Tell NJ Lawmakers: Protect Older New Jerseyans’ Financial Security

The NJ Legislature must finalize New Jersey’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget by June 30. Pre-pandemic, more than one-third of New Jersey households were struggling to make ends meet. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever, the state budget is vital to the interests of our members and all older New Jerseyans. The state budget supports many critical programs and services – for many it is critical for basic financial and health security.

Older New Jerseyans have been hit especially hard by the crushing health and economic impacts of COVID-19. Residents struggle with the nation’s highest property taxes, many are often forced to make the choice to pay for their high-cost prescription medications or their food or rent, hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans can no longer afford their electric, gas and water bills, and our older workforce still confronts age discrimination in the work place.

Make your voice heard! Tell your elected lawmakers to fund these priorities in the FY 2022 budget to support older New Jerseyans’ health and financial security:

Fully fund the state’s pension system, a year-ahead of schedule, breaking a more than two decades’ long streak of underfunding and undermining the health of our public pension system.
Support low wage older workers by eliminating the current age cap on New Jersey’s Earned Income Tax Credit (NJEITC). Eliminating the cap will remove this discriminatory policy that prevents low-income childless workers 65 and over from eligibility for this critical anti-poverty program.
Fund financial assistance for the hundreds of thousands of residents who are unable to afford their electric, gas and water utility bills as a result of the pandemic.
Increase financial relief under the Homestead Benefit property tax relief program so more New Jerseyans can remain in their homes and communities.
Expand the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) and Senior Gold programs, which will help more than 21,000 seniors afford their medications.

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Subject Support Older New Jerseyans' Financial Security

Dear Decision Maker,

Message

Pre-pandemic, more than one-third of New Jersey households were struggling to make ends meet. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this problem, economically crushing millions of New Jersey families.

Older New Jerseyans are hit especially hard and struggle with the nation’s highest property taxes, many often have to choose between paying for their high-cost prescription medications or their food or rent, hundreds of thousands cannot afford their utility bills or arrearages because of the pandemic, and a growing older workforce continues to confront outdated policies that fail to support older employees.

I urge you to support a FY 2022 budget that supports older New Jerseyans’ health and financial security, including:

1. Funding the state’s full pension payment a year-ahead of schedule.

2. Expanding eligibility for New Jersey’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by eliminating the current age cap that prevents low-income childless workers 65 and over from eligibility for this critical anti-poverty program.

3. Funding financial assistance for the hundreds of thousands of residents who are unable to afford their electric, gas and water utility bills as a result of the pandemic.

4. Expanding the Homestead Benefit property tax relief program so New Jerseyans can remain in their homes and communities.

5. Expanding the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) and Senior Gold programs, which will help more than 21,000 seniors afford their medications.

I urge you to support these important priorities to ensure the financial and health security, especially during these very challenging times.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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