Dear Neighbor,

I will host my second Plains Township office open house this coming Monday, Nov. 24. The open house will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be located at 1325 N. River St., Suite 106 at the Tuft-Tex Complex.

You are invited to attend for light refreshments and to come meet with me and my staff to learn about all the state programs and services that may be available for you.

I hope to see you there.

I have urged the PA Public Utility Commission to hold a public hearing in the Wilkes-Barre area regarding PPL Electric Utilities’ latest request to raise electric rates.

It is critical for residents, families and small businesses to have the opportunity to share how another rate increase would affect them – especially as many continue to face rising costs for necessities.

When families are already stretched thin, another rate hike could be devastating. People in our community deserve the chance to speak directly to the commission about how these increases affect their household budgets and local businesses. Holding a public hearing right here in the Wilkes-Barre area would ensure their voices are heard.

The latest PPL rate increase request – if approved – would raise monthly bills for customers across its service territory. The PUC’s job is to balance the needs of utility companies with the interests of consumers. That can only happen if the public is given a fair chance to speak. I strongly urged the commission to schedule a hearing in the Wilkes-Barre region so our community’s concerns can be included in the official record.

If you are interested in learning more about the rate request, you can click here.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to receive funding toward your college expenses. The application deadline is Friday, Jan. 23.

Am I eligible?

• I attended a Head Start/Early Head Start program.*
• I am a graduating high school senior (Class of 2026).
• I plan to pursue post-secondary education.

*This includes students who attended Pre-K Counts (LCHS program ONLY). Students in local school districts served by LCHS, who attended Head Start/Early Head Start in other locations, are also eligible.

How do I apply?

Visit lcheadstart.org/alumni-scholarship-program, fill out the application and email it to lchsscholarship@hsweb.org. Please make sure all parts of the application are attached.

You can also mail it to:

Luzerne County Head Start

Attn: Brooke Williams

23 Beekman St.

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702

Questions?

Call 570-829-6231 ext. 356 or email brookew@hsweb.org. Please note that if you're undecided on a school, you may still apply for the scholarship and provide this information at a later date.

You still have time to apply for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. Thanks to PA House Democrats – more Pennsylvanians are eligible for the program.

You may be eligible for a PTRR rebate of up to $1,000 if you:

• Were 65 or older as of Dec. 31, 2024
• Were age 50+ and a widow or widower during all or part of 2024
• Were age 18+ and were permanently disabled during all or part of 2024
• During 2024, had a total annual household income of $46,520 or less

The deadline for applying is Dec. 31 – so make sure you apply today!

As the new school semester approaches, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is offering financial assistance to eligible children of veterans through the Educational Gratuity Program. The program helps children of honorably discharged wartime veterans with service-connected total and permanent disabilities, as well as children of veterans who died in service, with tuition, books, and other educational expenses.

Eligible applicants (ages 16-23, Pennsylvania residents for 5+ years, attending a PA school, and demonstrating financial need) can receive up to $4,000 per child. Funds can be applied to colleges, trade schools, or apprenticeships throughout the state.

To apply, contact your County Director of Veterans Affairs. More information, including eligibility and required documents, is available on the DMVA Educational Gratuity Program page.

Last Thursday, the PA Department of Human Services started issuing full November SNAP payments following the end of the federal government shutdown, which ended Wednesday. The department expected all benefits to reach recipients by the end of last week, so if you missed a payment in early November, now is the time to check your account.

You can check your EBT card balance with the ConnectEBT app or website.

DHS also strongly encourages SNAP recipients to use ConnectEBT to keep their card locked when the card isn’t in use to protect their benefits from skimming or theft.

Hopefully, it will soon be second nature for us to inspect mail, email, and phone calls promising an easy financial windfall for signs of a scam. The primary step to take when you suspect a message is a scam is to go to the supposed source and verify the information yourself.

The latest scam targeting veterans’ benefits is more sophisticated than many other tactics. It involves a direct-mail postcard claiming to offer eligible veterans an additional $160 per month through something called the “PA Veteran Savings Program 2025.”  This fake program does not actually exist. The postcard appears official at first glance, using formal language and referencing real programs such as CHAMPVA and TRICARE for Life. It urges you to call within five days to “help manage call volume,” a tactic often used to pressure older folks into responding quickly.

What to do if you’re targeted?

If you or your veteran family member are solicited by a suspected scammer, please contact the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) at 800-547-2838. Accredited Veteran Service Officers are available at no cost to provide guidance, confirm legitimacy, and help protect veterans from scams that threaten their financial well-being.

To commemorate America’s 250th anniversary and honor Pennsylvania’s strong commitment to education, America250PA will award $250,000 in scholarships to deserving Pennsylvania students attending in-state colleges next school year.

Any Pennsylvania high school senior planning to attend a college or university in Pennsylvania for the 2026-27 academic year is eligible to apply. Twenty-five scholarships of $10,000 each will be awarded.

Applications are due Jan. 31, 2026. More details, including matching opportunities from partner institutions, can be found here.

Let us continue to work together to build a stronger and safer America by searching for the TRUTH and finding the FACTS to guide our words, and our actions. Please, STAY STRONG and SAFE! Our democracy needs us to come together for the good of all.

Sincerely,

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski

121st Legislative District