Davison, G., Frank-Miller, E., Roll, S. P., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2018). Promoting savings at tax time: Insights from online and in-person tax preparation services (CSD Research Report No. 18-33). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/pnr2-vf30
Tag: Refund to Savings (R2S)
The State of State EITCs: An Overview and Their Implications for Low- and Moderate-Income Households
Davison, G., Roll, S. P., Taylor, S. H., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2018, January). The state of state EITCs: An overview and their implications for low- and moderate-income households (CSD Research Brief No. 18-04). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
The Mediating Role of Assets in Explaining Hardship Risk Among Households Experiencing Financial Shocks
Despard, M. R., Guo, S., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Russell, B., Oliphant, J. E., & deRuyter, A. (2018). The mediating role of assets in explaining hardship risk among households experiencing financial shocks. Social Work Research, 42(3), 147–158. doi:10.1093/swr/svy012
New: A guide to tax-time financial capability efforts
“A Toolkit for Expanding Financial Capability at Tax Time” is now available and free to download. The 70-page book presents the current evidence underpinning various tax-time efforts to expand financial capability among low- and moderate-income households.
Tax Time Savings Initiative Partner Convening
June 7, 2018, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Clark-Fox Forum, Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis
Refund to Savings 2015–2016: Field Experiments to Promote Tax-Time Saving in Low- and Moderate-Income Households
Roll, S. P., Davison, G., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Despard, M. R., & Bufe, S. (2018). Refund to Savings 2015–2016: Field experiments to promote tax-time saving in low- and moderate-income households (CSD Research Report No. 18-28). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K72J6BD5
A Toolkit for Expanding Financial Capability at Tax Time
Davison, G., Covington, M., Kondratjeva, O., Roll, S. P., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2018, June). A toolkit for expanding financial capability at tax time (CSD Toolkit No. 18-26). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K7T1536V
The Experience of Volatility in Low- and Moderate-Income Households: Results From a National Survey
Roll, S. P., Mitchell, D. S., Bufe, S., Lynne, G., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2017, October). The experience of volatility in low- and moderate-income households: Results from a national survey (Issue Brief). Washington, DC: Aspen Institute and Center for Social Development.
Effects of a Tax-Time Savings Experiment on Material and Health Care Hardship Among Low-Income Filers
Despard, M. R., Taylor, S. H., Ren, C., Russell, B. D., Grinstein-Weiss, M., & Raghavan, R. (2018). Effects of a tax-time savings experiment on material and health care hardship among low-income filers. Journal of Poverty, 22(1), 156–178. doi:10.1080/10875549.2017.1348431
Effects of a Tax-Time Savings Intervention on Use of Alternative Financial Services Among Lower-Income Households
Despard, M. R., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Ren, C., Guo, S., & Raghavan, R. (2017). Effects of a tax-time savings intervention on use of alternative financial services among lower-income households. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 51(2), 355–379. doi:10.1111/joca.12138
CSD hosts CFPB financial education and tax-time savings events
With the Center for Social Development as a partner, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau held two events in June at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work.
Study: Societal savings from fewer missed housing payments offset some ACA costs
Low-income people who gain health insurance are much more likely to make their rent and mortgage payments, according to a new Washington University study of families living near the poverty line.
Study: Interventions can help families better save tax refunds
Motivational prompts to save tax refunds and suggested savings amounts for the tax refund can increase saving among low- and moderate-income households, finds a new experimental study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
Behavioral Interventions to Increase Tax-Time Saving: Evidence From a National Randomized Trial
Grinstein-Weiss, M., Russell, B. D., Gale, W. G., Key, C., & Ariely, D. (2017). Behavioral interventions to increase tax-time saving: Evidence from a national randomized trial. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 51(1), 3–26. doi:10.1111/joca.12114
Assessing Retirement Needs and Interest in myRa: Findings From the Refund to Savings Initiative
Roll, S. P., Oliphant, J. E., Perantie, D. C., Grinstein-Weiss, M., & Davison, G. (2017). Assessing retirement needs and interest in myRA: Findings from the Refund to Savings Initiative (CSD Research Report No. 17-16). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K74749DH
Coping With a Crisis: Financial Resources Available to Low- and Moderate-Income Households in Emergencies
Perantie, D. C., Roll, S. P., Oliphant, J. E., Guo, S., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2017, February). Coping with a crisis: Financial resources available to low- and moderate-income households in emergencies (CSD Research Brief No. 17-11). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K7M32V90
Study: Tax-return delay could hurt low-income families
Millions of low- and moderate-income Americans who claim certain tax credits will have to wait weeks longer than usual this year for their federal income tax refunds because of a new law aimed at reducing fraud.
Home delinquency rates lower among ACA households
Families who get health insurance through the Affordable Care Act are significantly more likely to make their rent and mortgage payments than are those who remain uninsured, suggests a new study from the Brown School and Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis.
The Role of Choice Architecture in Promoting Saving at Tax Time: Evidence From a Large-Scale Field Experiment
Grinstein-Weiss, M., Cryder, C., Despard, M. R., Perantie, D. C., Oliphant, J. E., & Ariely, D. (2017). The role of choice architecture in promoting saving at tax time: Evidence from a large-scale field experiment (CSD Working Paper No. 17-29). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Home Delinquency Rates Are Lower Among ACA Marketplace Households: Evidence From a Natural Experiment
Gallagher, E. A., Gopalan, R., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Roll, S. P., & Davison, G. ( 2017, January). Home delinquency rates are lower among ACA Marketplace households: Evidence from a natural experiment (CSD Research Brief No. 17-01). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K72B8XJP
Do Tax-Time Savings Deposits Reduce Hardship Among Low-Income Filers? A Propensity Score Analysis
Grinstein-Weiss, M., Despard, M. R., Guo, S., Russell, B., Key, C., & Raghavan, R. (2016). Do tax-time savings deposits reduce hardship among low-income filers? A propensity score analysis. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 7(4), 707–728. doi:10.1086/689357
Financial Anxiety in Low- and Moderate-Income Households: Findings From the Household Financial Survey
Roll, S. P., Taylor, S. H., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2016, October). Financial anxiety in low- and moderate-income households: Findings from the Household Financial Survey (CSD Research Brief No. 16-42). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Student Debt and Hardship: Evidence From a Large Sample of Low- and Moderate-Income Households
Despard, M. R., Perantie, D. C., Taylor, S. H., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Friedline, T., & Raghavan, R. (2016). Student debt and hardship: Evidence from a large sample of low- and moderate-income households. Children and Youth Services Review, 70, 8–18. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.09.001
How student debt increases odds of financial struggle
Students who come out of college with debt — especially larger amounts — are more likely to face hardship and financial difficulty during their lives, finds a new study from the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis.
Leveraging Tax Time to Build Financial Capability: Research Evidence and Policy Directions
Covington, M., Oliphant, J. E., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2016). Leveraging tax time to build financial capability: Research evidence and policy directions (CSD Conference Proceeding No. 16-27). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
The Role of Health Insurance in the Financial Lives of Low- and Moderate-Income Households
Despard, M. R., Roll, S. P., Perantie, D. C., Oliphant, J. E., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2016, July). The role of health insurance in the financial lives of low- and moderate-income households (CSD Research Brief No. 16-26). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Racial Disparities in Student Debt: Evidence From the Refund to Savings Initiative
Taylor, S. H., Perantie, D. C., Kantor, N., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Guo, S., & Raghavan, R. (2016, May). Racial disparities in student debt: Evidence from the Refund to Savings Initiative (CSD Research Brief No. 16-14). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
The Burden of Student Debt: Findings From a Survey of Low- and Moderate-Income Households
Despard, M. R., Taylor, S. H., Perantie, D. C., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2016, May). The burden of student debt: Findings from a survey of low- and moderate-income households (CSD Research Brief No. 16-15). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Racial Disparities in Education Debt Burden Among Low- and Moderate-Income Households
Grinstein-Weiss, M., Perantie, D. C., Taylor, S. H., Guo, S., & Raghavan, R. (2016). Racial disparities in education debt burden among low- and moderate-income households. Children and Youth Services Review, 65, 166–174. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.04.010
CSD research reveals racial disparities in education debt
New research from the Center for Social Development at Washington University showed that low- to moderate-income black students and graduates accrued $7,721 more education debt than their white counterparts.
Senators propose ‘Rainy Day’ act to urge Americans to save
Just days before this year’s April 18 tax filing deadline, U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) proposed a plan to encourage Americans to build emergency funds.
Characteristics and Hardships Associated With Bank Account Ownership Among Refund to Savings Participants
Grinstein-Weiss, M., Perantie, D. C., Oliphant, J. E., deRuyter, A., & Despard, M. R. (2016, March). Characteristics and hardships associated with bank account ownership among Refund to Savings participants (CSD Research Brief No. 16-09). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Experts explore how to urge Americans to save part of tax refund
In the midst of the 2016 tax season, leaders from philanthropy, policy, practice and academia convened in at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for a symposium about using tax time to build Americans’ financial capability.
Leveraging Tax Time to Build Financial Capability: Research Evidence and Policy Directions
February 22, 2016 from 11am to 5pm, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Support for a Tax-Time Savings Policy: Interest in Deferring Tax Refunds With Matched Incentives
Perantie, D. C., Oliphant, J. E., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2016, January). Support for a tax-time savings policy: Interest in deferring tax refunds with matched incentives (CSD Research Brief No. 16-03). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Tax preparer’s toolkit shows why tax time is great time for families to save
The Volunteer Income Tax Preparer’s Toolkit: Showing Clients Why Tax Time is the Right Time to Save is a communications and resource guide for tax preparers on encouraging clients to save a part of their refund at tax time.
Use of Alternative Financial Services Among Low- and Moderate-Income Households: Findings From a Large-Scale National Household Financial Survey
Despard, M. R., Perantie, D. C., Luo, L., Oliphant, J., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2015, November). Use of alternative financial services among low- and moderate-income households: Findings from a large-scale national Household Financial Survey (CSD Research Brief No. 15-57). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Webinar: Wealth Inequality and the Tax Code
Date: November 9, 2015, Webinar
The Volunteer Income Tax Preparer’s Toolkit: Showing Clients Why Tax Time Is the Right Time to Save
Covington, M., Oliphant, J., Perantie, D., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2015, September). The volunteer income tax preparer’s toolkit: Showing clients why tax time is the right time to save (CSD Toolkit No. 15-56). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
IDA experiment reveals financial peril facing low-income families
An experimental Individual Development Account had no effect on whether participants opened a retirement account or on the adequacy of their retirement savings, according to a newly published article in the Journal of Gerontological Social Work.
Do EITC Recipients Use Their Tax Refunds to Get Ahead? Evidence From the Refund to Savings Initiative
Despard, M. R., Perantie, D. C., Oliphant, J., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2015, July). Do EITC recipients use their tax refunds to get ahead? Evidence from the Refund to Savings initiative (CSD Research Brief No. 15-38). St. Louis, MO: Washington University in St. Louis, Center for Social Development.
Tax-time savings programs help low-income families save refunds, study finds
Tax-time savings programs help low- and moderate-income families save significantly more of their refunds than those who choose not to participate, finds an analysis of such a program called $aveNYC.
Refund to Savings: Creating Contingency Savings at Tax Time
Grinstein-Weiss, M., Comer, K., Russell, B. D., Key, C., Perantie, D., & Ariely, D. (2015). Refund to Savings: Creating contingency savings at tax time. In J. M. Collins (Ed.), A fragile balance: Emergency savings and liquid resources for low-income consumers (pp. 87–106). New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.
Grinstein-Weiss alerts U.S. senators to ‘golden moments’ for savings
The associate director of the Center for Social Development urged U.S. senators on Thursday to create long-term asset-building policies and to use such “golden moments” as tax time to urge Americans to save.
Does Unsecured Debt Decrease Savings? Evidence From the Refund to Savings Initiative
Grinstein-Weiss, M., Oliphant, J., Russell, B. D., & Boshara, R. (2015, March). Does unsecured debt decrease savings? Evidence from the Refund to Savings Initiative (CSD Research Brief No. 15-16). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Refund to Savings 2013: Comprehensive Report on a Large-Scale Tax-Time Saving Program
Grinstein-Weiss, M., Perantie, D. C., Russell, B. D., Comer, K., Taylor, S. H., Luo, L., Key, C., & Ariely, D. (2015). Refund to Savings 2013: Comprehensive report on a large-scale tax-time saving program (CSD Research Report No. 15-06). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Chicago event focuses on creating savings opportunities
The 80 experts attending the event were brought together by a common interest in creating strategies for using the “golden moment” of tax time to help Americans build savings by changing the way consumers make economic decisions.
Lack of Emergency Savings Puts American Households at Risk
Grinstein-Weiss, M., Russell, B., Tucker, B., Comer, K. (2014, June). Lack of emergency savings puts American households at risk: Evidence from the Refund to Savings Initiative (CSD Policy Brief No. 14-13). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
CSD partners with St. Louis Fed on balance sheet symposium
The Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis built on an already engaged and productive relationship this month when it co-sponsored a symposium with the Center for Household Financial Stability at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
The Tax-Man Giveth? Refunds, Savings, and Promoting Economic Security
February 25, 2014, Washington, DC