Pisgah Legal Services Offers Free Program to Help Working Families Access Cash Benefits and Health Care

With inflation at a 40-year high, working families with low incomes are struggling to make ends meet, put food on the table and gas in their cars.

But local people who make less than $58,000/year may soon access much-needed cash benefits thanks to a new program offered by Pisgah Legal Services (PLS).

The nonprofit recently launched the WNC Health and Economic Opportunity Program, with funding from Dogwood Health Trust, to help people access income-boosting tax payments and enroll in affordable health insurance.

  • Lucia, a single mom, had never filed tax returns before. She received an $8,000 return.
  • “Marissa” plans to use her refund of $15,000 to pay her debts, buy a car and repair her house.
  • Annie plans to put her $1,000 return into savings, giving her a safety next she’s never had before.
  • “Maria” and “Rafael” are using their $2,200 tax return to buy clothes for their children and other necessities.

Non-filers – Don’t Leave Free Money on the Table

Jim Barrett, Pisgah Legal Services Executive Director, says, “Even if you earn little or no money, and don’t usually file taxes, you may be eligible for thousands of dollars in child tax credits. There are two special tax credits available to working families that could add up to thousands of dollars. The Child Tax Credit pays up to $3,600 per child and the Earned Income Tax Credit is worth up to $6,700 – but only if you file a tax return.

He adds, “Maybe folks are working seasonal, part-time, temporary, or gig jobs and don’t make enough that they are required to file taxes. They may be missing out on thousands of dollars in flexible cash payments for themselves and their families. Congress created these credits to help them make ends meet. Pisgah Legal doesn’t want them to leave that money on the table. Our trained staff and volunteers will fill out the paperwork with them at no cost.”

He adds, “Call Pisgah Legal for a free, confidential consultation to discuss how filing taxes could benefit you and your family. Then you decide what’s best for you. If you do decide to file, we can help you do that for free as well.”

The IRS estimates that nearly 9 million people don’t file taxes each year, meaning they could be missing out on these income-boosting tax refunds. On top of that, about 20% of North Carolinians who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit don’t claim it.

Pisgah Legal Services offers year-round free tax preparation for WNC households with annual incomes of less than $58,000. And these tax credits aren’t just good for your wallet, they’re good for your health, lowering the cost of affordable, quality health insurance through the Healthcare.gov Marketplace.

Call 828-210-3404 for more information or to schedule a free appointment. Learn more at https://www.pisgahlegal.org/taxes.