Filing an income tax return fills most people with dread.
For clients of Coast Mental Health, the process is often paralyzing 鈥� even though many of them are actually eligible for a rebate.
That鈥檚 where Michael Faithfull and his small team of Coast Mental Health peer support workers come to the rescue.
Last year, they filed a record 630 tax returns and this year is promising to be even busier.
鈥淲ith people who are anxious, I sit them down, calm them down and try to bring some humour into it,鈥� says Faithfull, who works out of a cramped and file-filled office at Coast鈥檚 Seymour Street resource centre.
Asked why many people on social assistance don鈥檛 file even though it can be to their advantage, he says it鈥檚 the added stress and anxiety that comes from dealing with paperwork and bureaucracy, as well as an unfounded fear they owe taxes.
The average income of his clients is $12,000 a year 鈥� up from $11,200. It was the first rate increase for people on disability since 2002.
They get an average of $100 quarterly and a one-time sales tax refund of $75. Even if they have an additional source of income, it鈥檚 often to their advantage to file.
Faithfull started doing taxes five years ago. He started with 10 returns in a building that houses 86 residents. Word got around of the service 鈥� and the rebate 鈥� and the number doubled the next year. It鈥檚 been steadily increasing ever since.
Faithfull expects even more clients this year, in part because of a loss of advocacy positions among other agencies. Many places have stopped offering the service.
鈥淲e鈥檙e the only place that says you can come any time in March or April and we鈥檒l file it on time,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a service that鈥檚 necessary and important. It鈥檚 missing [at other agencies], especially in the Downtown Eastside.鈥�
For those who haven鈥檛 filed for a few years, they have to wait until after the April 30 deadline crunch because their returns take more time.
This will Faithfull鈥檚 last year on tax duty, however. On March 7 he turned 64 and he鈥檒l soon be retiring as a peer support worker. But not to worry 鈥� he believes he has a replacement lined up.
Even though the next three months will be spent doing a job most people dread, Faithfull will miss his role.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to have the opportunity to provide the service knowing people are happy and relieved,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey say 鈥楾hank you, Michael, I got my rebate.鈥� That鈥檚 my reward.鈥�
