Your AARP: Pennsylvania

November 2009

More than books — As financial woes send more Americans to libraries to take advantage of free or low-cost services, AARP is rewarding libraries that offer innovative programs for older adults.

Since 1993, AARP Pennsylvania has presented annual Library Services for Older Adults Awards. This year's kudos went to the Allegheny County Library Association for hosting a 10-week walking program for adults age 50 and older; the Milanof-Schock Library in Mount Joy for a program that matches high school senior computer science students with older adults seeking computer help; and the Schlow Centre Region Library for an event designed to help older residents in the State College area better understand how to stay independent and safe at home.

A recent Harris poll found two-thirds of Americans have a library card.

September 2009

Guard against fraud — Almost 32,000 home-improvement contractors have registered with the state Attorney General's Office, as required by a state law that took effect July 1. Problems with home-improvement contractors rank among the top five types of complaints the office receives.

AARP Pennsylvania pushed for years for a state contractor registry. The 2008 law requires a contract for any job costing more than $500, and contractors can be charged with a felony if fraudulent charges exceed $2,000. Tougher penalties apply if the homeowner is older than 60.

To find out whether a contractor is registered, go to www.attorneygeneral.gov/hicsearch or call 1-888-520-6680 toll-free.

July-August 2009

No free lunch — Enticing as they may sound, investment pitches that come with an offer of a free meal may end up costing consumers in the long run.

AARP Pennsylvania is working to boost the number of free-lunch seminar monitors, who help spot investment fraud in local communities statewide.

The free lunch offer is a popular pitch: Four out of five investors age 60 and older got at least one invitation to a free investment seminar in the past three years, and three out of five got six or more, according to a nationwide survey by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. FINRA and AARP advise people to review questionable offers with state security regulators and never make a final investment decision during a free seminar.

Learn about becoming a Free Lunch Seminar Monitor at www.aarp.org/nofreelunch.

June 2009

Sticker shock — With rate caps set to begin expiring in 2010, residential electricity rates could spike by an average of 25 percent, according to an estimate by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

AARP is urging lawmakers to prevent the huge increases that have hit other states. In Maryland, for example, deregulation in 2006 led to a 72 percent increase for customers of Baltimore Gas and Electric.

To raise awareness of the issue, AARP Pennsylvania sponsored five town hall meetings across the state in conjunction with the state Office of Consumer Advocate. AARP encourages members to call their legislators at 1-800-515-8134 to voice their concerns about steep electric rate hikes.

May 2009

Help with housing costs — An additional 420,000 Pennsylvanians can get rebates on property taxes or rent this year, because AARP and other advocacy groups lobbied successfully in 2006 to raise income limits for participants in the state's Property Tax/Rent Rebate program.

State residents age 65 and older, widows and widowers 50 and older and adults with disabilities are eligible for tax rebates of up to $975 if they meet the new income criteria. Annual household income may not exceed $35,000, although only half of Social Security income or railroad retirement benefits counts toward that limit.

Applications are due June 30. Information and claim forms (PA-1000) are available online at www.revenue.state.pa.us or by calling 1-888-222-9190 toll-free. They are also available at Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and state legislators' offices. For a special report on Pennsylvania, go to bulletin.aarp.org/PA.