Kaitlyn Shake

I hope you all had a fun and safe Fourth of July weekend celebrating America’s 250^th Birthday!

My end-of-session 2026 Capitol Update Mailer should be arriving in your mailbox soon! If you don’t receive one, please let my office know, and we will let you know where in town you can pick one up!

In this week's email, you can learn about an opportunity to receive supplemental benefits for SNAP recipients impacted by power outages during last week's storms, find information on a grant opportunity from the CT Office of Arts, read about a student resource guide from the Department of Labor, and more. 

Please reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or if my office can be of assistance to you. Call my office at any time at 860-240-8585 or email me at kaitlyn.shake@cga.ct.gov.

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) announced that SNAP recipients who experienced long-duration power outages caused by the severe storm that impacted Connecticut on the evening of Saturday, July 4, 2026, may be eligible to receive supplemental benefits to replace spoiled food that had already been purchased.
 

Federal regulations allow DSS to replace SNAP benefits when a household reports that food purchased with these benefits was destroyed due to events such as fires, floods, or power outages. In the event of power outages, households must have lost power for at least four hours.
 

To receive replacement benefits, SNAP recipients who experienced power outages lasting at least 4 hours must report their losses to DSS no later than Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
 

This report to DSS can be submitted by phone, by walk-in visit, or via the W-1225/W-1225S form. DSS requires a signed statement attesting to the household’s loss through the W-1225/W-1225S form.
 

DSS is also required to determine that the destruction occurred due to a power outage. This can be verified through a collateral contact outside the household, a letter from the utility company, documentation from a community agency (including, but not limited to, the fire department or the Red Cross, if they assisted the household), or a home visit.
 

Sweeping changes to the student loan system by the federal government will affect half a million Connecticut residents who carry student debt by narrowing their choices, raising monthly payments for many, and closing off affordable pathways to higher education.

Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE Plan are receiving notices to choose a new repayment plan within 90 days.
 
Anyone who does not choose will be automatically moved into the standard repayment plan, which could mean a sharply higher monthly bill. Two long-standing affordable options, Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE), will be phased out entirely by July 1, 2028.
 
And, the Grad PLUS program, which lets students borrow up to the full cost of attendance, is being eliminated. Graduate borrowing for unsubsidized loans is now capped at $20,500 per year and $100,000 over a lifetime. Students in certain professional fields have a higher cap.
 
Still, the practical effect for many will be a turn toward riskier private loans that carry fewer protections and are not available to everyone.
 
No borrower should navigate these changes alone. Connecticut is one of a limited number of states with a dedicated Student Loan Ombudsperson, Michelle Jarvis-Lettman, housed at the state Department of Banking and backed by independent statutory authority under state law.

The Ombudsperson’s office can receive and work to resolve complaints against student loan servicers, whether the loan is federal or private. It can help borrowers understand and choose among repayment options and answer questions about switching plans or consolidating.
 
The Office can also step in to address problems such as misapplied payments, incorrect interest calculations, servicer changes, and errors in payment history or credit reporting, and it can connect borrowers to educational resources and help them navigate the transition off SAVE and into a new plan.

Borrowers can call the Office at 860-240-8170 or 800-831-7225, and press option 2 or:

• Email: banking.complaints@ct.gov
• File a complaint online: portal.ct.gov/DOB/Consumer/Consumer-Complaints/Student-Loan-Servicer

Borrowers can also file complaints with the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or by phone at 855-411-2372.

The Connecticut Student Loan Reimbursement Program has opened a new grant round and is now accepting applications for student loan payments that were made during the 2025 calendar year.

Since launching its first grant round in January 2025, the program has awarded more than $2.2 million in reimbursements to borrowers statewide.

Eligible applicants can apply for reimbursement grants of up to $5,000 per year, with a maximum reimbursement of $20,000 over four years. Under the program, a new grant round launches each year, providing reimbursements for payments made during the preceding calendar year.

Eligible applicants may qualify if they:

• Are Connecticut residents and meet program residency requirements
• Made qualifying student loan payments during the 2025 calendar year
• Earned a degree from a Connecticut institution of higher education or completed a state-approved program required for professional licensure or certification
• Meet income limits of $125,000 for single filers or $175,000 for married filers
• Completed required community service or qualify for a hardship waiver in certain circumstances

Applications must be submitted online through the CT Scholars portal, where applicants need to complete an application and upload required documentation. Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis through December 2026 or until funds are exhausted.

Click here for application instructions. Questions regarding the program and the application process can be directed to OHE.SLRP@ct.gov.

Lake Success Open Detonation:

The open destruction of Munitions and Explosives of Concern found at Lake Success Business Park, the former Remington Park, in Bridgeport, is scheduled to begin July 6th and run through the end of the month. Residents in the area should be aware that there will be periods of loud noises. 

Bridge Deck Replacement on Route 15:

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will complete bridge deck replacements for various bridges, including on Route 15 in Stratford, as a follow-up to pavement preservation, which excluded bridges. The project ensures bridges remain in good repair.

MERRIT PARKWAY LANE CLOSURE/DETOUR INFO

Motorists can expect lane closures at the following locations:

• Route 15 North Exit 33 to Exit 38 in Milford, Stratford, and Trumbull, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Friday
• Route 15 South from Exit 33 to Exit 38 in Milford, Stratford, and Trumbull, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Friday

The project's estimated completion date is November 28th, 2026.

The barrier has reached the end of its useful life and needs replacement. The barrier is being replaced to conform to current standards, which are in accordance with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) MASH standards. The existing timber noise barriers have wood rot, broken or missing panels in many areas, as well as vegetative overgrowth.
 

Motorists can expect lane closures on I-95 northbound at Exits 32 and 33 in Stratford beginning Wednesday. Traffic control personnel and signing patterns will guide motorists through the work zone. Lane closure operations will generally be limited to off-peak and nighttime hours. No lane closures will be permitted during weekday morning and afternoon peak travel periods (6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.). During daytime hours, work will primarily consist of shoulder closures only. One lane closure may occur during late morning and evening hours. During the overnight hours, up to two lane closures are permitted, and rolling roadblocks.
 

The work schedule for this project is from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.