The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) lifts more people out of poverty than any single benefits program. This is something single mom Nerissa Aquino knows first hand. During tax season last year, Nerissa, a divorced mom with one child, noticed Nashville Wealth Building Alliance's (NWBA) sign for free tax service on her daily commute to work. So she stopped in and learned that she was eligible to receive free tax preparation assistance.

The free service helped Nerissa save hundreds of dollars in tax preparation fees, as well as discover that she also qualified for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a federal tax credit program that, according to the Brookings Institute, lifts more children out of poverty than any single benefits program.

Nerissa explains, "The tax credit came as a surprise to me, and I felt an overwhelming sense of relief." She used the extra money wisely by paying off her credit card and closing the account, and invested the rest of the tax credit in a savings account. Nerissa says the experience has helped her better manage how she spends her money.