The
CAREGIVER News from our union
Winter 2020
U O Y ARE
g n i v lea
Y E N o M E H T ON ? E L B TA
Learn about important resources for you and your family
ARE YOU
leaving MoNEY ON THE TA B L E?
Learn about important resources for you and your family or caregivers like us, it’s often a struggle just to get by. And though the wealthy are doing great in this economy, the gap between the rich and the poor in the United States is the largest it’s been in 50 years. In 2020, it’s crucial that we elect leaders who understand this, who can
CAL ABLE
HELPING FAMILIES SAVE FOR DISABILITY-RELATED EXPENSES Contribute up to $15,000 a year to a CalABLE account without jeopardizing benefits like SSI and Medicaid Must already be entitled to SSI or SSDI due to disability or blindness or have a disability certification signed by a physician.
calable.ca.gov • 1-833-225-2253 CalABLESupport@CalABLE.ca.gov
YOUNG CHIL D
TA X CR E D I T TA X REFUND MONE Y FOR PARENT S
A new credit that could mean up to $1,000 added to your tax refund*
make real change in the daily lives of hard-working providers like us. In the meantime, low-income workers like IHSS caregivers need all the help we can get to make ends meet, but too often we don’t know when we are eligible for help. Did you know that over a million Californians
CALFRESH C A L I FO R N I A’ S FO O D S TA M P PRO G R A M
are eligible for CalFresh (otherwise known as SNAP or food stamps) but are not claiming their benefits? Your union is here to help! Check out the info below to see if there is assistance available that could help you better care for yourself and your family.
CALIFORNIA EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT TA X R E F U N D M O N E Y
Provides up to $192/month per household member for groceries
A cashback tax credit that gives money back to workers*
Eligibility is based on income. Those with SSI/SSP may also be eligible.
Eligibility based on income. There have been changes in the law—even if you didn’t qualify in the past as a live-in provider, you may qualify this year.
CalFresh Income Guidelines Effective until September 30, 2020 Household Size Monthly Income 1 <$2,082 2 <$2,820 3 <$3,556 4 <$4,292 5 <$5,030 6 <$5,766 7 <$6,502 8 <$7,240 (Add $378 for each member after 8)
getcalfresh.org • 1-877-847-3663
caleitc4me.org
C A L S AV E R S FINANCIALLY PREPARE FOR RETIREMENT
Access a professionally-managed retirement savings program for Californians who have no employer-based retirement plan
Must make less than $30,000/year and have a at least one child younger than age 6 as of Dec. 31, 2019.
Eligibility is based on employer status. Enrollment is automatic for workplaces with 100+ employees. Most IHSS providers can opt-in to the program.
caleitc4me.org
calsavers.com • 1-855-650-6918
* Please note: this material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified tax advisor or accountant. All decisions regarding the tax implications of this information should be made with the consultation of your independent tax advisor.
2020
&
BE YOND
USHERING IN THE NEXT DECADE OF CARE Happy New Year to everyone in our caregiver family! I hope 2020 finds you and your family healthy and well. When we formed the organizing committee that would become UDW in 1977, we had a simple but revolutionary goal: give caregivers the power to protect our clients and improve our lives. As only the third union in the country to be founded by people of color, we brought new voices to the table and changed the conversation. Now, over 40 years later, we are stronger than ever and adding more members to our movement every day. Here’s what we’re using that power to fight for in 2020 and beyond: Caregiver power at the county level Though IHSS is a state program, county boards of supervisors administer it. That means our pay is decided by five local officials who may not value caregiving. This year our number one priority is to make our voices louder in board chambers—and work to elect supervisors who respect our work and value our clients. Unemployment insurance for caregivers Caregivers grieve whenever our clients pass. But when our client is a child or spouse, we also lose our income without the safety net of unemployment benefits. Right now, these family providers are not eligible for unemployment insurance. In 2020, we are fighting to change that.
Long-term care for all
Governor Gavin Newsom took the bold step last year of undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of our long-term care system and asked UDW to be part of it. We will make sure that the caregiver experience is woven into every part of his Master Plan on Aging. Election 2020 2020 is a BIG election year and caregivers are going to be a big part of it! We will endorse candidates who share our values, then hit the doors and phones to make sure they get elected. For a list of our endorsed candidates, visit udwa.org/election-2020/ I look forward to working with you to make all our 2020 goals come true. May your New Year be bright and prosperous, and may we always remain Caregiver Strong! In Solidarity,
Editha Adams, UDW Statewide President
NONPROFIT US POSTAGE PAID HUNT. BCH CA PERMIT #438
4855 Seminole Drive San Diego, CA 92115 800-621-5016
udwa.org twitter.com/udwa facebook.com/UDW
ELEC TRONIC VISIT VERIFICATION ROLLING OUT IN 2020 ✔ Live-in providers may be exempt. ✔ Providers not currently using electronic timesheets will need to sign up for ETS or the phone option.
✔ P lacer, Orange and San Luis Obispo counties started January 1, while Riverside and Kern will start in March and April. ✔ The rest of us will start in the summer and fall.
Find out more at http://bit.ly/EVVhelp
Protect yourself & your client during
eniors and people with disabilities are the most likely to be injured or die in a power shut-off or fire. While California works on finding long-term solutions to these problems, caregivers like us must take extra precautions. An important thing you can do right now is to get on your power company’s “Medical Baseline” list. Medical Baseline refers to those who are given allowances because they rely on life support equipment, have life-threatening illnesses, or compromised immune systems.
Being on the Medical Baseline list may save you money, but it can also save your or your client’s life: currently, power companies are using the Medical Baseline list as a guide to which customers may need advance or personalized notification such as door knocks in event of a power shut off. As a union of caregivers, UDW is dedicated to protecting our members and clients during these events. We are advocating in Sacramento for better emergency planning and resources for the functional needs population—and for caregivers to be compensated for our time during evacuations and shut offs. We will keep you updated on any developments. In the meantime, please check your Medical Baseline status to help keep your client and family safer. For more resources on public safety power shut-offs, visit this guide from the California Health and Human Services Agency: http://bit.ly/shutoff-resource-guide