Qualifying families can receive advance payments of the Child Tax Credit in monthly payments starting this summer. The total Child Tax Credit is worth $3,600 for children five and under and $3,000 for children six through 17. Families could receive up to $300 per month for younger children and up to $250 per month for older children. The IRS will use information from 2019 or 2020 tax returns to determine if you are qualified. SEVCA’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program can help families who aren’t required to file a tax return provide information to the IRS.

To qualify for advance Child Tax Credit payments, you — and your spouse, if you filed a joint return — must have:
• A main home in the United States for more than half the year or file a joint return with a spouse who has a main home in the United States for more than half the year; and
• A qualifying child who is under age 18 at the end of 2021 and who has a valid Social Security number; and
• Made less than certain income limits; and
• Filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return and claimed the Child Tax Credit on the return; or
• Given the IRS your information in 2020 to receive the Economic Impact Payment (also called the stimulus payment) using the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool.

People who filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return or submitted information to the IRS last year to register for the Economic Impact Payments (stimulus payments) do not need to take action to receive child tax credits.

Child Tax Credits aren’t taxable and aren’t counted as income when determining if you are eligible for benefits or assistance.

SEVCA can also help if you have not received the first two rounds of Economic Impact Payments. You must have a Social Security number, you cannot be supported by someone who can claim you as a dependent, and you must file a 2020 tax return to receive the money.
Call SEVCA at 802-722-4575 for more information and to make an appointment for free Child Tax Credit and Economic Impact Payment tax preparation services on the following dates:
June 25, 2021 – Windsor Resource Center -- 9am – 4:30pm –1 Railroad Avenue, Windsor, VT
June 26, 2021 – SEVCA’s Main Office -- 9am – 4:30pm -- 91 Buck Drive, Westminster, VT
July 09, 2021 – Windsor Resource Center -- 9am – 4:30pm – 1 Railroad Avenue, Windsor, VT
July 10, 2021 – SEVCA’s Main Office -- 9am – 4:30pm – 91 Buck Drive, Westminster, VT
SEVCA is proud to be a part of this event to help our communities in the Windham and Windsor County areas.

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Our Head Start Annual Report for the 2020-2021 School year is here! Click here.

Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) is providing a series of 4 Financial Fitness workshops to provide training, support and resources to help participants gain control and manage their money. Workshop topics include: creating a personal, workable budget; reducing debt; setting personal goals; modify spending; basics of banking; plus credit.

Workshops are free to Vermont residents. SEVCA will provide a gift card cash incentive to those Vermont residents affected by Covid who attend Workshops 1,2, and 3. Courses will be offered on Zoom, an online platform. Additional counseling is available to attendees.
For more information email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Zoom Workshop dates and time for June 2021:
Workshop 1: June 15: 10am-11am or June 16: 6pm-7pm
Workshop 2: June 22: 10am-11am or June 23: 6pm-7pm
Workshop 3: June 29: 10am-11am or June 30: 6pm-7pm
Workshop 4: July 6: 10am-11am or July 7: 6pm-7pm

Workshop 1: Take Control of Your Money – Create a Budget
Date: June 15: 10am – 11am OR June 16: 6pm - 7pm
Understanding and tracking the details of your financial situation is the start to making better money decisions and building a more secure future. When life situations change, and it often does (job loss, illness, birth of a child, new job, divorce, etc.) it’s time to review how to manage your money. This workshop will help you take control of your money by taking the first step by...creating a budget. We’ll learn what a budget is, why use it, and create and review a budget step by step.

Workshop 2: Set Your Goals – Manage Your Expenses
Date: June 22: 10am - 11am OR June 23: 6pm - 7pm
After creating a budget, the next step is to identify goals. Examples are: paying off debts, saving for a car, or building an emergency fund. Creating a plan and taking control of income and expenses helps achieve goals. We’ll focus on successful strategies to achieve goals by using ways to lower expenses and to increase income, and what to do with bills you can’t pay.

Workshop 3: Credit – Tame the Credit Beast
Date: June 29: 10am - 11am OR June 30: 6pm - 7pm
Let’s face it, using credit to make purchases make life more convenient. But when credit (loans and credit cards) are overused, they become a trap and one of the biggest barriers in reaching financial goals. This workshop reviews credit: The do’s and don’ts of credit, how to avoid credit traps and ways to get out of credit card debt. We will learn about “Your FICO Credit Score”, how it affects your lifetime of interest rates, how interest impacts monthly payments, and how to improve a credit score.

Workshop 4: Banks and Credit Unions – Protect and Grow Your Money
Date: July 6: 10am - 11am OR July 7: 6pm - 7pm
Where money is kept, whether it’s in a bank, credit union or under the mattress, does affect finances. This workshop explains the differences between banks and credit unions plus describes the accounts, benefits, and services (and fees) they offer. We will look at checking accounts, debit cards, savings accounts, loans and interest rates, plus strategies to grow and protect money. We will look at “Instant Cash” payday loans, how to protect your information and Identity theft.