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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 11, 2024 Page 19 BEACON | FROM Page 18 provide specific, evidencebacked guidance on how to implement the White House’s national strategy to counter antisemitism, improve awareness in schools and the workplace, address harassment and hate crimes, bolster security for places of worship and build upon existing best practices and more. They continued, ”We will approach this exercise with humility and care, recognizing that antisemitism is a fraught and complicated topic in today’s society. Our work will not, however, be compromised by those who believe the problem of antisemitism is being exaggerated -- it is not -- or who feel that a singular focus on antisemitism for a commission is inappropriate. Antisemitic fear mongering, conspiracy peddling and hate have for millennia been a harbinger of wider threats to democracy and peace throughout the world. This commission will work towards stamping it out in Massachusetts.” FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TUITION – The state offi - cially launched MassEducate which allows Massachusetts residents who do not already hold a bachelor’s degree the opportunity to attend any of the state’s 15 public community colleges and pay no tuition or fees. MassEducate builds on the first successful year of the MassReconnect program which provides free community college to students 25 and older. More than 4,500 students statewide received MassReconnect grant awards in the 2023-24 academic year. MassEducate expands the law and offers the free tutition to all other residents in addition to those 25 and older. Suporters noted that the Bay State now has one of the most accessible, equitable and comprehensive free community college programs in the country for full-time and parttime students, regardless of income. To be eligible for free community college, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent; live in Massachusetts for at least one year with an intent to stay in the state; maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the college’s requirements; and not be in default on any federal or state educational loan. For more information about fi nancial aid opportunities and how to apply for free tutition, go to Mass.Gov/StudentAid “We knew that MassReconnect would be transformative for thousands of students, for our amazing community colleges and for our economy – and that was only the beginning,” said Gov. Healey. “This universal free community college program will continue to transform opportunities for students and strengthen our workforce. Massachusetts’ community colleges are economic drivers, helping students move ahead in their careers and meeting the needs of our employers.” “We heard from MassReconnect students that the commonwealth’s investment in them was game-changing and now we are off ering that opportunity to our full and part-time students across the commonwealth,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “Massachusetts’ comprehensive free community college program is a true testament to Massachusetts’ commitment to increasing access and aff ordability in higher education so students can realize their dreams.” “Universal free community college is transformative,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “MassEducate will deliver an education to every resident who wants one, fi ll workforce shortages faced by our businesses and has already reversed a decade of enrollment decline. Our community colleges are well-positioned to support this program, which will change the life trajectories of many students and their families.” HEALEY BLOCKS SUSPENSION OF GUN LAW CHANGES – Gov. Healey attached an emergency preamble to the bill, recently signed by the governor, that changed some of the state’s gun laws. The emergency preamble makes the law take eff ect immediately instead of on Oct. 23 as originally scheduled. The move came on the heels of the announcement of a campaign to repeal the law by gathering the 37,287 signatures required to place it on the 2026 ballot. Under the Massachusetts Constitution, if a ballot campaign collects a certain number of signatures, it can prevent the implementation of a law without an emergency preamble from taking effect until voters weigh in on whether to repeal it. The emergency preamble prevents suspension while still allowing the repeal campaign to take place. A group of gun owners and Second Amendment supporters formed the Civil Rights Coalition to repeal the law. The group said they are “very confident” about gathering enough voter signatures before an Oct. 9 deadline that marks the next hurdle en route to giving voters the fi nal say on the matter. “It’s like telling Subaru they can no longer sell a Subaru Forester, the best-selling vehicle in their lineup,” said Toby Leary, a co-owner of Cape Gun Works in Hyannis and chair of the repeal coalition. “That’s basically what the state is doing to these businesses: they’re saying you can no longer sell one of the largest and most profi table segments of your business.” “Gov. Healey is once again putting our safety fi rst by taking meaningful steps to protect our communities from gun violence,” said Olivia Benevento, a volunteer leader with the Northeastern University Students Demand Action Chapter. “For decades, the gun lobby has gotten richer while my generation continues to pay the price.” Provisions of the new law include cracking down on untraceable “ghost guns;” banning firearms in additional public spaces like schools, polling places and government buildings; expanding the 2018 “red flag” law that allows school administraavvyy vy n tors and licensed health care providers to petition a court to temporarily take fi rearms away from someone deemed a threat to themselves or others; closing loopholes that allow the modification of legal fi rearms into illegal automatic weapons; and providing a legacy clause so all fi rearms legally owned and registered in Massachusetts as of the eff ective date of the bill will continue to be legal and may be bought and sold within the state. BEACON | SEE Page 20 avyavy niiorenioroavvy Senior ennioorniiori How SSI Benefits Can Help Struggling Seniors and the Disabled Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about the SSI program and what are the eligibility requirements for seniors? I’m trying to help my elderly aunt who is very lowincome. Searching Niece Dear Searching, The SSI program that you’re enquiring about, which stands for Supplemental Security Income, is a program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that provides monthly cash benefits to people that are disabled or over 65 based on fi nancial need. Currently, around 7.5 million people are receiving SSI benefi ts, but many more are now eligible as the SSA recently expanded access benefi ts by tweaking some of the rules. Here’s what you should know. Eligibility Requirements To qualify for SSI your aunt must be either age 65 or older, blind or disabled, and must be a U.S. citizen or lawful resident. She must also have limited income and assets. Her income as an individual must generally be under $1,971 per monthly, or $2,915 for couples. Countable income includes wages or any other kind of money your aunt earned from working, plus money she gets from other sources like unemployment, Social Security retirement, or gifts from friends, but also, free shelter. And her assets must also be less than $2,000 or $3,000 for couples. This includes cash, bank accounts, other personal property, and anything else that could potentially be converted to cash. Her home, household goods and one vehicle, along with life insurance policies and burial funds valued under $1,500, do not count towards countable assets. In 2024, the maximum SSI payment is $943 a month for an individual or $1,415 a month for a couple. But, if eligible, the amount your aunt would receive may be lower based on her income, living situation and some other factors. To help you determine if your aunt is eligible for SSI, help her take the Social Security Administration’s benefi ts screening test at SSAbest. benefi ts.gov. This online questionnaire takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and screens for a variety of benefi ts, not just SSI. You should also know that most states – except Arizona, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia – supplement the federal SSI payment with payments of their own. In some of the states that pay a supplement, your aunt may qualify for the state payment even if she doesn’t meet the federal SSI eligibility criteria. How to Apply If you think that your aunt is eligible for SSI, she (or you) can begin the application process and complete a large part of it online at SSA.gov/apply/ ssi. If she’s disabled, she can apply for both SSI and Social Security Disability at SSA.gov/ disability. Or, if she can’t apply online, call 800-772-1213 and set up an appointment with her local Social Security offi ce. To help make the application process go quickly and smoothly, your aunt will need her Social Security number; birth certifi cate or other proof of age; information about the home where she lives, such as her mortgage, or lease and the landlord’s name; payroll slips, bank books, insurance policies, burial fund records and other information about her income and the things she owns; her proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status; and if she is applying for SSI because she is disabled or blind, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of doctors, hospitals and clinics that have information related to her condition. For more information visit SSA.gov/ssi or see Social Security’s online SSI publication at SSA.gov/pubs/EN-0511000.pdf. Other Assistance Programs Depending on your aunt’s income, there are other fi nancial assistance programs that may be able to help her like Medicare Savings Programs, prescription drug assistance, food stamps and energy assistance. To locate these programs, and learn how to apply for them, go to Benefi tsCheckUp.org. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

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