Johnston – North Providence Home Repair Program
A Community Development Block Grant Program funded by HUD is offering Deferred Payment Loans up to $14,000 at 0% interest rate to homeowners in the towns of North Providence and Johnston. These loans may be used for repairs on owner-occupied homes and the homeowner’s total family gross income must not exceed current HUD established moderate income limits. Loans do not need to be repaid until you sell or transfer title of your home, and there are no fees or closing costs. To learn about this program or to see if you qualify, please call 231-4166. Applications are available at the North Providence Town Hall; Salvatore Mancini Resource and Activity Center; Tri-Town Community Action Agency; Johnston Town Hall and the Johnston Senior Center.
*North Providence residents may also contact our Social Worker, Cheryl Sadler, at 231-0742 x104 for more information.
Hearing & Speech Services Adaptive Telephone Equipment Loan Program
The Adaptive Telephone Equipment Loan Program provides telephone equipment to qualified individuals who have hearing or speech impairments or who suffer from neuromuscular damage or a disease that inhibits their ability to use a standard telephone. Equipment includes such devices as amplified phones, a TTY phone, uniphone, dialogue voice carryover phone or Cap Tel captioning.
Phone: 421-7005
Address: Department of Human Services, Office of Rehabilitation Services
40 Fountain Street
Providence, RI 02903
Website: www.RIATELPROGRAM.org
PARI
PARI runs the Gift of Hearing Program which provides reduced cost hearing aids.
Phone: 725-1966
Address: 500 Prospect Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860
Website: www.pari/ilc.org
RI Commission on the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
The RI Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing provides information and referrals, administers sign language interpreter referral service and provides ADA consultation, outreach and training. They have a library that has videos, books and articles available for borrowing.
Phone: 222-1204 TTY 222-1205
Address: One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02908
Website: www.cdhh.ri.gov
If you have any questions you may contact the agencies listed, or telephone our Social Worker, Cheryl Sadler, at 231-0742 x 104 for assistance.
Income Tax Information for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
If you are a grandparent who is raising a grandchild in your home, you may be entitled to special tax deductions. For more information visit www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040. You should also speak with your tax preparer.
2012 Income Tax Preparation for Seniors Program Sponsored by AARP of Rhode Island
A representative from the AARP Tax Aide Program will be at SMRAC to assist senior tax filers with preparation and filing of Federal and State returns. All returns will be prepared by the specially trained volunteers and transmitted electronically. Electronic filing offers taxpayers, particularly those expecting refunds, the prospect of access to their refund in four weeks or less with direct deposit. If you are filing jointly, both individuals must be at the appointment. The service is free of charge and is available by appointment only. Contact the Receptionist to book an appointment. Appointments are made on a first-come, first-serve basis. All taxpayers requesting assistance should bring a copy of last year’s (2011) tax returns. Those who wish to file electronically must bring a voided blank check for correct routing and accounting numbers.
*NOTE: Non-members may make appointments after March 1, 2012.
Walk-in appointments are not available.
2011 Property Tax Relief Program
If you are a homeowner or a renter who lives in privately owned housing that is subject to property taxes, you may be eligible for a rebate from the State of Rhode Island Property Tax Relief Program. (Those who live in government owned housing are not eligible to apply; and those who live in subsidized housing usually do not qualify as their rents are low and eligibility for the rebate is based upon your income and rental expenses).
In order to determine if you are eligible for a rebate, you may obtain an application form 1040H from the RI Division of Taxation by phoning 574-8970 or at the Senior Center at the end of January. For those individuals who file income tax returns, you will receive the form in the mail with your tax forms or from your tax preparer. Claims may be filed from January 1st to April 15, 2011. For further information, please contact our Social Worker, Cheryl Sadler, at 231-0742.
Town of North Providence Variable Exemption on Property Taxes for 2012
If you own and occupy a house in the Town of North Providence; are 65 years of age or older or you are totally disabled; and the total income of all the people named on your deed is less than $15,000 a year, you may qualify for a variable exemption.
Anyone who is interested in more information about this exemption should go to the Tax Assessor’s office at Town Hall and they will screen you for eligibility. If you meet their eligibility requirements, you will be given an application to complete. All applicants will be asked to submit a signed and certified IRS Tax Return with their application. (Even if you are not required to file a tax return by the Federal Government, you will have to file in order to apply for this exemption).
If you have received an application from the Tax Assessor’s office and need assistance completing the form, you may telephone our Social Worker, Cheryl Sadler, to schedule an appointment with her. When you call for your appointment, the social worker will tell you all of the documents you will need to provide in order to complete the application.
Social Security
Low Income Subsidy (Extra Help)
for Medicare Part D
The Social Security Administration sponsors an “Extra Help” Program for low income beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare part D Plan for prescriptions. If you are single and your total gross income is less than $1,361.25 a month (or $1,838.75 if married) and your total resources (such as bank accounts, CD’s, IRA’s, stocks or bonds) are worth $12,640 or less ($25,260 or less if married), you may qualify for “Extra Help” paying your Medicare part D premium, deductibles and copayments. If you think that you may qualify, you should fill out an Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs. If you haven’t already applied, you may request an application from Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov.
North Providence residents may contact our social worker, Cheryl Sadler, at 231-0742 x104 for further information or assistance. Residents of other communities, may call the RI Department of Elderly Affairs at 462-3000 to locate an agency in your area.
Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program
(LIHEAP)
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now taking applications for the 2011/2012 heating season. Income eligible persons may qualify for a grant to help pay their heating bill. (If your heat is included in your rent, you may qualify for a grant to help with your electric bill.) The grant amount for each household is determined by the size of the household and specific income guidelines. The 2011/2012 annual income for a one-person household is $27,353.00 and for a two-person household it is $35,769.00. (Individuals who live in subsidized housing are not eligible for this program.)
If you received a grant from LIHEAP last year, you will receive an application in the mail. New applicants who live in North Providence and meet the income criteria, may call Tri-Town Community Action Agency at 519-1913 to request a form. If you need assistance completing the application, please call our Social Worker, Cheryl Sadler, at 231-0742 x 104 and she will schedule an appointment.
Residents of other communities may contact the RI Division of Elderly Affairs at 462-3000 for the LIHEAP agency in your area.
How Will The Changes to RIPAE
(RI Pharmacy Assistance to the Elderly) Affect You?
Due to Legislative changes in funding for the RIPAE program and the federal discounts of 50% off brand name drugs and 7% off generic drugs now being given to Medicare Part D recipients when they reach the coverage gap (“Donut Hole”);the RIPAE program will be implemented differently than before. For anyone who has a Part D plan with a deductible, or used RIPAE for a discount on medications not covered under their part D plan, you will still receive your qualifying RIPAE discount of 15%, 30% or 60%. Otherwise, when you reach the “Donut Hole” you will be required to complete an application and mail it to the Division of Elderly Affairs, along with a current printout of your prescriptions from the pharmacy and your most recent explanation of benefits from your Part D plan. The Division of Elderly Affairs will process these claims quarterly to determine if you qualify for any additional reimbursement on your prescriptions. Filing an application DOES NOT guarantee that you will be eligible to receive a reimbursement. If you have any questions regarding this process, or would like to file a reimbursement application when you reach the donut hole, please call our Social Worker, Cheryl Sadler at 231-0742 x104 for an appointment.
