September 24, 2019
McKeesport – Sept. 24, 2019 – Sen. Jim Brewster (D- Allegheny/Westmoreland) will host a Senior Wellness and Safety Expo in McKeesport this Thursday, Sept. 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McKeesport Palisades, 100 Fifth Avenue.
“Hosting this event is an excellent opportunity to provide valuable information to our seniors,” Brewster said. “It is also an opportunity to provide them with beneficial health services and screenings.”
Brewster said that there will be health screenings for hearing, vision, blood pressure, bone density, carbon monoxide and blood glucose. He said that seniors will also have the opportunity to receive a flu shot for free with no proof of insurance required.
Rep. Austin Davis (D- Allegheny) is partnering with Brewster for this event.
“I look forward to seeing many of our senior citizens come out for this fun and informative event,” Brewster said.
June 11, 2018
Harrisburg, June 11, 2018 – Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said the property tax and rent rebate program has extended its application deadline to December 31, 2018.
The program assists seniors and individuals with disabilities reduce their property tax and rent bills. Depending on income, seniors may be eligible for rebates of up to $650.
“The extension will give seniors and individuals who may be eligible to receive assistance through the property tax and rent rebate program more time to apply for help,” Brewster said. “Extending the deadline to the end of the year gives residents the opportunity to gather information and complete applications.”
The original deadline for the program was June 30.
Brewster reminds residents who qualify for the program that it is free to apply and his district office is equipped to assist those looking to fill out an application.
“I encourage any individual who thinks they may be eligible for property tax and rent rebates to visit with my staff at any of my district offices or during satellite office hours,” Brewster said. “My staff is very experienced at completing the applications and will be able to answer any question about the program.”
Eligible residents for the program are Pennsylvanians age 65 and older, widows and widowers age 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.
Nearly 600,000 seniors and disabled individuals received assistance through the program in 2017.
Since the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program’s inception through the Department of Revenue in 1971, more than $6.7 billion in property tax and rent relief has been granted to older and disabled adults in Pennsylvania.
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July 29, 2015
McKeesport – July 29, 2015 – On the heels of the announcement that Port Authority Transit bus routes are being added for Baldwin Borough, state Sen. Jim Brewster today announced that he will hold special satellite office hours at the Baldwin Borough Building to help senior citizens obtain bus passes.
“We worked hard to restore bus service to Baldwin, and this is a significant victory for the community,” Brewster said. “It will provide residents greater access and transportation options throughout our region.”
“My staff and I are eager to help seniors get their bus passes so they are ready to utilize the expanded bus service.”
A member of the Port Authority Board of Directors, Brewster advocated for the route extension. The senator credited local leaders, residents, the Port Authority and bus drivers for getting the “44 Knoxville” route extended into the borough, beginning September 8.
The bus route will operate every half hour from 5:30 a.m. till midnight. Brewster said the route will start at Churchview Garden apartments and run down Churchview Ave, to Spencer, Custer, and Agnew, across Becks Run road to St Clair, through Knoxville and Beltzhoover and into town via Warrington Ave and the transit tunnel.
To help seniors get their bus passes, Brewster and staff will be at the Baldwin Borough Building on Friday, August 14 from 9 a.m. to noon; and on Friday, August 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is necessary, but seniors will need to bring ID with them.
The senator added that residents who cannot make it on one of those dates can call or stop by his permanent offices or go to his website at www.senatorbrewster.com. The contact information, phone numbers and email for the offices are available on his website.
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Contact: Tim Joyce
Phone: 412 380-2242
Email: tjoyce@pasenate.com
June 4, 2014
Harrisburg, June 4, 2014 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) is encouraging seniors to take advantage of a program that provides free vouchers to purchase fresh produce grown in Pennsylvania.
“This is an excellent program for both seniors and Pennsylvania farmers because the vouchers will help provide healthy foods to older Pennsylvanians,” Brewster said.
The 2014 Senior Farmers’ Market Nutritional Program provides eligible individuals four $5 checks to use at any participating Farmers’ Market to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. Checks are available at a number of Westmoreland and Allegheny County locations throughout the summer.
The distribution date for Allegheny County is Tuesday, June 17. Contact the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging for the list of check distribution sites and times. The distribution dates and times for Westmoreland County vary by site. Contact the Westmoreland County Area Agency on Aging for the list of check distribution dates, times, and sites.
Participants must provide proof of age and residency to sign up for checks. Acceptable proofs of age include: PACE card, driver’s license, AAA card, baptismal certificate or birth certificate. Checks are distributed on a first come, first served basis, no exceptions.
The program is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and applies to Pennsylvania produce such as apples, beans, berries, carrots, grapes, melons, spinach and tomatoes. The checks can be used until Nov. 30.
To qualify for the program, a participant must be age 60 or older by December 31, 2014, and make less than $21,590 per year for a one person household; or $29,101 a year for a two person household. Married couples may each receive one set of checks. Older adults living in a nursing home, convent, or residential facility that provides meals on a regular basis are not eligible to receive checks. Participants may only receive checks from one sign up location per year.
If an eligible senior requires a proxy to receive their checks, the proxy is responsible for signing for and spending the checks for the individual. Proxy forms are available at participating senior centers, on the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) website, on the Westmoreland County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) website or the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture website.
“The program helps senior citizens and I urge all who are qualified to participate,” Brewster said.
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June 18, 2013
Harrisburg, June 18, 2013 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) encouraged seniors to take advantage of a program that provides free vouchers to purchase fresh produce grown in Pennsylvania.
The 2013 Senior Farmers’ Market Nutritional Program provides eligible individuals four $5 checks to use at any participating Farmers’ Market to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. Checks are available at a number of Westmoreland County locations throughout the summer.
“I support this effort to provide vouchers for healthy foods to older Pennsylvanians,” Brewster said. “This is an excellent program for both seniors and farmers in our state.”
The program is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and applies to Pennsylvanian produce such as apples, beans, berries, carrots, grapes, melons, spinach and tomatoes. The checks can be used from June 1, 2013 until Nov. 30, 2013.
To qualify for the program, a participant must be age 60 or older and a resident of Westmoreland County making less than $21,257 a year for a single person or $28,694 a year for a married couple. Residents of personal care homes, domiciliary care homes and convents are not eligible. Participants may only receive checks from one sign up location per year.
Participants must provide proof of age and residency when signing up for checks. Acceptable proofs of age include: PACE card, driver’s license, AAA card, baptismal certificate or birth certificate.
Homebound individuals may have someone apply for them with the required documentation of age and residency, as well as a completed proxy form. The proxy form will be available at the sign-up sites.
“The program helps senior citizens purchase nutritional, locally grown food that might not have been available to them otherwise,” Brewster said. “I urge all eligible seniors to participate.”
For a list of participating markets in Westmoreland County, visit the Farmers’ Market Locator.
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