May 28, 2023 02:20 EST

Veterans are our only business.

General Support

New Series of FREE Art Classes for Veterans

April 14 – June 2
Fridays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Delaware Museum

Join your fellow creators for a series of free art classes that are both relaxing and stimulating at the same time.

Materials are free!

REGISTER NOW »

Delaware First Health Logo

Medicaid – Public Health Emergency Ending

As one of three Medicaid Healthcare Plans offered in Delaware, we feel it is of the utmost important to ensure our community colleagues are aware that the Public Health Emergency is scheduled to end.

See the attached a flyer that the DHSS is distributing to educate and alert Medicaid recipients of this upcoming change.

Please feel free to share.

If our Health Care plan can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

POC:
Jen Parsons
Community Relations Coordinator
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Delaware First Health

Delaware First Health Logo

Delaware First Health Hygiene Kits

Delaware First Health has hygiene kits to share with community partners.

The kits contain shampoo, body wash, soap, razors and more (see photo attached). We know how important it is to properly serve those around us and thus we believe collaborating with you will help us to further meet the needs of the communities we serve. Since your organization does a lot of work in areas where many of our members reside, we are looking to team up with you in getting hygiene kits out to those in need! If you are interested, let us know how many kits you’d like, in batches of 50. We’ll do our best to accommodate your request.

Delaware Health First hygiene kits

 

As Delaware’s newest Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO), Delaware First Health is partnered with the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) to administer the state’s Medicaid Managed Care Program plus value added benefits. Building on our nearly 40 years of national Medicaid experience, we are committed to ensuring our members across the state have continued access to high-quality, comprehensive, and affordable healthcare services. If there are other ways we can partner, please let us know.

SEND US AN EMAIL for more information »

We are looking forward to working with you to best meet the health needs of the communities we serve.

POC:
Jen Parsons
Community Relations Coordinator
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Delaware First Health

Mental Health Association in Delaware

MHA’s 2023 QPR (Suicide Prevention) Trainings

These training are free and will all be held virtually. Please share with those who you feel may benefit from/be interested in attending the training.

DE Housing Authority

Reopening of the DEHAP Rental Assistance Program

The Delaware State Housing Authority announced the reopening of the DEHAP Rental Assistance Program, in addition to its new program guidelines. New applications and recertifications, which were unavailable during the pause, are now accessible through the DEHAP portal: www.decovidhousinghelp.com.

All applications submitted on or after Wednesday, October 12, 2022, will be reviewed for eligibility under the new program guidelines, which include:

  • Eligible households must be at 50% Area Median Income (AMI) or less AND provide documentation to verify their income
  • Households may receive a maximum rental assistance amount of $1,500 per month and a maximum utility assistance amount of $500 per month
  • Households may still receive up to 18 months of assistance for past due, current, and future rent, and up to 18 months of assistance for past due and current utilities

Households who submitted applications before the application portal paused on Sept. 9 will have until Oct. 14 to provide any missing documentation required to process their application. If missing documentation is not received by the deadline, the application will be closed out and the applicant will need to reapply under the new program guidelines.

About Delaware State Housing Authority

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it serves as a Public Housing Authority and a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware’s three counties. For more information about DSHA, please call (302) 739-4263 or visit destatehousing.com

Easterseals Respite Grant Funding Now Available

Respite Grant Funding is Now Available for Delaware Residents!

Take a Break Through Easterseals Respite Grants

While caregiving is rewarding, it requires an immense amount of time and energy and often leads to caregiver burnout. Respite helps to keep family caregivers physically and emotionally healthy by reducing the likelihood of depression, anxiety, and isolation.

Through Easterseals respite grants, caregivers can receive a voucher to be used to pay for the care of their loved one while they take a break. The best thing? The respite can be completely spontaneous and caregivers can hire a friend, neighbor, family member or even use the funding for a day program! Whether it is going to dinner, seeing a movie, reading a book, going to a family reunion or just wanting an hour or two of peace and quiet, our respite grants can help caregivers take a moment to recharge and be the best caregivers they can be.

See if you are eligible and/or apply »,

If you have any questions, please contact our office at 302-221-2087 or
resources@esdel.org and our staff would be happy to help.

Anya Taylor
Community Outreach Assistant
Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore
61 Corporate Circle
New Castle, DE 19720
O: 302-221-2087

Social Security Announces 8.7% Benefit Increase for 2023

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 8.7 percent in 2023, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January.

The 8.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 65 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2023.  Increased payments to more than 7 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2022. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SS

I benefits). The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“Medicare premiums are going down and Social Security benefits are going up in 2023, which will give seniors more peace of mind and breathing room. This year’s substantial Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is the first time in over a decade that Medicare premiums are not rising and shows that we can provide more support to older Americans who count on the benefits they have earned,” Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi said.

View a COLA message from Acting Commissioner Kijakazi »

Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages.  Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $160,200 from $147,000.

Social Security and SSI beneficiaries are normally notified by mail starting in early December about their new benefit amount. The fastest way to find out their new benefit amount is to access their personal my Social Security account to view the COLA notice online. It’s secure, easy, and people find out before the mail arrives. People can also opt to receive a text or email alert when there is a new message from Social Security–such as their COLA notice–waiting for them, rather than receiving a letter in the mail. People may create or access their my Social Security account online at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Information about Medicare changes for 2023 is available at www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, their new higher 2023 benefit amount will be available in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security’s Message Center.

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. To read more, please visit www.ssa.gov/cola.

Roofs from the Heart/ Energize of Delaware

ROOF AND RESILIENT HOMES GRANT

with ROOFS FROM THE HEART, ENERGIZE DELAWARE, AND THE EMPOWERMENT GRANT

The Roof and Resilient Homes Grant is focused on providing complete new roof installations plus energy efficiency measures funded by Energize Delaware for single-family dwellings owned by individuals in the state of Delaware.

See attached information card. APPLY AT ROOFSFROMTHEHEART.ORG

QUESTIONS? APPLICATION ASSISTANCE?

EMAIL INFO@EMPOWERGRANTDE.ORG

CALL 302-724-7033

Delaware Attorney General

Restitution for service members/veterans who were deceived and defrauded by Harris Jewelry

FROM THE DELAWARE DOJ:

PLEASE READ… the below-linked press release regarding a multi-state resolution against Harris Jewelry. Harris defrauded thousands of servicemembers and veterans affecting every U.S. State and Territory. This is a big win for our community, and we would like to get the word out to as many affected veterans and servicemembers as possible so that restitution can be provided appropriately.

The agreement requires Harris Jewelry to stop collecting $21,307,229 in outstanding debt that is held by 13,426 servicemembers and to provide $12,872,493 in refunds to 46,204 service members who paid for protection plans. Harris Jewelry is also required to vacate judgments against 112 consumers totaling $115,335.64 and delete any negative credit entries reported to consumer reporting agencies. Service members and veterans who entered into a predatory financing loan with Harris Jewelry between January 2014 and July 2022 will be eligible for restitution to the extent they paid for warranties, however, they will have to claim their restitution.

*Harris Jewelry, which is now closed, is not affiliated with the local Delaware retail business Harris Jewelers.

https://news.delaware.gov/2022/07/20/ag-jennings-announces-34-2-million-national-settlement-with-harris-jewelry/

FOR QUESTIONS:

Diana M. Anderson, Paralegal II
Fraud & Consumer Protection Division
State of Delaware Department of Justice
820 N. French Street, 5th Floor
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Direct Line: (302) 683-8862
Fax: 302-577-6499
Email: diana.anderson@delaware.gov

Food Bank of Delaware

Food Bank of DE: Drive-thru mobile pantries for September

A MESSAGE FROM THE FOOD BANK OF DELAWARE

We started our large monthly drive-thru food pantries at the start of the pandemic to help meet the urgent food needs of thousands of people in our community. We will continue hosting these monthly distributions through December 2022 and will move to large quarterly distributions in 2023. Have no fear, though! The Food Bank of Delaware is out in the community every day helping to serve our community. There are many ways to continue getting the help you need without having to use fuel to travel to the distribution or coming at a time that may not be convenient for you.

Just a few ways we can help you close to home on a regular basis:

  • Have food delivered directly to your home through our Home Delivery Program
  • Visit one of our small community mobile pantries
  • Visit one of our Food Bank partner pantries or our on-site Healthy Pantry Center in Newark or Milford

DETAILS ABOUT OUR SEPTEMBER DISTRIBUTIONS

Sussex County

When: Monday, Sepember 12 starting at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Crossroad Community Church, 20684 State Forest Road, Georgetown
Register in advance »

Kent County

When: Wednesday, September 14 starting at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Dover Motor Speedway,1131 North Dupont Highway, Dover (enter through Leipsic Road entrance and follow signs)
Register in advance »

New Castle County

When: Friday, September 16 starting at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Delaware Tech, 400 Stanton Christiana Road, Newark
Register in advance » 

Please bring proof that you live in Delaware!

On-site registration will also be available. Service will be first-come, first-served. Assistance is limited to one per household. The Food Bank of Delaware is prepared to serve up to 1,000 households at each pantry. Public restrooms will not be available. Please make sure your trunk or backseat is clear for easy loading.

If you are not able to attend the distribution, please visit  www.fbd.org/get-help

Join the DVC

Pay Your Dues

Donate to DVC

If you agree with our mission of addressing issues that affect all of Delaware's veterans, please consider making a donation to our non-profit organization, Delaware Veterans Coalition. Any amount will be appreciated.