RSVP to My Medicaid Town Hall!

Rep. Nikki Rivera October 21, 2025 | 10:24 AM

Dear Neighbor,

In this e-newsletter, I have shared with you information that I hope you find helpful:

Upcoming events: Medicaid Town Hall, PTRR Office Hour, Veterans Day Breakfast
In the Capitol
In the District
Are you ready to vote?
Seniors: Are you eligible for prescription assistance?
Are you still eligible for SNAP benefits?
SNAP Will Run Out of Money Soon
Every Child Deserves Access to Quality Healthcare
State Grant Program Funding Available
Community Resources
Student Opportunities!

Upcoming Events

Medicare Open Enrollment Events

PA Medi

Medicare’s open enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7. Medicare-eligible Pennsylvanians can take advantage of the Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight program (formerly APPRISE).

MEDI is a free program run by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging that helps older Pennsylvanians choose Medicare supplements based on their income and medical needs.

For more information, call MEDI at 1-800-783-7067 or visit its website: https://bit.ly/3kWtXSl.

Medicaid Town Hall October 28^th

My office and Rep. Izzy's office will be co-hosting a Medicaid Town Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the J.P. McCaskey High School Cafeteria, 1051 Lehigh Ave., Lancaster, 17602.

Join us to learn about changes to benefit programs, share your concerns, and brainstorm community solutions! Please RSVP by signing up at tinyurl.com/49-96-TownHall, calling our office at 717-295-3157 or emailing us at RepRivera@pahouse.net.

Property Tax/ Rent Rebate Office Hours at Lancaster Public Library Nov. 6^th

The December 31 deadline to apply for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for rent or property taxes paid in 2024 is approaching quickly. My office and Rep. Izzy’s office are co-hosting an office hour to help individuals complete their applications on Thursday, November 6, from 2:00–3:00 p.m. at the Lancaster Public Library, 151 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603.

If you are unsure of what documents may be needed or have questions about the PTRR application, please feel free to contact our office at: reprivera@pahouse.net or 717-295-3157.

Veterans Day Breakfast

My and Senator Malone’s offices are hosting a Veterans Day Breakfast on Monday, November 10 from 8:00-10:00 a.m. at Calvary Homes by TANDEM LIVING. We invite all veterans and active-duty military for this gathering in honor of their service. Attendees must pre-register at RepRivera@pahouse.net, 717-295-3157 or here The Veterans Breakfast RSVP as space is LIMITED.

In the Capitol

Getting older? Me, too!

I really enjoy serving on the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee and the House Human Services Committee.

Together with my committee members, I participated in the annual City & State’s PA Aging Summit, during which I took TONS OF NOTES about the great things happening in our state for our large aging population and the work yet to be done in order to connect families with resources that help their aging relatives continue to live at home for the duration of their golden years.

I’m eager to help constituents navigate the ever-changing needs of aging family members and support them.

Care for the patient and care for the caregivers (better pay and benefits!) pave the way for a robust at-home plan.

Contact my office with questions about community resources available for you and your family.

Congratulations to Gov. Josh Shapiro for earning the Pink Ribbon Award for 2025 for being a champion of women’s health. His FIRST piece of legislation as Governor was Act 1 of 2023, in which out-of-pocket costs for supplemental screenings like breast MRIs, ultrasounds, and BRCA-related genetic testing and counseling were eliminated

And, a shoutout to my fellow native Carlisle-ian and breast cancer survivor, Krista Hair, for earning the Pink Ribbon Award for 2025 and for her work with the annual Pink Out In The Park that she founded in Carlisle.

Are you over 40 and haven’t scheduled your yearly mammogram yet? Now’s the time! Early detection greatly improves treatment outcomes.

In the District

Over $1.4 million in tax credits for low-income housing

The Apartments at College Avenue in Lancaster has been awarded more than $1.4 million in low-income housing tax credits by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.

These tax credits will help provide more affordable housing in our community. Thanks to these credits, more working families, seniors and housing-insecure Pennsylvanians will have a home to call their own here in Lancaster.

Learn more: Rivera: Over $1.4 million in tax credits awarded for low-income housing

Are You Ready to Vote?

So much of your daily life is impacted by local government, so you want to make sure you vote on Election Day, Nov. 4, when you have a say on who will advocate for you on issues from local taxes, public safety, affordable housing, to land use.

Get the lowdown on municipal elections here: Municipal Elections 101: Township supervisors, borough and city council members are on Pa.’s November ballot | WPSU

Get information on mail-in and absentee ballots here: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/vote/voter-support/mail-in-and-absentee-ballot

Deadlines for mail-in and absentee ballots:

5:00 p.m. October 28: Your APPLICATION for a mail-in or absentee ballot must be received by your county election office.
8:00 p.m. November 4: Your county election office must RECEIVE your completed mail ballot by this time. A postmark by 8 p.m. Nov. 4 is not sufficient.

If you have any questions, please call 1.877.VOTESPA (1.877.868.3772).

Seniors: Are you eligible for prescription assistance?

PACE and PACENET are the state’s prescription programs that help cover the cost of medication for eligible residents age 65+. There are income limits, which are listed below.

For more information, click here. Or stop by my office and we can help you with eligibility questions or applications.

Are you still eligible for SNAP benefits?

I want to remind everyone receiving SNAP food benefits about recent changes the federal government has made to the program. Most adults must work 20 hours per week to remain eligible for SNAP. If you cannot prove that you meet this requirement, you are limited to receiving SNAP benefits for only three months within a three-year period.

There are exemptions in the law that allow some people to maintain their benefits, and PA’s Department of Human Services can help you navigate these changes. For more information, visit the DHS Website or call them at 800-692-7462.

SNAP Will Run Out of Money Soon

SNAP will run out of money at the end of October unless the Republican Congress and President Trump act to fund it. The Commonwealth cannot backfill these costs.

Despite the ongoing shutdown, SNAP recipients with unspent funds on their EBT cards will still be able to use these funds. SNAP benefits do not expire at the end of each month and are able to be spent for a calendar year. DHS strongly encourages SNAP recipients to keep their card locked with the ConnectEBT app or website to protect their benefits when the card is not in use.

DHS will continue to process applications for SNAP and other benefits during the shutdown. Recipients should continue to report case changes, submit any semi-annual reviews or renewals they receive during this period, and update their cases for the new federal work reporting requirements that start November 1 to not risk an interruption of their benefits in the future.

For immediate needs during the shutdown, Pennsylvanians can use PA Navigate pa-navigate.org/ to help find food and other resources. Local help is also available by calling 211 or visiting www.pa211.org. Pennsylvanians can also visit www.feedingpa.org to find local food banks and other food assistance programs.

Every Child Deserves Access to Quality Healthcare

The Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, is Pennsylvania’s program that provides health insurance for kids and teens who need it. But it’s not just for families with low incomes. Some parents might think their children can’t get CHIP coverage because they earn too much. That’s not true!

CHIP covers uninsured kids and teens up to age 19 who are not eligible for Medical Assistance. Apply today: chipcoverspakids.com.

State Grant Program Funding Available

The latest grant opportunities from the state have been released! My office is happy to connect you with government funding opportunities like these, so please reach out if you have any questions or need a letter of support.

Community Resources

Coats for Kids

The Salvation Army will be hosting its "Coats for Kids" program in partnership with WGAL. Please visit their Facebook page or scan the QR code on the flyer for registration and more information.

The Salvation Army will begin accepting in-person and online applications for their Christmas Assistance program starting in November. If you have any questions about this program, please contact the Salvation Army directly at 717-397-7565.

Registration for Toys for Tots is NOW OPEN!

Families who need a little extra help this holiday season can sign up today to receive toys for their children. Register early to secure your spot!

Please make sure you read the updated information about applying before you register.
Click here to register: https://lancaster-pa.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/local-toy-request-single-form.aspx or contact our office to sign up.

Help us spread the word by sharing this post so that every child has the chance to experience the joy of Christmas morning.

Our office is one of many Toys for Tots drop-off locations throughout Lancaster County. Toys can be dropped off at our office Monday–Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you’re looking for a location closer to you, please visit the following website Home - Toys for Tots for other locations.

Student Opportunities!

America250PA Semiquincentennial Scholarship Program

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 January 31, 2026. More details, including matching opportunities from partner institutions, can be found here.

National Civics Bee Applications Available!

The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce is proud to once again serve as a regional host for the National Civics Bee®, an initiative that encourages middle school students to explore the importance of civic engagement and deepen their understanding of how our government works. This competition offers a unique opportunity for students to become more active, informed members of their communities and potentially earn recognition and cash prizes, including $100,000 in a 529 education savings account—along the way.

The National Civics Bee® is open to all 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade students across Pennsylvania. To enter, students must submit a short essay responding to a civics-related prompt. The application portal is now open, and the deadline to submit is February 3, 2026. Participation is free.

Finalists from the Lancaster regional competition will advance to the 2026 Pennsylvania State Finals, with the opportunity to compete nationally in Washington, D.C.

Students ready to participate can submit their application here!

Interested in volunteering as an essay judge, supporting a student project, or giving as a corporate sponsor? Contact Kat DeSantis at kdesantis@lancasterchamber.com!