Author: Michael Swayze

Senate Call-In To Stop TrumpCare
The United States Senate is scheduled to vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act later this month by which 23 million will lose their health care coverage. Political analysts currently believe the TrumpCare bill (American Health Care Act, or AHCA) currently before Congress will pass unless there is overwhelming reaction by the voting public.

“Our pressure makes political change possible”, according to Ben Wikler, Washington director of MoveOn.org. He went on to state “an uprising is needed to stop the Republican bill from passing”. The following doable actions have been suggested:
- Use social media to message your friends about the American Health Care Act.
- Contact your U.S. Senator – especially Republican Senators – using the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly to the requested Senate office.
- Call everyday and flood Senate offices with phone calls. (Wednesday, June 13 is a national call-in day.)
- Recruit others to call.
- Join a local Indivisible Group.
- Attend rallies outside a Republican Senator’s district office.
Particular emphasis has been placed on calling Senate Republicans from the states of Alaska, Colorado, Ohio, Maine, Tennessee, West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Arizona and Nevada. Urge friends and family in these states to take action, too.

A full listing of Senators is available at https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.
June 12, 2017
LIHEAP Deadline: May 31, 2017

The deadline to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is May 31, 2017. Applications with a May 31 postmark will be accepted. Applicants who had previously been denied may wish to reapply if their circumstances have changed, particularly if their monthly income has been reduced.

For details see the Department of Community Affairs March 9 press release. Applications with incomplete documentation will be put into pending status for thirty days, according to a DCA spokesperson.

May 30, 2017
Online Safety Net Tools and Applications, Part II
The purpose of this article is to alert you to a number of safety net applications that can be downloaded or completed directly online. They cover a variety of topics, including programs for seniors, financial assistance, child care, energy, utilities and welfare.

There is a section of this site’s community resource page known as the ‘Public Benefits Corner’ that provides links to a number of these online or downloadable applications. There are links for the following:
- NJ FamilyCare application
- Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD), Senior Gold, and Medicare Savings Programs – programs for seniors
- Child Support Services
- Subsidized Child Care
- LIHEAP/USF/Weatherization – one application to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Universal Service
  Fund (USF) and the Weatherization Assistance Program
- Communications Lifeline program for Verizon landline customers
- Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) – how to find your local WIC agency
- State Unemployment Insurance
- State Temporary Disability Insurance
- Transportation Programs for former TANF clients
Links to these safety net programs and applications are available in the
Public Benefits Corner of this website. Knowing where to go online is the first step.
May 23, 2017