The Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg.

The Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg.

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<p>Kavulich</p>

Kavulich

<p>Browne</p>

Browne

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) this week reminded older adults facing a reduction in their Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that help with meals and other food assistance programs is available.

The changes come after federal action in December that impacts more than 1.9 million Pennsylvania SNAP recipients, many of whom are older adults.

That’s why in his first budget, Gov. Josh Shapiro is proposing a $16 million investment to increase the minimum SNAP benefit amount by 50%, with the understanding that every dollar counts when it comes to ensuring someone’s access to nutritious, healthy foods.

“A reduction in funds shouldn’t mean a reduction in access to good nutritional resources for our older adults,” said Acting Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. “No one should have to choose between paying for medication, rent or mortgage, and food. We want older Pennsylvanians to know that the Department of Aging and our aging network are here to assist them in getting the healthy foods necessary to age in place for as long as they are able. Our Senior Community Centers provide great nutritious meals, and if an older adult is uncomfortable being in a congregate setting, there are grab-and-go meal options for them to take home and eat.”

The Commonwealth’s 485 Senior Community Centers provide nutritious lunchtime meals in a congregate setting to older adults. Many centers offer grab-and-go meals and will continue this service as the reduction in SNAP benefits begins. The 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) can also connect older adults to meal resources at the local level, including in-home meal delivery.

Since the pandemic started in 2020, SNAP recipients have been receiving an additional payment in the second half of the month known as an Emergency Allotment (EA). The EA ended at the end of February; and starting March 1, SNAP recipients are now only receiving their one regular payment.

PDA also wants older adults to know of the additional food assistance programs that are available.

Call 211 or visit www.211pa.org to connect with various local food resources or to locate a local AAA.

Visit the Department of Agriculture’s website to learn more about nutritional programs for older adults.

Rep. Meuser participates in hearing

aimed at curbing the fentanyl crisis

As a member of the Financial Services Committee, U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, participated in the Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institution’s hearing entitled “Follow the Money: The CCP’s Business Model Fueling the Fentanyl Crisis.”

The purpose of the hearing was to gain insight as to how the United States can successfully combat the illicit financing methods China is using to fuel the fentanyl crisis.

Fentanyl is a medical-grade synthetic opioid that is more than 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. Experts agree that fentanyl is exacerbating the opioid epidemic, and there is a bipartisan consensus that it is one of the greatest threats facing the health and well-being of American citizens.

Meuser said the situation is so dire, in part, because one gram of fentanyl, the size of a packet of sugar, has the power to kill 500 people. In fact, 70% of all overdose deaths in the United States last year were fentanyl-related, and tragically, opioid overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 45.

Meuser said China remains the primary source of fentanyl in global circulation and, through a network of cartels, distributes it across the world. In 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized 14.7 thousand pounds of fentanyl at the border, enough to kill more than three billion people.

In 2019, when the United States began to crack down on fentanyl imported from China, Meuser said criminal organizations from China moved their operations to Mexico to smuggle the drug across the southern border. Meuser called Mexico a “narco-state” and expressed the need to secure the southern border.

Meuser cited a quote from the Schuylkill County Coroner, Dr. David Moylan, who stated, “Fentanyl is devastating our whole community.”

According to the county, roughly 100 people a year die from fentanyl despite a population of only 140,000. Further, Pennsylvania has suffered and experienced a total of 5,168 deaths from overdose in 2021.

During the hearing, members from both parties expressed frustration with the lack of progress being made by federal law enforcement to stem the flow of fentanyl into the country. Meuser asked each member of the panel what they would do if they were the Secretary of Homeland Security charged with stopping fentanyl from entering the country.

A consensus of hearing witnesses was that the Department of Homeland Security is not taking the fentanyl crisis seriously. According to Meuser, the subcommittee will be looking for creative ways of assisting law enforcement agencies to focus more on fentanyl.

Pa. announces new military themed

license plates are now available

The Shapiro Administration this week announced new military themed license plates will be available throughout the Commonwealth.

Recently passed legislation allows the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to now offer Pennsylvanians’ license plates honoring military members and their families. Two of these new plates — the Air Medal license plate and the Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans license plate — recognize veterans’ special contributions during their service.

“These plates are yet another opportunity to show our appreciation for the sacrifices of our military members and families,” said PennDOT Acting Secretary Mike Carroll. “As always, we are proud to recognize our military community and their accomplishments.”

Both are available for passenger cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds for a fee of $23.

“When our service members deploy they sacrifice greatly, and so too do their families,” said Brig. Gen. (PA-Ret) Maureen Weigl, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs. “These special plates will be seen throughout the Commonwealth, reminding citizens that we owe a debt of gratitude to all who served to defend our freedom.”

More information, including eligibility requirements and images of license plates, is available on the License plates page on PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website.

Pa.’s Child & Dependent

Care Tax Credit available

With less than a month to go before the deadline for filing personal income tax returns, the Department of Revenue is reminding Pennsylvanians that there is a new state tax credit available that can help ease child and dependent care costs for working families.

Eligible Pennsylvanians can claim the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit when they file their Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40). This credit can range between $180 and $630, depending on your income level and the number of your dependents.

“We estimate there are more than 220,000 families in Pennsylvania that can benefit from this credit when they file their state tax returns,” said Acting Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne. “Research has shown that the expansion of a similar tax credit on the federal level significantly reduced childhood poverty, addressed food insecurity, and helped many families secure their finances.”

This tax credit program was established to help working individuals and families pay for child and dependent care services necessary for them to maintain their jobs or seek employment. That, in turn, allows them to provide for their families and contribute to the economic growth of the Commonwealth.

The Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit that is available to Pennsylvanians is based on the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. That means that taxpayers must receive the federal credit to also be eligible for the state credit in Pennsylvania. The state credit is equal to 30 percent of the federal credit, meaning it will be:

• $180 (one child) or $360 (two or more children) for households earning above $43,000; or

• $315 (one child) or $630 (two or more children) for households earning less than $43,000.

In order to claim the credit on your PA Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40), you must have incurred care expenses for:

• A dependent child under age 13.

• A spouse who was physically or mentally incapable of self-care and lived with you for more than half the year.

• An individual who was physically or mentally incapable of self-care, lived with you for more than half the year, and either was your dependent, or could have been your dependent, except that he or she received gross income of $4,400 or more, filed a joint return, or could have been claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return.

This credit is refundable, meaning qualified taxpayers will not owe any state taxes on the amount they receive.

The deadline to file 2022 personal income tax returns is Tuesday, April 18. For more information on PA taxes, including free forms and instructions, visit revenue.pa.gov.

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.