Program has long helped 1199SEIU members file for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by providing free tax preparation services. This year, the HCBF is again partnering with the Food Bank For New York City and nonprofit educational program Ariva, so that members can receive the full refund to which they are entitled. The program is available at locations in all five New York City boroughs, as well as in Westchester County, Long Island and New Jersey. Assistance is available onsite (for in-person and drop-off services) or through a member’s home computer (for online services). For all in-person and drop-off services, both Food Bank For New York City and Ariva require appointments. Some NYC Tax Prep sites also require appointments. For more information, members may visit the Benefit Fund’s website.

Training and Employment Funds Offer Citizenship-Prep and English Language Courses

As part of the 1199SEIU Citizenship Program, jointly administered by the Training and Employment Funds (TEF) and the Benefit and Pension Funds, TEF offers applicants classes in English and U.S. history and government to help them pass the English comprehension and civics portions of the naturalization test. All classes take place remotely via Zoom and in-person based on demand. Since its inception in 2001, the program has supported nearly 14,000 1199SEIU members, their eligible dependents and non-members in becoming U.S. citizens. For more information, email [email protected] or call (646) 473-8915.

TEF’s English for Speakers of Other Languages Program helps participants improve their English language skills for their healthcare careers and academic studies. The program offers six levels of instruction, from beginner to advanced. All classes are conducted remotely via Zoom and in person based on demand. Registration takes place in July and August for the fall semester and in December and January for the spring semester. 1199SEIU members and their families, as well as a limited number of non-members, are eligible to enroll. For more information, email [email protected], or call (212) 284-9231 or (212) 284-9254.

Special Healthy Living Edition

A special Healthy Living edition of For Your Benefit, the 1199SEIU members magazine, is now available to view online. 

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