Rochelle urges residents to respond to census, shares lost wages assistance

 

Friends and Neighbors,

There are 12 days left before data collection for the 2020 Census wraps up, which means there is still time for you to respond to it online, by phone, or by mail.
An incomplete count could affect our community for a decade. 

Residents of Ansonia and Derby would miss out on vital funding for our schools, hospitals, nonprofits, roads and private job growth. 
You can learn more and fill out the Census here.

Lost Wages Assistance

This week, 250,000 unemployed workers in Connecticut became eligible to receive another $300 a week as part of the federal disaster aid program. Existing Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claimants have already self-certified and do not need to do anything to receive the additional benefit. New unemployment claimants and existing state and extended benefits claimants who are required to self-certify will be notified by letter or email that they are eligible and may self-certify when the program is open. To self-certify: Log into your unemployment account - the account main page offers a new option in the menu “Certify for Lost Wages Assistance.” Once you have clicked on the button, a new screen will ask you to certify your unemployment or underemployment is due to COVID-19. You may then then confirm submission and complete the process. Federal eligibility guidelines include: Recipients of at least $100 per week, including the dependency allowance, of any of the following benefits for the week they are seeking unemployment benefits; Claimants receiving unemployment compensation, including state and federal workers and former service members, as well as those receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Extended Benefits, or High Extended Benefits;   Claimants who are part of the Shared Work Program; and Workers with a Trade Readjustment Allowance. A total of six weeks of Lost Wages Assistance will be paid in addition to regular unemployment benefits and will be retroactive to the claim week beginning July 26, 2020.  Claimants will receive the supplemental benefit in several payments.  The first payment of $300 will be disbursed to claimants beginning Sept. 17 with the remainder of retroactive payments following in two or three separate payments. The CT Department of Labor will continue to release updates as they become available on the CTDOL Federal Supplements webpage and send them directly to anyone who signs up for “Info to your Inbox” on the agency’s homepage. This is taken from a press release from Rochelle's office.

Klarides-Ditria provides information on Operation Fuel heating assistance

Dear Neighbors,

The days are already getting shorter and colder, and I am sure given our current situation there are folks out there who are concerned about heating their homes this fall and winter. I wanted to let you know that Operation Fuel, the oldest fuel bank in the country, can provide assistance to those in need.

Operation Fuel provides year-round emergency assistance to help families avoid heat, electricity, and water shutoffs. 

They also provide help:

To reach to as many families as possible affected by COVID-19, Operation Fuel increased their grant awards and modified their eligibility guidelines.

• Home System Repair & Replacement to help lower-income homeowners reduce energy bills by repairing or replacing older furnaces, boilers, and water heaters;
• Homelessness Intervention & Prevention helps to prevent and eliminate homelessness that results from unaffordable home energy costsIf you or anyone you know is struggling to pay their heating, electricity, or water bill, or need help with deliverable fuel, please reach out.

They have launched an online portal so clients can apply directly for assistance. 

Learn more and apply today here. If you have any questions, you can contact opfuelapplications@operationfuel.org or call (860) 243-2345.

Please share this information with anyone in need, and feel free to reach out to me with any other concerns.


Sincerely,

Cassetti announces downtown Farmer's Market extended through Thanksgiving

 

Mayor David S. Cassetti shops at the Ansonia Farmer's Market./ City of Ansonia photo

ANSONIA - Mayor David S. Cassetti Thursday announced that the Farmer's Market held from 10 a.m. -1 p.m. Fridays has been extended through Thanksgiving.
That's according to him and Gazy Brothers Farm of Oxford, the market host. "Response has gotten increasingly popular and justified an extension,” said Cassetti.

Other regular vendors include Beldotti Bakery of Stamford (breads and mozzarella) and Amski's Delights of Ansonia (jams, jellies, and baked pies).


This information is shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Naugatuck Valley Health District to hold flu clinic at Seymour Community Center

 

SEYMOUR - The Naugatuck Valley Health District will hold its annual free flu clinic from 9 a.m.-noon Oct. 9 at the Community Center, 20 Pine St.

Please bring your health insurance card.
Masks must be worn and participants must remain in their car, due to social distancing guidelines.
Each resident will be given paperwork to complete and will be administered the shot while he/she remains in the car.


This information is shared from the Seymour Community Center website.