Free ACA Enrollment Event
There is still time to get health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. The deadline to enroll is Saturday. This is why State Rep. Mark Rozzi and I are hosting a free Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment event from 10 a.m. to noon at the Muhlenberg Township Building at 210 George Street this Wednesday.
During the two-hour session, you’ll have access to expert help signing up for ACA coverage only. You’ll need documentation to verify your annual income (a W-2 or pay stub) and a driver’s license or other government-issued photo ID.
We’ll also have representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Lebanon VA Medical Center to assist veterans in enrolling in VA health care and to provide other information related to VA benefits. Veterans seeking to enroll in VA health care at the event should bring a copy of their DD214, their 2017 tax return and a list of their medical expenses. Veterans with eligibility questions prior to the event can call Lebanon VA Medical Center enrollment specialists at 717-228-6000.
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Extended to December 31
 I’m always surprised when I meet someone who hasn’t heard of Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. It’s a rebate program that benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 or older; widows and widowers who are 50 or older; and disabled adults. There’s still time to apply for this benefit if you haven’t already. Applications are typically due in June, but the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has extended the deadline to December 31 of this year.
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery, and, since its inception, older and disabled adults have received more than $6.1 billion in property tax and rent relief.
The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded. Spouses, personal representatives or estates may also file rebate claims on behalf of claimants who lived at least one day in 2017 and meet all other eligibility criteria.
The following are the eligibility requirements and maximum rebate amounts for homeowners:
- If your income is $0 to $8,000, your maximum rebate is $650.
- If your income is $8,001 to $15,000, your maximum rebate is $500.
- If your income is $15,001 to $18,000, your maximum rebate is $300.
- If your income is $18,001 to $35,000, your maximum rebate is $250.
You should also know that property tax rebates are increased by an additional 50 percent for senior households, so long as those households have incomes under $30,000 and pay more than 15 percent of income in property taxes.
At maximum, qualifying renters with incomes between $0 and $8,000 receive $650 rebates and those with incomes between $8,001 and $15,000 receive $500 rebates.
Property Tax/Rent Rebate application forms and assistance are available at no cost from Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and state legislators’ offices, including mine. To check the status of your Property Tax/Rent Rebate, call 1-888-222-9190 or visit https://www.doreservices.state.pa.us/PITServices/WheresMy/Rebate. You’ll need your Social Security Number, the claim year and your date of birth.
Being Social
It’s a privilege to be your state senator, so it is important to me to be in touch with you.
I really like face-to-face meetings but understand that in this busy world, sometimes that isn’t possible. Feel free to call my office to ask questions or make suggestions. Also, you may connect with me through my pages on Facebook and Twitter. Please follow me for regular updates and comments about what’s happening in the district and in Harrisburg. |
