Dominique Johnson

The 4th Annual Food Insecurity Awareness Day will be held on Monday, April 27th at 9:30AM at the State Capitol. Co-Host Rep. Rader and I will be joined by legislators and food insecurity advocates to discuss efforts to support our critical food banks and pantries.

We are also running a food donation drive for the month of April. All donations will go to The Friendly Hands Food Bank in Torrington, CT. If you happen to visit the Capitol, the collection box will be located on the 1st floor of the Legislative Office Building near the ATM.

The Friendly Hands Food Bank are looking for non-perishable items such as:

• Tuna
• Ramen
• Canned Vegetables
• Canned Soup
• Dry Cereals

Access Health CT (AHCT) is reminding customers who receive help paying for their health insurance premiums to report any changes in household income to AHCT when they happen. This can help prevent unexpected costs at tax time.
 
Federal financial help available through AHCT can significantly lower monthly insurance premiums. The amount of help customers receive is based on household size and estimated annual income. If that income changes, it must be reported to AHCT. If changes are not reported when they occur, individuals may receive more assistance than they qualify for and may have to repay the difference to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
 
Eligible customers can choose to receive their financial help in two ways:

• A one-time tax credit when filing their federal income tax return for the year.
• Monthly payments sent directly from the federal government to their insurance company to lower premium costs throughout the year. Individuals who choose this option must reconcile the amount they received when filing their tax return for that year.

Please visit AccessHealthCT.com if you have any questions.
 

The deadline to file your taxes is Wednesday, April 15. I wanted to reshare a few free resources available this year for anyone who needs to file state and federal taxes:

• The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help for low-to moderate-income (under $58,000) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Volunteers, sponsored by various organizations, receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. Visit Connecticut's 2-1-1 website and the Free Tax Help page for VITA assistance updates, or visit the IRS Site Locator. 
• AARP's Tax-Aide Program, a partnership between the AARP Foundation and the Internal Revenue Service, provides free tax counseling and preparation services to middle-and low-income taxpayers, with special attention to people age 60 and older. Many sites will e-file your federal and Connecticut returns at no cost to you. Visit the AARP Tax-Aide Site Locator to find a location near you.
• The UConn Law School Tax Clinic is a pro bono (free) legal clinic that provides free legal help to low-income taxpayers with tax problems, either with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS). Lisa Perkins, Clinical Professor & Director, and law students will work on your case. The Tax Clinic also works with attorneys in Connecticut who volunteer to help low-income taxpayers pro bono. The Tax Clinic is independent and separate from the IRS and DRS. It is important to note, that the UCONN tax clinic is only able to assist individual taxpayers with Connecticut income tax problems. Contact Lisa Perkins at lisa.perkins@uconn.edu or 860-570-5165

The 5th annual Norwalk Earth Day Festival will be held on Saturday, April 25. The day of festivities will include fun activities for all ages, including:

• Live Music
• Local Food Trucks and a Beer Garden 
• Crafts and Face Painting 
• And more!

Click here to learn more.