Active Programs for 06/18 Weekly Update
Rep. Napoleon Nelson January 10, 2025
Active Government Programs for You
If you would like more information on or assistance applying for any of these programs, please contact my office at (215) 572-5210 or RepNelson@pahouse.net, or you can stop by my district office at 115 E Glenside Ave Ste. 8, Glenside, PA 19038 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Now Open
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is now accepting applications. This program provides fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from approved farmers in Pennsylvania.
Eligible Montco seniors who are 60+ and meet the income eligibility guidelines can receive five vouchers of $5 each to purchase this locally sourced PA produce from participating farmers markets/farmers stands.
If you are interested in applying for this program, please reach out to my office at (215) 572-5210 or RepNelson@pahouse.net. You can also call Share Food Montco at (215) 223-2220 x138 or (610) 984-4074.
Grow PA Scholarship Grant
The Grow PA Scholarship Grant (Grow PA) Program can offer $5,000 to help fund your education. But this isn’t just a grant – it is an investment in our Commonwealth’s future.
To qualify, students must commit to working in a high-demand field here in PA after graduation. Check out the PA Higher Education Assistance Agency’s (PHEAA) website for more details on the program, determining eligibility, and how to apply.
Free High School Equivalency Exams Now Available to PA Residents
The PA Department of Education has announced $2 million in funding to cover the cost of high school equivalency exams for eligible residents. Pennsylvanians can now take the GED® or HiSET® tests free of charge at public testing sites or through online proctoring, while funds last.
Eliminating testing fees opens new educational and career pathways for residents. The Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma (CSSD), Pennsylvania’s high school equivalency credential, is available to people 18 and older who meet specific criteria.
To register, test takers must use the promo code PAFreeGED or PAFreeHiSET when signing up through the official GED® or HiSET® websites. The initiative aims to support over 650,000 PA adults without a high school diploma by reducing financial barriers and encouraging career advancement.
Learn more about this program here.
WIC Program
The PA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) has improved the nutrition and health of families in the Commonwealth by providing nutrition services, breastfeeding support, health care and social service referrals, and healthy foods.
WIC serves pregnant women, breastfeeding women (for up to one year postpartum), women up to six months postpartum (who are not breastfeeding), and infants and children under 5 years old (including foster children). Applicants eligible for WIC must also meet certain income guidelines and have a medical or nutritional risk.
To apply for WIC, call the toll-free hotline of 1-800-WIC-WINS or get started online. Please contact my office if you need any assistance.
2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebate
You can apply for rebates on property taxes and rent paid in 2024. The income limit has been increased to $46,520, and the maximum rebate is still $1000. For more information on eligibility and to apply online, go here.
My office has rebate booklets available for pick up. Stop by 115 E Glenside Ave Suite 8, Glenside, PA 19038 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to get yours. If you would like assistance applying, please contact us to schedule an appointment by calling (215) 572-5210 or by emailing RepNelson@pahouse.net.
Rebate applications are due by December 31, 2025.
Senior Food Box Program
If you are at least 60 years old and your income is at or below 150% of the U.S. poverty level, you may be eligible to receive monthly food supplemental food packages through the Senior Food Box Program. While these food packages are not intended to provide a complete diet, they are good sources of nutrients many lack; including protein, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, and D, and fiber.
If you are a senior and interested in this program, call the Department of Agriculture at 800-468-2433 or email them at RA-fooddist@pa.gov to be directed to the regional food bank serving your area.
PACE/PACENET
PA’s PACE & PACENET programs help qualified residents, age 65 and up, get prescription medicine at a lower cost. These programs work with Medicare Part D and other drug plans, like those from retiree plans, employers, Medicare Advantage, and Veterans’ Benefits.
For PACE, for a single person, total income must be $14,500 or less, and for a married couple, $17,700 or less. For PACENET, for a single person, total income can be between $14,501 and $33,500, and for a married couple, between $17,701 and $41,500.
For more information and to apply, go here.