By Rep. Powell

It’s almost summer, folks! Sunnier days are on the horizon, and I’m grateful to see neighbors exploring the community, supporting local businesses, and embracing all that District 21 has to offer. While we get ready to swap our winter gear for summer attire, I want to take a moment to highlight some notable services from my office.

I’m excited to invite you to my first-ever Family Fair! This block-party style event is designed to connect neighbors to community and state resources while offering some fun for folks of all ages. The fair will take place on June 7 from noon to 4 p.m. at 51st Street and Butler Street. From food trucks to Pittsburgh mascots to a dunk tank to face painting, this event has a little something for everyone. Contact my office with any questions, and I hope to see you there!

The 2024 Property Tax Rent Rebate applications are still open! This program supports homeowners and renters across Pennsylvania by providing a rebate ranging from $380 to $1,000 to eligible older adults and people with disabilities age 18 and older.

Pennsylvania homeowners and renters who meet the following criteria are eligible for a rebate:

• 65 and older
• Widows and widowers 50 and older
• People with disabilities 18 and older
• In addition to age requirements, to qualify for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate, your household income must be $46,520 or less annually

Applications for 2024 Property Tax/ Rent Rebates are due by June 30. Under-Pennsylvania law, the Department of Revenue evaluates the program before the June 30 deadline every year. If extra funds are available, the deadline is extended to Dec. 31. Applications postmarked by that date will be accepted for processing.

My office will host a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) during the second week of each month to ensure you receive the assistance you deserve! Our dates for the spring are as follows:

• May 19-21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• June 16-18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• July 21-23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you are a veteran or know a veteran who would like help accessing their benefits, please call my office at (412) 781-2750 to schedule an appointment.

Additionally, my office will be at the Millvale Library for our “Powell to the People” mobile office hours on May 6 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. The office is located at 213 Grant Ave., Millvale, PA 15209. We’d love to see you there so we can help with any state-related issues or questions you may have. These include — but are not limited to — voter registrations and voting in Pennsylvania, Property Tax/ Rent Rebate applications, unemployment compensation, SNAP benefits, birth and death certificates, or any PennDOT applications.

Are you a senior age 65 or older needing to use the bus in the coming weeks? Stop by my office to apply for a free Senior Citizen ConnectCard! The Senior Citizen ConnectCard allows seniors to ride our and other public transit vehicles for free across Pennsylvania. No appointment is necessary; you just need to bring a form of identification, and one of my staff members will capture a headshot of you for the card. The application typically takes 1-2 weeks to process, after which my office will give you a call to secure your card.

My district office is located at 5154 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201. We are open and ready to serve you, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and by appointment in the evenings on Wednesdays. We also have office hours at our Shaler office at the Shaler Municipal Building located at 300 Wetzel Rd., second floor, Glenshaw, PA 15116. We will be there every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or any weekday by appointment.

Any state related issue, or assistance that you may need, please give my office a call; even if we cannot directly help, we will do our best to put you in contact with someone who can. Here are some examples of ways we can help, but are not all encompassing of the support we offer:

• PennDOT services: car registrations and disability placard applications
• Free notary services
  • Taking an acknowledgement
  • Administering an oath or affirmation
  • Taking a verification on an oath or affirmation (which includes an affidavit)
  • Witnessing or attesting a signature
  • Certifying or attesting a copy or deposition

Taking a note protest of a negotiable instrument

• Complaints about road conditions or infrastructure
• Unemployment compensation problems
• Property tax/rent rebate applications
• Issues related to utility companies
• Birth certificate applications and finding copies of your vital records
• Senior ConnectCard applications through Port Authority of Allegheny County

Call: (412) 781-2750 or Email: Rep-Powell@pahouse.net or stop by our office during the hours listed above. n