Economic Stimulus Tax Rebate for Seniors: IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

Thanks to all Senior Corps project directors who joined the effort to include seniors as part of the economic stimulus package.

The National Senior Corps Association is now working in conjunction with other senior advocacy organizations to get some important information out to seniors about the tax stimulus package. In order to receive the rebate recently approved by Congress, people MUST file a 2007 tax return. This requirement will effect seniors and people on disability in that many do not file taxes because they make too little money. Regardless of whether people have to file taxes or not, they MUST file this year or they will not receive the rebate.  Free assistance and tax forms may be provided at senior centers and public libraries. You may want to remind Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions NOT to include their tax-free stipend as income on their tax form.

Action Needed NOW to Eliminate Cuts and Increase Funding!

As you know, the President's FY 2009 budget proposal includes level funding for RSVP and level funding for the Senior Companion Program. The President's budget also includes a $40 million cut for the Foster Grandparent Program!

The devastating proposed cut (approximately 40%) for Foster Grandparent Programs would mean the elimination of thousands upon thousands of volunteers serving the nation's most at-risk youth and their families. Furthermore, NSCA maintains that level funding is essentially a significant funding cut when programs must maintain quality services year after year with the same funding allocations.

In the next two weeks, Members of Congress will be putting together their own "wish lists" to present to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.  Their "wish lists" include favorite programs, projects in their districts, and what they believe to be fiscal priorities. Each "wish list" informs the appropriations process. We need the help of project directors in every state to ensure that Senior Corps programs are on their legislators' "wish list". This will be critical in eliminating the potentially devastating cuts for FGP and securing increased funding for all three Senior Corps programs.

The sample letter below asks that your legislators contact their respective member of the House and Senate Labor, HSS, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. Democratic House members send their letter to Chairman David Obey and Republican House members to Ranking Member James Walsh. Democratic Senators send their "wish lists" to Chairman Tom Harkin and Republican Senators send their "wish lists" to Ranking Member Arlen Specter.  Sections in RED must be customized for your legislator and program.

The attached sample letter asks your Representatives and Senators to include increased Senior Corps funding (amounts are already in the sample letter) among the priorities on their 2009 "wish lists".  Please fax or e-mail to your legislators right away and no later than Monday, March 10. 

In keeping with our commitment to work together in support of all Senior Corps programs, we ask that you include the requests for all three programs in your letter. Especially in times such as this, there is strength in numbers and power in working together. We need champions on the Hill who will work for the good of all Senior Corps programs. Thank you!

SAMPLE LETTER TO CONGRESS:   

Dear Senator/Congressman/woman _______,

I write to request your support for an increase in funding for the Senior Corps Programs during consideration of fiscal year 2009 appropriations process. Specifically, I request your support to increase funding for the Senior Corps Programs to $239.683 million per year (up from the current level of $213.785 million). I request that the breakdown of these dollars be the following for each Senior Corps program:  $116.897 million for the Foster Grandparent Program; $70.642 million for the RSVP program and $52.144 million for the Senior Companion Program.

The President's budget supports level funding for RSVP and Senior Companion Programs and the drastic reduction of 40% in the Foster Grandparent Program. The Foster Grandparent Program will lose $40,000,000 resulting in a decrease of over 9,000 Volunteer Service Years which translates into a cut of over 16,000 INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS, a loss of over 9,396,000 HOURS OF SERVICE, and 135,040 LESS AT-RISK CHILDREN AND TEENS, including those with special and exceptional needs.

The Senior Corps Programs are funded under the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies within the Corporation for National and Community Service.  I ask that you contact [House: Chairman Obey (Democrats) and Congressman Walsh (Republicans) of the Subcommittee; Senate: Chairman Harkin (Democrats) and Senator Specter (Republicans) of the Subcommittee] in support of this request.

The Senior Corps Programs offer seniors age 55 and older the opportunity to meet pressing needs in their communities.  Foster Grandparents are limited-income seniors (125% of poverty) who serve at-risk children with special needs by providing one to one support in the classroom, head start settings and various other agencies. RSVP volunteers provide service in a variety of community non-profits agencies expanding the capacity to provide critical services. Senior Companions are limited-income seniors (125% of poverty) who serve at-risk, frail elderly reducing the need and premature placement in long-term care facilities.

In our program in [__________ fill in with story of your local program, including examples of the people served and those who serve.]

I ask your support for this request as a means to not only restore Foster Grandparent funding but to help serve unmet needs in all of our communities. (Consider including numbers of children/clients in your program's waiting list for each Senior Corps program or the number of prospective volunteers interested in serving but cannot due to limited funding).

Sincerely,

<< Your Name >>
<< Your Street >>
<< Your City >>
<< Your State >> << Your Zip-Code >>

* Please note: "Individuals may exercise their First Amendment rights, including participating in the political process, on their own initiative, on their own time, and using non-Corporation fund and resources" CNCS Guidance: Restrictions on legislative lobbying and partisan politics (2-1-08)