December 2006 What you Need to Know About Utilities It is that time of year again for super high utility bills and shut-offs by those aggressive utility companies. But it is important to remember that customers have rights!! There are a number of things you should know. Sources of help: LIHEAP Cash Grant - usually one grant each year, minimum grant $100. Maximum grant varies according to income and household composition. Crisis Grant - additional grants to address home heating emergencies such as no heat in the home or danger of being without a source of heat, shut-off or about to be terminated or heating system breakdown. Must have received Cash grant first. Maximum amount $300. Has to be processed within 48 hours; 24 hours if life threatening. You can make multiple applications until max. is used up and you can use it for a different utility than what you used the cash grant for. DPW Utility termination program - if there is additional money available from LIHEAP in February, DPW will honor shut-off notices in April. Crisis/Weatherization Interface - for heating system related emergencies; you will be referred to a Weatherization Provider, repairs are made within 48 hours. There is no maximum amount, whatever the cost of repairs. For more information call 412-562-0330 for Cash Grant, 1-800-851-3838 for Crisis Grant or you can call the statewide hotline @ 1-866-857-7095. You can apply at the Welfare Office or on online at www.compass.state.pa.us. Dollar Energy Program Maximum grant amount is $500. Only one grant per year. Applicants must apply for LIHEAP and Crisis first. From December 2, 2006 to January 31, 2007 grants will only be available for applicants whose services are off; and from February 1, 2007 through February 28, 2007 grants for services that are off or at risk of being shut off. As of March 1, 2007 the grant program will be open to all eligible applicants regardless of service status. For more information on how to apply, call your utility company. Other things to remember: Your utilities can not be shut off between the months of December 1 and March 31 if you are at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines . Utility companies are required to give you a 10-day notice before termination and attempt to contact you three days before termination. Keep in mind that shut-off notices are valid for 60 days, so if you are sent a shut-off notice on February 1st, on April 1st your utilities can be shut off. So it is important to try your best to do the following: Pay your bill (at least some of it) Enroll in an Energy Assistance Program to get a payment plan you can afford. Follow through with your payment arrangements, and if you can’t , call the utility company and discuss it with them. If you think your rights have been violated, call the PUC at 1-800-782-1110 or the Office of Consumer Advocate @ 1-800-684-6560. SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: The Public Utility Company can make one payment arrangement with you to avoid termination of utilities. The Food Stamp Program is a federal food nutrition program out of the Department of Agriculture. Contrary to popular belief, it is not welfare although it is administered by DPW. DPW Returns to “Work First” Approach DPW is still working to meet the Federal mandate of having 50% of their TANF caseload participating in a work activity. They are up to about 48%. They have been coming up with ways to accomplish this. One of these is the Work Support Component (WSC). WSC is a diversion program job search/placement program (keeps applicants off the TANF program for up to 4 months, but gives them cash assistance and special allowances). Applicants are given cash assistance, immediately referred to WSC and have to report for orientation anywhere between 1 to 7 days (first available opening). If the applicant does not show up for orientation, an advance notice to terminate benefits is immediately sent out. The applicant has 10 days show up or contact his/her caseworker, otherwise benefits are terminated. Since the implementation of WSC about 2,600 people have enrolled but about 1/3 of them have been no-shows. At a meeting in December with Secretary Estelle Richman, we told her that it is unreasonable to require consumers to report to this program in 1 to 7 days, for a number of reasons. One reason being that it is almost impossible to reach a caseworker to let him/her know that you need to reschedule, so it is only reasonable for DPW to allow more time for consumers to make the necessary arrangements. Remember that good cause to not comply and exemptions still exist, so if there is some reason why you cannot start right away, you need to tell the caseworker ASAP. For instance, if you are having problems with getting childcare, if domestic violence is involved in any way, or if there is a mental/medical condition that prevents you from participating tell your caseworker. If you or anyone that you know has experienced problems with this new program, contact Rochelle at Just Harvest. Education & Training is still an option! If you are interested in obtaining training, talk to your caseworker about the KEYS program. New Statewide Call-In Change Center! DPW’s statewide Call-in Change Center is up and running! Instead of calling your caseworker and leaving a message that is never returned, you can now call this Change Center. The Change Center should be a quick and easy way to report changes to your caseworker. You can do things like: Make updates or changes to your case Check the status of an application Request forms and documents Leave message for your caseworker to call you Receive general benefit information The Change Center phone number is 1-877-395-8930 and you can get a live person on the phone between the hours of 7:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday thru Friday. You can also report changes online at www.compass.state.pa.us by becoming a “MY COMPASS” account user Replacement EBT cards now issued by mail. As a part of a new contract that DPW has with J.P. Morgan (they make the EBT cards), EBT cards will now be issued centrally (by mail from their office). Initial EBT cards will usually still be issued at the welfare office, but replacements for lost, stolen or damaged cards will be issued by the mail and will take anywhere from 3 to 7 days to receive. If there is an emergency and the card needs replaced right away, it can still be issued at the welfare office. You will be able to select your pin by calling J.P. Morgan’s Customer Service Line at 1-888-328-7366, just stay on the line until you are able to report a lost or stolen card. Remember that a face-to-face interview with your caseworker for new applications or for recertifications can be waived! You can request to do a phone interview if it is a hardship for you to go into the office. Remember, if you are having problems communicating with your caseworker, call the County Communications Department @ 412-565-2146. Health Insurance For All Kids!! In October 2006 the PA General Legislature enacted an initiative of Governor Rendell’s - “Cover All Kids” - to ensure that all children in Pennsylvania have access to affordable health insurance. The goal for “Cover All Kids” is to insure an additional 67,400 children over the next 5 years. Beginning in early 2007, “Cover All Kids” will expand CHIP coverage to children in families with incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL)($60,000 for a family of 4). “Cover All Kids” will also allow families with incomes higher than 300% of the federal poverty level to purchase CHIP coverage for their children if they meet certain criteria. Family monthly premium requirements will range from $37.50 for a family of four with income above 200% but no greater than 250% of FPL to $150 for a family of four above 300% of the FPL. Enrollment for this new program is scheduled to begin on March 1st. Applications made and denied from October 2006 to March will re-considered for eligibility, they won’t have to re-apply. Families denied prior to October 2006 are encouraged to re-apply. To inquire about an application or apply for CHIP you can call 1-8-000-986-KIDS and an enrollment specialist will answer your questions or take your application over the phone and file it electronically. You can also have an application mailed to you or complete an application online at www.compass.state.pa.us. Benefits Closed? You May Not Have To Do A New Application Prior to April of 2006 when a cash assistance or Medical Assistance application was denied or a case was closed, a new application was required regardless of how much time had elapsed. Now, in most cases, a new application is not necessary if re-application is done within 60 days. A new application for cash assistance or Medicaid is not required when an individual or family re-applies for benefits within 60 days of the date of a denied application. For all programs, a new application is not required if the consumer meets all the conditions for re-determination of eligibility (such as providing information or verification) within 60 days of discontinuance. When a case is closed, a new application is not required if the individual or family re-applies within 60 days from the date of closing. A face-to-face interview may be waived in each of these circumstances at the caseworkers discretion. Did you know that you can complete various applications for social services, including welfare benefits, online and sign with an e-signature (electronic signature)? If you choose this option, you will not be required to submit a signed Signature Page to the welfare office. Time to do your taxes!! Tax season is just around the corner and Just Harvest will be providing free tax assistance again this year. We will do simple federal, state and local tax returns for low-income workers free of charge. This year the for-profit tax companies are offering even earlier tax refunds by estimating your refund with your final pay stub. Don’t be fooled! They charge a lot of money to get YOUR money just a few weeks earlier. This and most quick refund “deals” charge very high interest rates and fees. When you file electronically at Just Harvest or with any other tax preparer, the IRS can direct deposit your refund into your bank account in 8-14 days. If you don’t have a bank account or want a paper check, the IRS will have your check in the mail in 3-4 weeks. This tax season, keep all of your refund! You could buy a dishwasher or new school clothes and shoes for your kids with the money you save! Call Just Harvest at 412-431-8964 for an appointment as soon as you receive all of your w-2s. We will have day, evening and Saturday appointments available to fit within your work schedule. Free tax assistance! for low-income working people at Just Harvest, 16 Terminal Way, South Side January 22 – April 15th Call to schedule an appointment, 412-431-8964 - No Walk-ins! Just Harvest Education Fund thanks these generous supporters of our Welfare Justice Project: The City of Pittsburgh Community Development Block Grant Program The Allegheny County Department of Economic Development Community Development Block Grant Program The Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Domestic Hunger Program …and many individual contributors!