Child Tax Payments Webinar

July 6, 2022


 
View this email in your browser
Dear Neighbor,
 
I hope you and your families had a safe Fourth of July. I spent some time reflecting on the day itself and wanted to share those thoughts, especially in light of the horrible tragedy in Highland Park.
 
The Fourth of July is about the promise of freedom as much as it is about promises fulfilled for some, but not for all.
 
Many people I’ve spoken with over the last few weeks, some of whom feel a pinch at their own freedom for perhaps the first time, expressed a variety of thoughts and feelings about the Fourth of July this year. And, as Daniel Bell wrote, “One can be a critic of one’s country, without being an enemy of its promise.”
 
I reflected on those promises because if we cling to the belief that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” then those ideas stand in conflict with the freedoms currently at risk.
 
Thomas Jefferson, an owner of enslaved people, wrote the words above and he also said, “"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
 
This Fourth of July, I hope we are committed to the progress that keeps us from being seen as barbarous ancestors to a future generation as we rise up to protect freedom for all.
 
You'll find a variety of updates below including over 50 suits donated at my veterans' event from last week.
 
Wishing you a good week,

Eleni
 
Veterans' Suit Drive Last Thursday
I had a great time at Beanz & Co. Café last Thursday with our local, amazing VFW Veterans. We collected over 50 gently used suits for Save A Suit. These suits will help our veterans transition to the workforce and create stable employment.

I was pleased to share with the vets the bill I championed to improve the municipal property tax for veterans by expanding eligibility so that it applies to all veterans regardless of wartime service and is available to any veteran making $50,100 or less.
 
Child Tax Rebate Info Session
Tomorrow, July 7, the Department of Revenue Services will host a webinar to discuss the 2022 Connecticut Child Tax Payment. If you would like to learn more about the payments, we passed in this year's budget adjustment, I encourage you to participate.

The webinar is expected to last approximately 30 minutes and will be presented in English at 10AM, followed by a presentation in Spanish at 11AM.
 
To participate in this live event, please click the buttons below. No pre-registration is required.
10 a.m. | 2022 CT Child Tax Rebate Webinar | ENGLISH
11 a.m. | 2022 CT Child Tax Rebate Webinar | SPANISH
If you have a child born before January 1, 2022 and are a single parent who earned less than $100,000 or a two-parent household who earned less than $200,000 during the 2021 tax year, you are eligible for a child tax payment of $250 per child, up to three children. BUT YOU MUST APPLY BY JULY 31.
Apply for Child Tax Payment
 
Covered CT Expands Benefits, Eligibility
As of July 1, 2022, adults without children who meet eligibility requirements can now enroll in the Covered CT program. Launched in July 2021, this program provides health insurance at no cost to more than 800 parents and caretaker relatives in Connecticut. Covered CT pays premiums as well as other cost-sharing amounts like deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance, and maximum out-of-pocket expenses. The program has also been expanded to offer dental coverage and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) benefits. 

To qualify, Connecticut residents must have a household income up to and including 175% of the federal poverty level and not qualify for HUSKY Health/Medicaid because of income; be eligible for financial help, including advance premium tax credit and cost-sharing reductions; and use 100% of the financial help available to them. They must also be enrolled in a silver-level health insurance plan. 
 

Household size

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Ineligible for HUSKY/Medicaid and have a household income up to and including 175% of the federal poverty level

$22,540

$30,485

$38,430

$46,374

$54,320

$62,265

$70,210

$78,155

Residents can receive free online help by visiting AccessHealthCT.com.

For free in-person help, interested persons can work with a certified broker or enrollment specialist in their community. To find a certified broker or enrollment specialist, click here.

Residents can also contact the call center at 1-855-805-4325, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those who are deaf or hearing impaired can use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator. 
 
Gas Tax Suspension Extended to November 30
I want to highlight that this session, Connecticut lawmakers passed legislation to extend our state's gas tax holiday through November 30, 2022. We voted to suspend Connecticut's 25-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline to provide some additional relief at the pump for Connecticut consumers. 

In addition, we also extended free public bus service across the state through November 30. Consumers are being affected by historic inflation and surging gas prices, making everyday tasks like bringing the kids to school, driving to work, and picking up groceries more expensive. These measures take steps to relieve some of that financial burden. 
 
Free CT Summer Meals Program Continues in 2022
The federal Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 was recently signed into law, strengthening child nutrition programs. The law allows students who are eligible for reduced-priced meals to receive free meals and increases federal reimbursement for school lunch and breakfast. It also extends the 2022 Summer Meals waivers, helping to keep kids fed while school's out for the summer break.

There are Summer Meals sites across our community. Families can use End Hunger CT's Free Summer Meals Map to find the closest site to them. There are over 200 open Summer Meals sites available and more locations are being added. Free summer meals are available to all kids and teens 18 years and under from June to August. 

Families can also call 2-1-1 or text the word "FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 304-304 to find a Summer Meals site. 
 
COVID-19 Vaccines Approved for Children 6 Months and Up
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for use in children ages 6 months and older. Parents are now able to make appointments for their children to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination is a key way to protect children from severe COVID-19 illness. Vaccination is recommended even for children who have had COVID-19. According to CDC data, more than 2 million cases of COVID-19 have occurred in children 4 years old and younger since the pandemic started in 2020. 

Parents have several options to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19:

For additional information about COVID-19 vaccines for children 5 years and under, please click here.
 
Sincerely,

Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative
Website
Website
Email
Email
Facebook
Facebook

Forward to a friend | Unsubscribe from this list | Update subscription preferences