PALawHELP.org News

Bush Administration Launches "Hope for Homeowners" Program to Help More Struggling Families Keep Their Homes

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:35:00 EST

The HOPE for Homeowners program will refinance mortgages for borrowers who are having difficulty making their payments, but can afford a new loan insured by HUD's Federal Housing Administration.

Public Input Meetings Scheduled by Senior Care and Services Study Commission

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:02:00 EST

The Senior Care and Services Study Commission will be holding public meetings seeking input about current long-term care, services, and resources for Pennsylvanians 65 and older and as well as input about meeting the long-term care needs of older adults in the future.

The Senior Care and Services Study Commission was established pursuant to Pennsylvania Act 16 for the purpose of reviewing the current care and service options available for Pennsylvanians 65 years of age and older.

Additionally, the Commission has been tasked with projecting future needs for the various levels of senior care through the year 2025. This would include evaluating the ability of the current assessment and delivery systems to meet projected future needs.

Public Input Meetings will be held throughout the Commonwealth. Your feedback is needed regarding:

Current long-term care, services, and resources for Pennsylvanians 65 and older
Long-term care, services, and resources needed through 2025

Some questions that may facilitate discussion include:

What have you (or a loved one) experienced regarding current long-term care, services, and resources for older Pennsylvanians?
What long-term care, services, and resources do you think will be needed through 2025?

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Individuals, Service providers, Employers, Community leaders and Elected officials

WHY ATTEND?
Your comments could help shape the reports and recommendations made by the Senior Care and Services Study Commission.

LOCATION DATES and TIMES

STATE COLLEGE – WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15
The Oaks
Community Room
200 Rachael Drive
Pleasant Gap, PA 16823
9:00 am – 12 noon

MEADVILLE – THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16
Lew Davies Community Building
1034 Park Avenue
Meadville, PA 16335
9:00 am -12 noon

YOUNGWOOD – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21
Westmoreland County Community College
145 Pavilion Lane (Founders Hall)
Youngwood, PA 15697
9:00 am – 12:00 noon

PITTSBURGH – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21
Three Rivers Center for Independent Living
900 Rebecca Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15221
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

HARRISBURG – THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23
The Rutherford House
3300 Parkview Lane
Harrisburg, PA 17111
9:00 am -12 noon

PHILADELPHIA – WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29
The Center in the Park
5818 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
9:00 am -12 noon

NANTICOKE – WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5
Luzerne County Community College
Educational Conference Center
Building #10 – Auditorium
1333 S. Prospect Street
Nanticoke, PA 18634
9:00 am -12 noon

PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND A SESSION
The Commission recommends that all please register. If you would like to comment, please let us them know at least two days before the date of the meeting you are planning to attend –for scheduling purposes.

Please notify them by sending an email to RA-LTLCommission@state.pa.us or by phone at (717)705-3705.

Please provide the following information upon registration:

Name
Address
Telephone Number
The location, date and time of the session you are attending
A full copy of your comments, if available

There will also be time on the agenda for people to speak who did not pre-register. For those who cannot attend but still would like to comment the Commission will be accepting comments through November 14, 2008.

Please feel free to submit your comments via email at: RA-LTL-Commission@state.pa.us or via US mail at PO BOX 2675, Attn OLTL POLICY Harrisburg PA 17105.

It's not too late to get your check from the IRS! But time is running out!

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:13:00 EST

The deadline to file for your economic stimlus rebate is October 15, 2008. Click the title or go to www.icanefile.org for more information on how to file.

Social Security Commissioner Releases New Agency Strategic Plan

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:36:00 EST

Five-Year Plan identifies the challenges the agency faces and the steps needed over the next five years to meet those challenges.

Among the many challenges facing the agency are the unacceptable backlog of disability claims and the aging baby boomer population who will be filing retirement and disability claims at an ever-increasing rate. To address these and other challenges, the plan concentrates on four specific goals:

Eliminate the hearings backlog and prevent its recurrence.
Improve the speed and quality of the disability process.
Improve retiree and other core services.
Preserve the public’s trust in Social Security’s programs.

HHS Provides $121 Million in Energy Assistance

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:24:00 EST

The Department of Health and Human Services has announced the release of $121 million in energy assistance to help eligible low-income households meet home energy costs. Pennsylvania will receive $6,530,804 of the newly released funding.

Older and Wiser Seminar - Medical Assistance

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:44:00 EST

State Rep. Don Walko and Neighborhood Legal Services Association will be holding a free "Older and Wiser" seminar on medical assistance on Friday September 26, 2008 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The seminar will be held at St. Mary's, 329 45th St. in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh

For reservations, call 412-321-5523.

PUC Announces Special Public Hearing on Alternative Energy, Energy Conservation and Efficiency

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:05:00 EST

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has announced that it will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Nov. 13 at the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Harrisburg, to seek information on alternative energy resources, as well as energy conservation and efficiency, and demand side response tools and programs to assist consumers.