Veterans Mobile Health Unit: a VA outside the walls

We recently had the opportunity to team up with the Veterans Mobile Health Unit, a mobile extension of the Cincinnati Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, for a resource fair in the Woodlawn area of Cincinnati. As a VA, the medical center offers a wide range of services for veterans: from allergy relief to drug and alcohol addiction services. It’s an awesome resource for veterans in the downtown area— but what about vets who live elsewhere in the city or those with barriers to transportation?

VA Mobile Unit and sign. (photo by Daniel Hansen)

The Veterans Mobile Unit is a convenient way for veterans to access VA healthcare and have their medical record established. Community leaders planning events for veterans in the Cincinnati area can request the mobile unit to participate in their events. To do so, simply contact Christine Royer at Christine.Royer@va.gov.

Interested in this service provider but not in the Cincinnati area? Click here for more information about a Dayton area mobile unit.

Waiting for October: finding mental health services in the months before the health insurance expansion

Over the weekend I ran into an old friend who connected me to an individual in need of “some type of health insurance.”

The woman, age 23, told me that she has never had any type of health insurance coverage but heard on the radio that things have been changing and she might be able to enroll in the new healthcare exchange. She was frustrated to hear that the healthcare exchange is not yet available to consumers.

We talked a little about her family. She lives with her mother, but aside from splitting the electric bill 50-50 they live in separate households. She brings home around $350 every other week and she is frequently depressed about her financial situation. She then explained to me that this is why she is seeking health insurance — she needs mental health services. Unfortunately, childless adults are not eligible to receive Medicaid at her level of income, so I couldn't assist her with the application. I did point her towards an awesome resource organized by Mental Health America of Franklin County.

The Pro Bono Counseling Program connects volunteer mental health professionals with those in the community who need mental health counseling but cannot afford it. This local resource and other programs like it can be a vital lifeline for those struggling with poverty and mental health disorders. My new friend may have to wait until October to enroll in the healthcare exchange but not to receive mental health counseling.

Carpe Diem Part 2

Recently we talked about how this is the perfect time for taxpayers to do some spring cleaning. This is also the perfect time for tax counselors to brush up on their knowledge! Having problems with 1099-DIV forms? Not sure what a land lease is, or how it will affect the clients you are serving? This is the perfect time to find out the answers to some of those questions. Here are a few quick ways you can get your regular dose of tax tips:

Continue your education! Gayle Loyola, Asset Development Coordinator for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, home of The Ohio Benefit Bank(OBB™)  runs a fantastic webinar series for enhancing OBB counselors on the third Wednesday of every month from 12-1 PM. It’s a great way to expand your knowledge of the many tax forms available.

Brush up with The Ohio Benefit Bank Tax Clinic Guide, and the other fantastic resources for planning a tax clinic that can be found in The Ohio Benefit Bank™ Tax Clinic Kit.

Mark your calendar for the sixth annual Ohio Benefit Bank Community Meeting and Training on September 17, 2013 in Columbus, where you can attend tax related seminars, see fantastic speakers, learn some new ways to connect to your clients, and much more! 

Stay connected to the OBB online: “Like” our Facebook page for updates and tips you can share, and, as always, keep reading our posts for more behind-the-scenes perspective on being an OBB counselor. You can follow our blog or add us (http://www.obbmobileexpress.blogspot.com/) to your RSS feed to get our most posts delivered to you.

Carpe Diem!

Now that tax season is behind us, there is no better time to do some spring cleaning and make sure you  will have everything you’ll need for next year. Taxes can be confusing, and indeed intimidating to many people, and it is understandable to want to forget the whole process. Don’t! Not paying attention can have the unfortunate result of leaving you vulnerable to mistakes being made on their tax forms. 

 For example, it is not uncommon for a household to owe money to the IRS because of a mistake or outdated information about how much income should be withheld from a paycheck for federal income taxes. There is no better time than right now to get a more complete understanding of how  various types of income are taxed, and how that will affect your return in the future. 

Here are a few “spring cleaning” steps you can take to make filing next year’s taxes as stress-free as possible:

-         Check to see if your W-4 filed with your employer needs to be updated. If you owed money at tax time, or had a life change such as a marriage, divorce, new family member, or employment change, you will likely want to adjust your withholding. Employers and human resource departments are great resources for learning about your W-4. It’s a good idea to make a habit of checking this every year.  

-         Contact your bank, employer, or the distribution source of any retirement or pension plans to shed some light on the sometimes murky details surrounding your IRA and 401Ks so that you don’t have any surprises waiting for you when you file your 1099-Rs next year and to ensure that you are not being taxed at a higher rate than you should be. 

-         Keep your tax information somewhere safe for next year!  By bringing your previous year’s tax information (along with your login name and password) into your appointment you will ensure accuracy on your taxes and make your tax appointment go faster.

So seize the day, and take this opportunity to spot any issues before they become a problem!