Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 “YOUR FINANCIAL FOCUS” JOSEPH D. CATALDO INDENTITY PROTECTION PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER The IRS has been issuing Identity Protection Personal Identification Numbers (IPPIN’s) since 2011 in order to assist in identifying taxpayers and to accept a tax return for filing. In January of this past year, the IRS opened up this program to all taxpayers THE SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 8 $25.00 at the Department of Public Works (DPW) located at the Compost Site when making your visit to the Compost Site. The Town accepts checks only for payment of the $25.00. No cash will be accepted. Kindly bring a check when visiting. Thank you! Compost Site stickers must be permanently placed on the lower left corner of residents’ automobile windshields. Vehicles registered out of state are not permitted. Yard waste must be disposed of in brown compost bags or open containers. The Town will accept grass clippings, leaves and brush. As in years past, no branches or limbs larger than three inches in diameter are permitted. We ask all residents to please wear a mask and maintain and respect social distancing from others while visiting the site. Residents may call Lorna Cerbone at the Solid Waste and Recycling Department at 781-2314036 with questions or for more information. Help the Vietnam Vets “Roll To DC” This came in from Joseph “Dennis” Gould, a Vietnam War Era veteran who served four years with the U.S. Navy. He has organized a fundraising drive that will help area Vietnam Era veterans visit Washington, D.C., in the fall of next year. “I am glad to announce that we will have a ‘Roll to DC’ for Vietnam Era Veterans from Melrose, Saugus, Lynn and surrounding towns September if they choose to opt into the program. Prior to January of this year, the IRS would assign an IPPIN to a taxpayer whose identity was stolen. So too often tax preparers would go to e-file a tax return only to find out that someone had already filed a tax return under that taxpayer’s social. Therefore, the electronic filing would be rejected. A taxpayer would then have to call the IRS fraud department and the IRS would then issue a IPPIN to the taxpayer to be attached to the paper return that would then need to be filed. In New Release IR-20212022. “The managers of this effort will be Saugus VFW Post # 2346. “Gould will be Chair and David Nelson, Saugus American Legion and Stacey Minchello, Melrose Senior Center will be Vice Chairs. “Stan King, Quartermaster Post # 2346 [will] be Treasurer. “The trip will be a four night trip to DC staying at Presidential Inn on Andrews Air Force Base, home of Presidential Aircraft. It will include a ceremony and laying of a wreath at the Vietnam Wall and the Tomb of Unknown Soldier as well as visiting all Military Memorials and Statues.” “We are looking for major sponsorship and donations from all. The Vietnam Veterans will go on this trip free, but it will take approximately $70,000 of sponsorship and donations,” Gould said. “If you would like to be a major sponsor, please contact chairman Dennis Gould cell 617 257 4847 or e mail Jdgould1969@aol.com “If you would like to send in a donation, please make check out to: “‘Saugus VFW–Roll to DC’ write ‘Roll to DC 2022’ in comment Line and mail to: “Saugus VFW Post 2346 “190C Main St “Saugus Ma 01906 “Any questions or if you would like to volunteer to assist the committee, please contact Dennis at contact info above.” Food Pantry still open The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will continue to remain open on Fridays between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. despite 9, the IRS announced the program is now available to all taxpayers who can verify their identity by specified procedures. The IRS will mail a CP01A Notice to taxpayers that opt in which contains their 6-digit IPPIN. A Taxpayer can also obtain a IPPIN by using the IRS online tool Get an IPPIN. Each year, taxpayers will receive a CP01A Notice containing a new IPPIN. Taxpayers may opt in by either faxing or mailing Form 15227, Application for an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number, or by using the Get an IPPIN online tool. In concerns over the Coronavirus. They have made adjustments to protect their core of volunteers and the needy people who receive the food. For the protection of volunteers & clients, and to limit personal contact and crowding/gathering, the food pantry has been distributing pre-bagged groceries. Even though clients may receive items they don’t want or need, food pantry organizers feel this is the best course of action to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19. Those in need, even for short-term or one-time assistance, are encouraged to come. The food pantry is in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church at 50 Essex St. in Saugus. Helping the Vet During these challenging times, your local Veterans’ Service Officers (VSOs) would like to share some information on a benefit program that is available to those who qualify. If you are a Veteran or the surviving spouse of a Veteran, the “Chapter 115 Benefits Program” is a Massachusetts state initiative that provides financial aid for Veterans and/or their surviving spouses who reside in Massachusetts and meet certain income and asset guidelines. Benefits may include monthly ordinary benefits and/or payment/reimbursement for medical expenses. Whether you are laid off, in transition or living on a fixed income, the program is designed to provide short-term or long-term assistance as needed to provide relief. The program is overseen by order to file Form 15227, taxpayers will need: 1. A valid social security number or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) 2. Adjusted gross income of $72,000 or less 3. Access to a telephone The IRS will process the form and then call the taxpayer to validate his or her identity. Upon successful validation, the taxpayer will then receive a CP01A Notice with an assigned IPPIN for the next filing season. To online method of obtaining a IPPIN is available at www.irs.gov/getanippin. Once you opt in to the IPthe Massachusetts Department Veterans’ Services (DVS), which runs the program in partnership with local VSOs. Every town or district in Massachusetts has a VSO. VSOs assist Veterans and their dependents in learning about, applying for and receiving Chapter 115 benefits. VSOs can also help you in applying for other benefits and connecting with local resources. Your local VSO handles applications, obtains program approval from DVS and provides local benefits. The program is funded by a combination of state and local funds. DVS pays for 75% of the approved benefits, and your city or town pays for 25%. There are income and asset limits for the program. As a general rule, income and asset requirements are: Family of 1 – monthly income less than $2,081and an asset limit of $5,000. Family of 2 – monthly income less than $2,818 and an asset limit of $9,800. To determine if you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Chapter 115 program, visit the following link and follow the instructions – https://massvetben.org/ – or call your local VSO for more information. The VSOs are also able to help Veterans apply for Federal VA benefits and local benefits and provide food assistance monthly. For example, did you know that if you own a home and have a VA service–connected disability, you are eligible for a partial or full exemption of your property taxes? “Please contact your local VetPIN system, as of right now, you cannot opt out. The IRS expects that taxpayers will be able to opt out beginning in 2022. Data breaches of personal information are still on the rise. Obtaining an IPPIN may provide some taxpayers comfort particularly if their personal information may have been compromised. Think about how many people this past year received notices from Mass Unemployment stating that they applied for unemployment benefits when in fact someone else did using their name and social security number. erans’ Service Officer for more information on any of the services mentioned. We are all here to assist. We are regularly checking voicemails and emails as we continue to work remotely and in our offices throughout COVID-19.” Melrose: Karen Burke, 781979-4186, kburke@cityofmelrose.org Wakefield: David Mangan, 781-246-6377, dmangan@ wakefield.ma.us Saugus: Jay Pinette, 781-2314010, jpinette@saugus-ma.gov Let’s hear it! Got an idea, passing thought or gripe you would like to share with The Saugus Advocate? I’m always interested in your feedback. It’s been over five years since I began work at The Saugus Advocate. I’m always interested in hearing readers’ suggestions for possible stories or good candidates for “The Advocate Asks” interview of the week. Feel free to email me at mvoge@comcast.net. Do you have some interesting views on an issue that you want to express to the community? Submit your idea. If I like it, we can meet for a 15- to 20-minute interview over a hot drink at a local coffee shop. And I’ll buy the coffee or tea. Or, if you prefer to continue practicing social distancing and be interviewed from the safety of your home on the phone or via email, I will provide that option to you as the nation recovers from the Coronavirus crisis. If it’s a nice day, my preferred site for a coffee and interview would be the picnic area of the Saugus Iron Works.
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