E-news Updates - February 10, 2023

In this Update:

PA and Federal Income Tax Forms
Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grants Awarded
Help Available to Boost Security at Nonprofits and Religious Institutions
Extra SNAP Payments Set to End
Happy 100th Birthday to Dorothy Yelenchi

PA and Federal Income Tax Forms

Tax-filing season has opened, and we have free state and federal tax forms available in our office. Our office is located at 370 East Maple Avenue (Suite 203) in Langhorne. You may stop by at anytime between the hours of 9am and 4:30pm.

The state Department of Revenue also wants to remind taxpayers of the free online option to file their Pennsylvania personal income tax returns: mypath.pa.gov.

There is also a free online option to file your Pennsylvania personal income tax returns: mypath.pa.gov.

Taxpayers do not need to create a username or password to perform many functions in myPATH. That includes filing the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40), making a payment, responding to department requests for information and checking the status of a refund.

The deadline to submit 2022 personal income tax returns is April 18. Personal income tax assistance is also available through the department’s Online Customer Service Center and by calling 717-787-8201 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Taxpayers may also visit a Department of Revenue district office for state personal income tax filing assistance.

Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grants Awarded

Acting Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner, Thomas Cook, announced last week the approval of grant awards totaling more than $31 million to 2,336 applicants who sought funding for the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program (FCEMSGP).

The Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program (FCEMSGP) is administered by the Office of State Fire Commissioner (OSFC) and makes an annual grant program available for volunteer and career fire companies, emergency medical services and rescue squads.

Through legislation, I was instrumental in reauthorizing this grant program as well expanding it to better meet the needs of our local volunteer and career fire companies.

Over $350,000 was awarded to EMS and Fire Companies in the 6th Senate district. A list of those grant awardees can be found here.

Eligible projects in accordance with the 2022-23 FCEMSGP include facility upgrades, equipment, debt reduction, training and certification, education and public outreach, and recruitment and retention efforts. Additionally, fire companies were permitted to apply for constructions savings accounts for the purposes of new facility construction.
All fire companies, emergency medical service, and volunteer rescue squads are eligible to apply for this annual grant program.

Help Available to Boost Security at Nonprofits and Religious Institutions

Applications are being accepted for state Nonprofit Security Grants for nonprofit organizations and religious institutions.

Administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the program provides grants to nonprofit organizations that principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics publication.

Grant awards can range from $5,000 to $150,000 for a wide variety of eligible items, including:
• Safety and security planning and training.
• Purchase of safety and security equipment and technology.
• Upgrades to existing structures that enhance safety and security.
• Vulnerability and threat assessments.

The application period closes March 2.

Extra SNAP Payments Set to End

During the COVID-19 emergency, the federal government allowed states to issue additional SNAP food assistance payments that increased the maximum available for households by at least $95 each month.

These extra payments will be ending after February and SNAP recipients will only receive one regular SNAP payment starting in March.

If you or someone you know needs help, there are food assistance programs available in your community. Visit the Department of Human Services or Department of Agriculture for information on food assistance programs and where to find local resources. Additionally, if recipients currently have extra funds on their cards, they will still be available. SNAP benefits only expire if cards are not used for nine months.

To ensure households are receiving the maximum SNAP benefit based on their individual circumstances, Pennsylvanians are encouraged to report changes to their household size, income or expenses online at dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS via the myCOMPASS PA mobile app or by calling 877-395-8930.

Happy 100th Birthday to Dorothy Yelenchi

I want to wish Dorothy Yelenchi a very happy 100th birthday. I joined Dorothy’s family and friends for a celebration at Oxford Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center where I presented her a citation from the Senate of Pennsylvania.