If you're struggling to make ends meet... you wouldn't give Uncle Sam... anywhere from $500 on up to $4,700.

But that's what some folks are doing.

In fact, last year $9 million in tax credits went unclaimed in El Paso County... and half a million bucks in Teller County.

Helga Rodgers just learned about the credit. She came to Silver Key where an AARP volunteer helped her file her income taxes. She learned she's getting an extra chunk of money.

Rodgers says, "I think it's good, but I've never heard of it. I don't know nothing about that."

The earned income tax credit works like a refund. It's a credit for those who worked and earned a low to moderate income. To qualify a family couldn't have made more than $40,000 last year and singles must have earned less than $13,000.

Those who think they qualify can simply call 2-1-1... the United Way hotline for more information, and free tax help is available in several locations throughout the state.

Plus, it's not too late to claim that credit from a few years ago:

Anne Beer, the Community Information Systems Manager for United Way, says people who qualified in previous years and didn't get it can do back taxes for up to three years and could get additional money.

Families who qualified for three years, but never took the credit could get back more than $14,000... while singles could see close to $1,300.

So it's definitely worth checking out.