Services

Applications will begin to be accepted on August 2nd. As of the printing of
this newsletter, the guidelines are incomplete and will be updated in upcoming
newsletters. At this time, there are some very basic things that must be provided
when you apply. They are:

*Social Security numbers for all household members.
*Birth date for all household members.
*A current active utility bill. The bill must be the listed household members name
that is age 18 or older. The bill must be complete, which means both top and
bottom of the bill must be intact before you make payment to the utility
company. (Usually, the bottom portion of the bill is removed and sent along with
your payment to the utility company.
*Current income documentation for every household member: Last four
consecutive week’s pay stubs (1 pay stub if paid monthly, 2 pay stubs if paid biweekly or 4 pay stubs if paid weekly) and/or Workman’s Compensation benefits
for the four weeks prior to your appointment date; showing gross income, tips,
commissions, and bonuses.
*Currently monthly Social Security, SSI, and/or Veteran’s benefit income
*Pension or Annuity check stub(s), or a letter from the payer on their letterhead
stating the gross amount.
*All bank interest statements and dividend payments for the past month (if more
than $10.00 per month.)
*Unemployment statements from the website www.ctdol.state.ct.us or
unemployment history printout (Within 24 hours prior to the appointment)
showing the last four consecutive weeks.
*Income from alimony and/or child support from Child Support Enforcement
(letter or printout), a bank statement if payment goes directly into a bank
statement.
*Rental income. Current documentation verifying the amount of rent you collect
from your tenant(s).
*Self-employment…..Must fill out the Self-Employment Worksheet, have it
notarized and bring your most recent tax return with all schedules attached.
*DSS cash advance award letter-showing the current income for the household.
*A signed statement indicating the amount and frequency of payments from
friends and relatives who are contributing toward your household’s support that
includes the name, address, and telephone number of the contributing person.

If you are interested in applying for the program, you have several options.
I will be accepting applications, by appointment, at the Preston Town Hall and
Preston Elderly Housing. Phone 860-887-5581 ext. 6 leaving your name,
telephone number and reason for the call. Or, you can contact the TVCCA Office
directly and schedule an appointment by calling 860-425-6681. They are located
at 401 West Thames Street, Unit 201, Norwich, Ct.

The Town of Preston participates with 11 other towns in collaboration with
Eastern Connecticut Transportation Consortium and the CT Department of
Transportation to offer transportation services for medical appointments to
individuals age 60 and over and disabled adults. (This is a grant funded service
and there is no guarantee that funding will be available for the entire year).

To qualify, the program is open to individuals who reside in the Town of
Preston and have completed a registration form. (Individuals who are eligible for
free transportation through Medicaid are asked to use that program instead.)
Currently thirty-six one-way rides for the period of July 2, 2021 – June 30,
2022 can be provided for medical appointments in New London County as long as
funds are available.

Reservations must be made no later than 48 hours in advance but can be
scheduled up to 2 weeks ahead. Trips can be scheduled during normal business
hours. Requests for weekend and Monday trips must be made no later than
Friday by 2 p.m. Personal Care Attendants (or family member acting as an escort)
may accompany passengers who need extra help with entering and exiting the
vehicle or have other needs that make traveling independently unsafe.

In order to protect the health of others, passengers must be free from
acute illnesses such as flu, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and infections such as
pneumonia. You may be asked to wear some sort of face covering by your
transportation provider (unless it is medically contraindicated).
For additional information on the Medical Transportation Program, please
contact the Senior Affairs Office at 860-887-5581 ext. 6.

UniteCT is an emergency rental assistance for Connecticut’s
economy. Have you been financially impacted by COVID-19? Are you
struggling to pay your rent and utilities? Apply for UniteCT, a rental
assistance program supporting CT residents who earn up to 80% of the HUD
Area Median Income and their landlords. You may qualify for the
opportunity to receive…..Missed electric outstanding payments, Missed
rent or future rent payments. To learn more and see if you qualify, visit:
www.bit.ly/UniteCT or for additional information, call 1-844-864-8328.

July 2021- Reminder

As a reminder for individuals applying for the Renter’s Rebate and Totally Disabled Program, the income limits for unmarried individuals are $37,600.00 and $45,800.00 for a married couple. You need to provide proof of income for 2020 including but not limited to Social Security benefits, interest, wages, etc. Information regarding additional documentation essential for the completion of your application may be directed to the Senior Affairs Office. To schedule an appointment, please telephone the Senior Affairs Office at 860-887-5581 extension 6. Application deadline is October 1st.

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The Renter’s Rebate Program includes the following requirements for participation:
1. The claimant must have resided in Connecticut for a one-year period of time prior to filling an application.
2. Claimant, or spouse, if domiciled together, must have been 65 years of age by the end of the calendar year preceding the filing period; or be 50 years of age or older and the surviving spouse of a  renter, who at the time of his/her death, had qualified and was entitled to tax relief. Persons under 65 years of age who are receiving Social Security or disability benefits deemed comparable by the Secretary of OPM are also eligible (applications filed under the disability provision must be accompanied by current proof of disability.
3. Qualifying income is considered wages, bonuses, commissions, gratuities and fees; self-employment net income; gross Social Security benefits, Federal Supplemental Security income, dividends, interest, annuities; IRA distributions, Black Lung payments; Green Thumb payments; interest resulting from gifts received; Lottery winnings; net rental income, pensions, Railroad Retirement; severance pay, Unemployment Compensation, Workers Compensation, Alimony, etc.
4. The qualifying income guidelines for the calendar year 2020 must not exceed $45,800.00 for a married couple and $37, 600.00 for unmarried individuals.
5. The applicant must provide proof of rent and utilities payments during the 2020 calendar year.
Individuals interested in making application for the Renters Rebate of Elderly and Totally Disabled Programs are requested to contact the Senior Affairs Office at 860-887-5581 ext. 6. The  application filing period is April 1st through October 1st.

The COVID-19 restrictions continue to remain in place. Possibly in the near future, face-to-face appointments will again be offered. Until there is an official lifting of those restrictions, I ask that  those individuals interested in applying for the Renters Rebate program contact the office, make arrangement to drop off your documents in the Blue Drop Box in the front of the Preston Town Hall, 389 Route 2 (include your name and telephone number on the items) and I will contact you by phone to finalize your application.

This year, the ECTC (Eastern Connecticut Transportation Consortium) medical transportation program has undergone some important changes. We will no longer be assessing a membership fee for the year and the one-way trips have increased to 24 per year, per person. Individuals who are not already registered for the program must register. Please contact the Senior Affairs Office at 860-887-5581 ext. 6 for additional information. For those individuals utilizing only the Caregiver Mileage Reimbursement mileage portion of the program, it remains unchanged.

The Caregiver Mileage Reimbursement and Medical Transportation program is for adults 60+ and persons with disabilities who are unable to drive and need transportation to a medical  appointment that is occurring outside of the hours or area that the town funded transportation services operate. This service is funded through a state grant. Rides and reimbursements are contingent upon the availability of grant funds. When funds run out, the provision of rides will be stopped until such time as funds become available again.