TVCCA IS NOW OFFERING FROZEN GRAB-N-GO CAFÉ MEALS
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP ON MONDAYS
PLEASE CALL YOUR SENIOR CENTER TO REGISTER AND PICK UP A MONTHLY MENU.
(MEALS CONSIST OF 5 FROZEN MEALS, 1 QUART OF 1% MILK, WHOLE WHEAT BREAD, BUTTER AND FRUIT CUPS)
Suggested donation of $3.00 per meal
GRISWOLD SENIOR CENTER: (860) 376-2604
The application filing period for the Elderly and totally Disabled Tax Relief Program is from February 1 thru May 15, 2021.
Please be aware that the IRS has issued specific guidance about the 2020 stimulus payments and have stated that these payments are not categorized as income, therefore, any economic stimulus payments received during calendar year 2020 WILL NOT count as income for these tax relief programs.
Qualifying income guidelines for the Elderly and Totally Disabled Tax Relief Program are $37,600 for unmarried individuals and $45,800.00 for married persons.
If you are currently participating in the Homeowner Program and need to reapply, you will receive notice from the Preston Assessor’s Office advising you of that requirement.
Proof of all sources of income including but not limited to Social Security, pensions, interest statements, employment, etc. are required. If you filed Income Tax, a copy of the signed and dated document is necessary to provide as well. It is extremely important that you provide all necessary documentation for the application to be completed.
Due to the COVIC-19 pandemic, the application process will change this year. I will be asking you to drop-off your paperwork in the blue Drop Box located at the front entrance to the Preston Town Hall. I will review your information and contact you by telephone to complete your application. I will arrange a time that is mutually acceptable to have you return to the Preston Town Hall to sign the application(s). At which time, I will return any/all original documents which you have provided.
Please call the office at 860-887-5581 ext. 6 informing me that you dropped off your information at the Town Hall. (if leaving a phone message, please include your name and telephone number. The application process does not begin until February 1st.
Regrettably, the Preston Senior Center will not host the AARP Tax
Assistance Program during this tax season. The COVID-19 pandemic is the
primary reason. BUT existing clients will be encouraged to contact the Rose City Senior Center, 8 Mahan Drive, Norwich to receive assistance with their income tax preparation. NO NEW CLIENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Beginning during January, you are encouraged to contact the Rose City Senior Center at 860-889-5960 to schedule an appointment.
For those individuals who are existing clients only:
New to the process is that you will have to go to the Rose City Senior
Center at least 48 hours prior to your appointment to pick-up a booklet to be completed. (This is the same type of information that you would routinely complete at our center). You will need to complete the paperwork and include it with your income tax information. (Do not place your information in a plastic bag as the virus can live longer in that environment). It is suggested that you place your documents in a secure location within your locked vehicle trunk until the time of your appointment.
Drive-thru service will remain the same as last year. You drive up, staff will
take your paperwork out of the trunk of your car, they work on it and give you a call on your cell phone when they have questions or when your income tax is completed. Appointments will be available on Tuesday and Thursday only.
You will also need a cell phone available so that you can be contacted when
the AARP tax preparer completes your document.
Property Tax Credit (Circuit Breaker) Program is available to all CT real property owners who are age 65 or older or totally disabled. Annual income cannot exceed $37,600 for an individual or $45,800 for a couple in 2020. Discounts are based on a graduated income scale and are calculated by your town’s Tax Assessors Office. Discount is applied directly to the applicant’s real property tax bill.
Norwich Residents: To apply for the Property Tax Credit Program, complete an application at the Norwich Tax Assessor’s Office located in Norwich City Hall. Call with questions (860) 823-3723.
Applications are accepted between February 1 and May 15, 2021.
Norwich Tax Assessor
100 Broadway
Norwich, CT 06360
Veterans with established Connecticut residency may be eligible for other credits also.
Residents of other towns: Call or visit your town’s Tax Assessor’s Office for more information.
Join us for our annual Active Living Expo Wednesday, May 12th 10 am to 1 pm. This event is open to all- great for yourself, caretakers and family members to check out!
As always we will have agencies and vendors covering varying topics for you such as Health, Insurance, Homecare, State programs, Nutrition, Legal issues, Volunteer opportunities, Technical Support, Outreach, Trips/Travel and much more!
This year it will look a little different as we are following COVID guidelines. The event is scheduled to take place outside, in the rink next to the center. This will allow for proper social distancing. We ask that all attendees wear a mask. This is open to the public and FREE.
Drop off Location: Norwich Public Works – 50 Clinton Ave.
Saturday, June 19th 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Southeastern Connecticut Regional Resource Recovery Authority (SCRRRA) will be at Norwich Public Works in June to collect household hazardous waste and offer confidential paper shredding.
Items that will be collected include: latex & oil paint, stains & varnish, paint thinner, oven cleaner, kerosene, old gasoline, light bulbs, home batteries, insecticides, fungicides, pool chemicals and more!
For a complete list of acceptable items that will be collected visit: www.SCRRRA.org
To check your eligibility and find ways to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccination,
please visit www.ct.gov/covidvaccine
**If you do not have access to a computer, see below for ways to sign up by phone**
Please be aware that due to limited COVID-19 vaccines available to the state, it may take some time for appointments to become available in order for you to sign up and receive the vaccine.
For Vaccine Appointment Scheduling options visit:
https://covidvaccinefinder.ct.gov
On this State of Connecticut website, you will find options on how to sign up with different providers offering the vaccine. Ways to sign up include either online or by phone, with online sign up being the best option at this point. You may want to check appointment availability with different providers and at different locations as vaccine availability will vary from one to another on any given day.
1) ONLINE – Schedule through the online Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS). VAMS is an online scheduling portal that allows individuals with an email address to create an account and search for a vaccine clinic near them.
Providers that can be accessed through the VAMS scheduling system include: Local Health Departments (including Uncas Health District) and Health Centers (including UCFS and Generations).
VAMS: https://dphsubmissions.ct.gov/OnlineVaccine
2) ONLINE – Schedule directly with a participating provider. This includes scheduling and receiving your vaccine through one of the following providers:
Hartford Healthcare (including Foxwoods Clinics):
www.hartfordhealthcare.org/health-wellness/covid-vaccine
Yale New Haven Hospital (including Mohegan Sun clinics): https://covidvaccine.ynhh.org
Walgreens: www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19
Walmart: www.walmart.com/covidvaccine
CVS Pharmacy: www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine
Stop & Shop Pharmacy: www.stopandshop.com/pages/ss-pharmacy
Big Y: www.bigy.com/vaccine-eligibility-check-ct
3) PHONE – If you do not have access to a computer or have trouble signing up online, you can schedule your vaccine appointment on the phone. Wait times may vary when you call.
Hartford Healthcare (including Foxwoods Clinics) 1-833-943-5721
Yale New Haven Hospital (including New London and Mohegan Sun clinics) 1-833-275-9644
CT COVID Vaccine Appointment Assist Line 1-877-918-2224 Daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
A Health Promotion Program for Adults 60+
What is Fall Talk?
It is one-on-one program conducted in a no contact COVID-19 safe way to help you become aware of best practices and practical interventions to prevents falls. This program meets the Administration of Community Living’s highest level criteria for evidence-based health promotion programs.
A personalized approach that helps you discover your own “fall threats”. This increased awareness translates into successful fall prevention in real life situations and MOST IMPORTANTLY has successfully prevented falls!
This program is supported by the Senior Resources-Agency on Aging with Title III funds made available under the Older Americans Act.
Program is at NO COST
Stay Independent and Active
Contact us Today
Connie Capacchione, Program Coordinator, Uncas Health District, 860-823-1189 Ext: 122, c-capacchione@uncashd.org
Visit us on the web: www.uncashd.org
Here’s how to recognize and protect yourself from these costly cons
Frauds aimed at older adults are becoming more creative.
Scammers stay on top of whatever is new, such as the
popularity of Zoom, COVID-19 vaccines and online
shopping, and then move fast to create ploys that best fit
the moment.
COVID-19 vaccination card scams
Many who got a COVID vaccine posted selfies on social
media showing off their vaccination card. Scammers
immediately pounced.
The scheme: With your full name, birth date and
information about where you received your shot, scammers
have valuable data for identity theft, breaking into your bank
accounts, getting credit cards in your name and more.
How to avoid: If you want to inform friends and family that
you got your shots, a selfie with a generic vaccine sticker
will suffice. “Or use a Got My Vaccine profile picture frame
on social media,” Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody
suggests. And review your social media security settings to
choose who can see your posts.
Phony online shopping websites
Phony retail websites aren’t new, but they look more real
today than ever before. Fake sites are using photos from
real online retailers and mimicking their look and feel.
The scheme: You click on an ad online or on social media,
see stuff you like at a great price, enter your credit card info
… and never receive a product. Or you receive a lower quality item shipped directly from an overseas seller.
How to avoid: Never click on an ad to go to a retailer’s
website. Instead, bookmark the URLs of trusted shopping
websites you visit frequently and use those, suggests Tyler
Moore, professor of cybersecurity at the University of Tulsa.
Don’t bother with trying to figure out whether the web
address is real. Attackers adapt and change them
frequently.
If you’re considering buying from a new site, first check
online reviews as well as the company’s track record via the
Better Business Bureau’s online directory (bbb.org).
Medicare card scams
Scammers are emailing, calling and even knocking on
doors, claiming to be from Medicare and offering all sorts of
pandemic-related services if you “verify” your Medicare ID
number.
The scheme: The offers include new cards they claim
contain microchips. Some posers are asking for payment to
move beneficiaries up in line for the COVID-19 vaccine.
How to avoid: Hang up the phone, shut the door, and
delete the email. According to the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, Medicare will never contact you without
permission for your Medicare number or other personal
information. And it will never call to sell you anything. Guard
your Medicare number and never pay for a COVID vaccine.
It’s free.
Social Security scam calls
Scammers are using “spoofed” phone numbers that look
like they’re coming from Washington, D.C., to appear
credible.
The scheme: You get a scary phone call saying your Social
Security number was used in a crime — and you’ll be
arrested soon if you don’t send money to fix it. They may
say your number was used to rent a car where drugs were
found and that the Drug Enforcement Agency is on their
way to your house. The caller may refer you to a local law enforcement website where you can see the person’s
picture. You think you’ve checked it out, call them back and
send money.
How to avoid: Don’t pick up the phone unless you
absolutely know who’s calling. If it’s important, they’ll leave
a voicemail.
Account takeover scam texts
Scammers are sending fake text messages alleging
there’s big trouble with your internet account, a credit
card, and bank account or shopping order on Amazon.
They want you to click on links and provide personal
info.
The scheme: The urgent-sounding text message may
have a real-looking logo. People don’t expect
scammers to use text messages, so they’re more
likely to click.
How to avoid: Remember, don’t click on links in
emails and texts that you haven’t asked for. Call your
bank or credit card company to check for a problem.
Installing security software on your computer and
keeping it updated is also crucial, says cybersecurity
expert Brian Payne, of Old Dominion University in
Norfolk, Virginia.
AARP’s Fraud Watch Network can help you spot
and avoid scams. Sign up for free Watchdog
Alerts, review our scam-tracking map, or call our
toll-free fraud helpline at 877-908-3360 if you or a
loved one suspect you’ve been a victim
Senior or disabled low-income renters may be eligible for a partial rebate of rent and utility bills, excluding telephone and cable. The filing period is April 1 through October 1. Applications are available at the Assessor’s Office.
For more information and to apply contact our Assessor’s office at 860-376-5115
