PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAID

HARRISBURG, PAPERMIT NO. 432

R e p r e s e n t a t i v e J u l i e H a r h a r t S e n i o r U p d a t e S u m m e r 2 0 1 0

Annual Senior ExpoThursday, August 1910 a.m. to 2 p.m.Allen Township Fire Hall3530 Howertown RoadNorthampton, PA

Please mark your calendar for my annual Senior Expo to beheld at the Allen Township Fire Hall, 3530 Howertown Road inNorthampton.This event, which attracts hundreds of people eachyear, is set aside to provide a wealth of information aboutprograms and services available from local, state and federalgovernments.My staff and I always enjoy meeting with local seniors andtheir families during the expo, and I look forward to seeing all of you there! Services to be offered by the more than 70 providers in attendance at the Senior Expo include:• Collection of old glasses (no sunglasses), information on donation and transplantation(Northeast Pennsylvania Lion Eye Bank).• Free health insurance counseling.• Fall prevention for seniors and balance screening.• Consumer education regarding utility matters, support and assistance to those directlyaffected by crimes, domestic violence information.• Personal response emergency call services, hospital home care equipment.• Assistance in answering questions on ﬁling PA 1000.• Metro plus door-to-door services and riding LANTA buses.• Food stamps information.• Information on skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, short termrehabilitation and home health aides.• Near and far acuity and peripheral vision screening (Center for Vision Loss).• Free blood pressure screening.• Questions answered pertaining to shopping for electricity provider (PPL Electric Utilities).Directions to Allen Township Fire Hall: From Route 145, follow to Route 329 and go east intoNorthampton. Follow Route 329 through Northampton to the intersection at Weaversville andHowertown Roads (gas station is on your left). At the stop light, turn left onto Howertown Road. FireHall is about one mile on the right.

Deadline to Apply forProperty Tax/Rent RebateProgram Extended

The deadline to apply for the state’s PropertyTax/Rent Rebate program for 2009 has beenextended to Dec. 31, 2010.Eligible participants can receive a rebateof up to $650 based on their rent or propertytaxes paid in 2009. The program benefits eligiblePennsylvanians who are 65 years or older, widowsand widowers 50 years or older, and those 18 yearsor older with disabilities.Eligibility income limits for homeowners areset at the following levels, excluding 50 percent of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, andRailroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits:• $0 to $8,000, maximum $650 rebate(Homeowners and renters)• $8,001 to $15,000, maximum $500 rebate(Homeowners and renters)• $15,001 to $18,000, maximum $300 rebate(Homeowners only)• $18,001 to $35,000, maximum $250 rebate(Homeowners only)The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is oneof many initiatives supported by the PennsylvaniaLottery, which dedicates its proceeds to supportprograms for older Pennsylvanians. Since theprogram began in 1971, more than $4 billion hasbeen paid to qualified applicants.Residents are reminded to provide allthe necessary income, property tax or rentalinformation required to process claims quickly andaccurately.Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms areavailable by contacting my offices, or by visiting mywebsite at

JulieHarhart.com.

Insurance Department WebPage Can Be ExcellentResource for Senior Citizens

Older Pennsylvanians who have questionsabout insurance coverage can ﬁnd informationthrough the state Insurance Department’swebsite.Many senior citizens have contacted me withnumerous questions they have about health careplans, life insurance, Medicare, long-term careplans, auto coverage, and annuities, as well ashow to protect your identity in insurance matters. A web page within the Insurance Departmentis designed to help answer common questionsabout insurance coverage. The page can beaccessed by logging onto www.ins.state.pa.usand choosing “Services for Consumers” on theleft-hand navigation bar, then “Why You NeedInsurance” and then “Insurance by life stage:Older Pennsylvanians.” In addition to senior citizens, family membersand caregivers are encouraged to visit the siteas well. Speciﬁc links are designed with theirquestions in mind.Consumers who do not have Internet accessor who may want to talk with a representativeof the Insurance Department may also call thedepartment’s Bureau of Consumer Services’ Automated Hotline at (877) 881-6388.

Happy Birthday!

Rep. Harhartpresented AgnesKlutsarits witha citation fromthe PennsylvaniaHouse of Representativesin honor of her90th birthday onFeb. 6. Anna Groller was presented with a citation fromRep. Harhart in celebration of her 90th birthdayon Feb. 22.

Qualiﬁed Individuals are Eligible to Receive Free Eye Care

Pennsylvania’s seniors could qualify for medical eye care with no out-of-pocket cost.EyeCare America (ECA), a public service program founded by theFoundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 1985, providesfree medical eye care to seniors throughout the country.The mission of ECA is to reduce preventable blindness and serious visualimpairment by raising consciousness about eye disease and health careoptions. By distributing informational materials and serving as a resource forhigh-risk individuals, ECA has helped countless people get medical attentionfor diseases that cost the U.S. government upward of $4 billion annually. InPennsylvania alone, ECA has helped more than 27,820 people.Eye Care America offers multiple eye care programs for which individualsmay qualify. Those who call will be asked several questions in order todecide which program best suits their individual needs. Some seniors, thosewho have not seen an ophthalmologist in three years or longer, are eligibleto receive a referral for an ofﬁce visit at no cost to them.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, diabetic retinopathyand glaucoma are all treatable conditions in their early stages, yet remainleading causes of disabilities. AMD is the leading cause of legal blindness in people 65 years or older inthe United States and affects more than 10 million Americans, according to the National Eye Institute.For more information, call 1-800-222-EYES (1-800-222-3937) or visit

eyecareamerica.org

. Thehelpline operates 24 hours a day, every day, year round.

Millions in Lottery Proceeds Beneﬁt Local Seniors

Senior citizens in Northampton and Lehigh counties benefited from more than $142 million inproceeds from the Pennsylvania Lottery during the 2008-09 fiscal year.The proceeds fund the Area Agencies on Aging, local senior centers, the PACE and PACENETprescription drug assistance programs, shared and free rides, and the Property Tax/Rent Rebateinitiative.The lottery is self-sustaining and does not use taxpayer’s dollars. It assists eligible seniors to moreeasily afford their medication, transportation, rent and property taxes.In 2008-09, proceeds totaling more than $78 million benefited senior citizens in Lehigh County andmore than $64 million benefited senior citizens in Northampton County and included funding for thefollowing programs:

In Lehigh County:

• $4.6 million for the county’s Area Agency on Aging and senior centers.• $6.3 million for PACE and PACENET.• $2.2 million for the Shared and Free Ride Program.• $7 million for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program.

In Northampton County:

• $3.7 million for the county’s Area Agency on Aging and senior centers.• $7.9 million for PACE and PACENET.• $2.2 million for the Shared and Free Ride Program.• $6.1 million for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program.The Pennsylvania Lottery is unique in that it remains the only lotteryin the nation that exclusively targets all of its proceeds to programsfor older residents. Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for PACE, PACENETor the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program should visit myWeb site or contact my ofﬁce.