Benefits Hub Tax Associate (VISTA)
START/END DATE: 8/31/2020 - 8/30/2021
United Way of King County’s Financial Stability Team is seeking a Benefits Hub Tax Associate VISTA to join one of the largest anti-poverty programs in Washington State – the Free Tax Preparation Campaign.
Notice to Applicants: Please note that United Way of King County has moved to remote operations and will reopen pending public health guidance. As such, be prepared to partake remotely in interviews, training, and other service responsibilities should we move forward with your candidacy. If technology presents a barrier to applying, interviewing, or accepting the position, please reach out to unitedwayamericorps@uwkc.org for accommodations.
Should we move forward with your candidacy, members will start their AmeriCorps service working remotely. Per United Way and public health guidance, all AmeriCorps members must be able to transition from working remotely to commuting to their site to serve 40 hrs. per week at any time during their service year.
Program Overview
The Free Tax Preparation Campaign is a community-driven effort to provide free tax help to low- and moderate-income households in King County, WA. We know there are powerful anti-poverty tax credits – like the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Education Credits – written into the tax code that provide critical economic stability, reduce racial wealth disparities, and increase public health outcomes, particularly for communities of color. However, each year many millions of dollars go left unclaimed by eligible taxpayers due to the complex nature of our tax code. Further, the high cost of tax preparation means individuals and families in our community are paying upwards of $300 to $400 to have their taxes prepared.
As the Benefits Hub Tax Associate VISTA, the member will develop partnerships and implement strategy by building the capacity for the United Way Free Tax Preparation Campaign & Benefits Hub program to improve access to free tax help and subsequently increase persistence in the completion of degree and certificate programs for low-income community and technical college students. The member will build strategy in recruiting and training, plan and implement a year-long outreach strategy for tax preparation services on college campuses and convene ongoing meetings with all different stakeholders on and off campus and before, during, and after tax season, in order to maintain high quality of services.
Position Responsibilities
- Coordinate new models of service (both in-person and virtual context) to ensure access for low-income students to free and accurate tax preparation on campus and in the community
- Identify additional asset-building services and improve the referral system for low-income students to increase access to free public benefits and asset-building services on campus and in the community
- Build strategy in recruiting and training Intake and Benefits Specialists that can further strengthen referrals to Benefits Hub services
- Develop plan and implement creative outreach strategy for tax preparation services on college campuses in promotion of alternative tax preparation activities through the Benefits Hub program
- Identify and establish data-driven innovative methods to reduce poverty for low-income communities and college students to pilot with the Free Tax Preparation Campaign.
- Create innovative ways to engage volunteers on campus in free tax preparation volunteer opportunities
Desired Skills & Qualifications
- Passionate social justice advocate driven to end poverty in our region
- Cultural humility and experience working with diverse populations
- Flexibility! Ability to manage multiple tasks of competing priorities, doing what it takes to get things done in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision
- Ability to be adaptable and work with a variety of moving piece
- Enthusiastic team player and critical thinker ready to contribute to systems change in supporting low-income students
- Proficiency with MS office programs including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint & Excel
- Willingness to maintain a strong work ethic in the face of challenges such as living within the means of the VISTA stipend
- Eager to take initiative and step into a leadership role
- Second language skill is highly desirable
- Experience in a community college setting a plus
Eligibility
- Be at least 18 years old upon entering VISTA training. There is no upper age limit.
- Be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status. F-1 visas are not sufficient.
- Not be listed in the National Sex Offender Registry database as having been convicted of sex-related crimes.
- Be willing to submit fingerprints for a criminal history background check. AmeriCorps assesses criminal history on a case-by-case basis when determining applicant eligibility.
- Be in a position to offer full-time service for one year without regard to regular working hours.
- Have a high school diploma/equivalent or be working toward completing one during the service year.
- Understand that VISTAs serve on a full-time basis from August 31, 2020, to August 30, 2021. Therefore, VISTAs cannot enroll in school except in limited circumstances or be subjects of legal proceedings (civil or criminal) that may consume time needed for VISTA assignments. VISTA service cannot be used to satisfy service requirements of parole or probation. VISTAs may have additional employment outside of AmeriCorps but this employment should not interfere with the VISTA project.
Compensation and Benefits
- Monthly Stipend: $1850.24 (pretax) per month
- $6,195 Education Award or $1,800 cash stipend upon successful completion of service.
- (By law, only VISTA members who are either: US citizens, US nationals, or lawful permanent resident aliens (sometimes referred to as “lawful permanent residents”) are eligible to receive an education award. Persons legally residing in a state, but who are not US citizens, US nationals, or lawful permanent residents, are only eligible to receive an end-of-service stipend.)
- Loan deferment and payment of interest accrued during service year on qualified student loans (loans must be federally-backed; personal/private loans not eligible)
- Health benefits that meet the minimum standards of ACA compliance
- Unlimited ORCA (bus) Pass
- Childcare assistance – please let us know if you are interested in this benefits so that we can provide additional information
- 10 days sick leave, 10 days personal leave, 9 federal holidays
- Enrollment in an assistance program with 24-hour access to phone counseling
- Non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs for up to one year after completing service
- Professional work experience
- In-service training, skill-building and professional development
- Family leave – please let us know if you anticipate needing extended time off for family/maternity leave so that we can provide additional information
To Apply: Create an application on My AmeriCorps Portal or click here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=88584