Property Tax Credit for Long-time Homeowners and Retired Veterans

Good news, today we approved my bill to create a new property tax credit for residents who are at least 65 years old and who have lived in the same home for at least 40 years. The bill also provides a tax credit for residents 65 or older who are retired veterans of the U.S. military.

As introduced, Bill 42-16 would have created a new property tax credit for residents who are at least 65 years old and who have lived in the same home, with an assessed value of $500,000 or less, for at least 40 years. Retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard) who are at least 65 years old also are eligible for the credit if their home has an assessed value of $500,000 or less.

However, the approved bill included an amendment that increases the maximum assessed value for eligibility for 40-year homeowners to $650,000.

Residents who qualify are eligible to receive a 20-percent credit for the property tax imposed on their homes. The credit would be granted annually for up to five years, subject to application requirements.

We want to do whatever we can to encourage people who love living in Montgomery County to continue to be able to live here as their life circumstances change. We understand that this can be an expensive place to live for many people at the prime of their earning power, and it gets more challenging for those in retirement years. With this bill, we can offer some help to people who have lived here a long time and helped build this County and to those who served our country and helped preserve and protect all the things for which we are thankful.

The bill will go into effect on July 1, 2017. Those seeking a credit must apply by April 1 of the year in which the tax credit is sought. However, for 2017 only, the deadline was extended to September 1. I'll let you know when the application process has been finalized.

Dispelling Myths About the Affordable Care Act and Seniors

If you are interested in learning more about the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and what it means for seniors, stop by any one of a series of community events sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and the Montgomery County Department of Recreation that will be held in October.

 

The programs will address the myths surrounding the effect the ACA will have on seniors, and you will have the opportunity to learn more about Maryland’s plan for implementing the ACA, which mandates that legal residents age 18 to 64 have health insurance coverage beginning January 1, 2014 or face a penalty.

 

The events are scheduled for:

 

Monday, October 7, 11 a.m.

Gaithersburg Senior Center

80-A Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg

 

Tuesday, October 8, 1 p.m.

Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center

1000 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring

 

Wednesday, October 9, 1:30 p.m.

Holiday Park Senior Center

3950 Ferarra Drive, Wheaton

 

Thursday, October 10, 11 a.m.

Long Branch Senior Center

8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring

 

Thursday, October 10, 1 p.m.

White Oak Senior Center

1700 April Lane, Silver Spring

 

Tuesday, October 15, 1:30 p.m.

Damascus Senior Center

9701 Main Street, Damascus

 

A brief presentation will be provided and a question and answer session will follow the presentation.  Registration is not required. For more information about the Affordable Care Act, go to www.marylandhealthconnection.gov. For a schedule of where in-person assistance will be available when enrollment begins October 1, go to www.capitalhealthconnection.org and click on “Resources,” then “Calendar.”

Survey on Transportation Needs of Seniors and People with Disabilities

Montgomery County’s Aging and Disability Services at the Department of Health and Human Services has undertaken a project to better understand the transportation patterns and needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities, and your responses to this survey will be very helpful.  If you, a member of your family or a friend have transportation issues or concerns, please take the survey by October 18.

Businesses: Sign up Now for 50+ Employment Expo

Business owners: sign up now for your table at the 50+ Employment Expo. This is your chance to network with thousands of mid-life and older jobseekers at an award-winning program sponsored by the Jewish Council for the Aging and Montgomery County. The event is free to all employers, community resources and participants, and this year’s speaker will be Maureen Bunyan from ABC7/WJLA-TV. You can still participate even if you have only one or two jobs available by sharing a table with others in your industry.  Although the event is free, employers must pre-register. The program is scheduled for Friday, May 17, 10:00-3:00 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

How to Keep Seniors Safe

Seniors already have enough to worry about. Health, finances, and grandchildren are just a few. Our seniors shouldn’t have to worry about being the victim of a scam. Recently, the Montgomery County Police documented a number of scams targeting seniors. These types of crimes against seniors occur more often in elevators of buildings housing medical offices and grocery stores, but can happen anywhere and do not discriminate on whether the victim is male or female.

Usually, but not always, scammers will work with an accomplice to distract the victim by asking for help, or physically bumping into the victim while the other pickpockets the victim’s wallet or purse. In grocery stores, the victims are predominately female, but the scam works the same way. For instance, someone posing as a shopper may ask you to help read a label because they are allergic to peanuts. While you’re distracted by reading the label, the scammer has swiped your wallet or even the whole purse. Fortunately, there are precautions you can take to keep you and your family safe:

Men should carry wallets inside a coat or in a front pocket, not the back pocket. Wrapping a couple heavy rubber bands around it will make it more difficult for a pickpocket to extract.

Watch out for jostling and physical and/or verbal distractions that may be staged.

If you’re aware that you’ve been targeted, don’t be afraid to yell out or call for help!

Women shouldn’t leave their purses in a shopping cart. Always carry your purse with you and make sure it is buckled or clasped.

Set up fraud protection with your credit card companies so they can alert you of suspicious usage if a theft occurs.

Make copies of both sides of your cards and keep them in a safe place at home so you have the information available if they are stolen.

If you are a victim of a scam, call 911 immediately!