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Note from Erika Hello, everyone! Labor Day is almost here and it is important we pay tribute to the efforts of our workers and their contribution to the development and success of the United States. Check out the community update section for a Labor Day event in our district. Have a great time and stay safe! If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our office by email at SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov or by phone at 517-373-7800. |
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Erika Geiss
In This Edition
The Biden-Harris Administration Student Loan Relief Plan Recently, President Joe Biden passed a three-part Student Loan Relief Plan that aims to help working and middle-class federal student loan borrowers. The plan will allow the U.S. Department of Education to provide up to $20,000 in debt relief to Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 in debt relief to those who are not a Pell Grant recipient. Any individual who makes $125,000 or less and families that make $250,000 or less are eligible for this relief. For more information regarding the Student Loan Relief Plan, you can view the White House Fact Sheet, and, for common FAQs, visit the Federal Student Aid website. The PACT Act To read more about the PACT Act, visit White House Fact Sheet page, or contact your congressperson’s office for information and assistance.
SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH |
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This month is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. It is important to dedicate time and attention to suicide prevention as it is often stigmatized, but very common. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, suicidal thoughts can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. More often than not, suicide is the result of an untreated mental health condition. It is crucial that everyone’s mental health is prioritized just as much as their physical health. This month is all about acknowledging mental health and supporting one another. To read more about National Suicide Prevention Month and how to get involved, visit www.nami.org. If you or anyone you know is struggling or in crisis please utilize the new Suicide and Crisis Hotline. You can call or text 988 and help will be available.
COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE Recently, the FDA amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to use bivalent formulations as a single booster dose. This most up-to-date booster dose can be given after at least two months prior to the primary or booster vaccination. The updated booster is more effective at protecting against the newer variants of COVID-19 such as the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants. Who is eligible for the updated booster vaccination?
The COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are safe, effective and free. Children aged six months and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines and parents/guardians can begin making appointments today. For children aged six months to five years, the Pfizer-BioNTech is delivered in a series of three doses, whereas the Moderna vaccine is delivered in a series of two doses. More information on COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites is available on the Wayne County website*. The following people meet the criteria for eligibility for a second booster of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines:
Children aged 5-11 are eligible for a single booster if they received their second Pfizer-BioNtech vaccination shot at least five months ago. If you have not already received your primary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or booster, now is the time to do so. Information on vaccines, vaccine boosters, and testing locations are available on the Wayne County website. With both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services revising guidelines for masking, getting vaccinated and boosted now is more critical than ever to help protect ourselves and our communities — especially for those among us who are immunocompromised or otherwise cannot take the vaccine. *The Wayne County Health Department handles the 42 Wayne County communities outside of Detroit, which has its own separate health department.
COVID EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE The Wayne County Emergency Rental Assistance Program is still open for applications at Wayne County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) if you have not already applied for CERA and need rental assistance. Please be aware that you cannot receive assistance from both CERA and Wayne County’s program for the same time period. In some circumstances, applications for the Michigan COVID Emergency Rental Service (CERA) program are still being accepted for tenants with an active eviction case. To read more or check your application status, please visit michigan.gov/msdha/rental/cera. Senate Bill 445, signed into law by Governor Whitmer, now turns off the “able and available” requirement for federal unemployment claims filed during the pandemic. Part-time workers who could not work full-time will not have to pay back the benefits they received and/or may be eligible to claim benefits they were denied. To know if your claim was affected by this “able and available” requirement, your Notice of Determination, or Notice of Redetermination will list the “Issue” as either “Ability” or “Availability”. It will look similar to the one below: |
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If your claim was denied, you had your benefits halted, or your eligibility was re-determined because of the “able and available” requirement, please fill out the issue form on our website and our office will assist you. As always, if you or someone you know who lives in Senate District 6 is having trouble receiving their Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), please fill out this unemployment assistance form and our office will reach out to assist you with your issue as soon as possible. You can also visit the Michigan LEO FAQs page for answers to questions you may have regarding eligibility for unemployment or for issues you may have with your current claim. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is reminding Michigan residents they can now apply to vote absentee in the Nov. 8 general election. Voters choosing to vote by mail are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible to avoid postal delays. All voters registered in Michigan are eligible to vote absentee. They can apply online at Michigan.gov/Vote or print an application form from the site and mail, email, or hand deliver it to their local clerk. Voters can find their clerk’s contact information at Michigan.gov/Vote. Voters with disabilities may apply online for an accessible electronic absent voter ballot at Michigan.gov/Vote or Michigan.gov/AccessibleBallot. The accessible ballot can be completed electronically, printed, and returned to their clerk. Clerks will begin mailing out absent voter ballots by Sept. 29. They will be available for early, in-person voting in clerks’ offices on that date as well. A ballot-tracking tool on the Michigan.gov/Vote site allows voters to check when their clerk received their absentee ballot request, when they mailed out the ballot and, when they received the ballot back from the voter. For more information on absentee voting, or to register to vote, go to Michigan.gov/Vote. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel wants to warn Michiganders to be on the lookout for potential scammers seeking to take advantage of borrowers pursuing new sweeping student loan debt relief recently announced by the Biden Administration. Here are the highlights of the announced loan debt relief:
AG Nessel encourages residents to follow these tips to avoid scams seeking to take advantage of borrowers’ eagerness to obtain debt relief:
Those who wish to make a report about potential scams can do so with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection team by filing a complaint online or by calling 877-765-8388. Labor Day Picnic Monday, Sept. 5, 2022 is Labor Day, and there will be a picnic at Van Buren Park in Belleville. The picnic starts at noon, and burgers and hotdogs will be provided. Bring a dish to pass, a lawn chair, and your family. There will be cornhole, ladder ball, and a playground for children. Have a great time and be safe! Note: If you are attending Labor Day events, be prepared to wear a mask and avoid any large gatherings if you have any symptoms of illness. |
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Back To School Another school year is here, and as our children are getting back into the classrooms, it is important to prepare them for success. Parents and guardians should be sure to check schedules, provide school supplies, and fill out required forms. Also, buses will be back on the roads so I have included some reminders about sharing the roads with buses below. Have a great school year! |
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As an elected representative, I believe in being readily available and transparent because my office is your office.To be removed from list, please respond to email. |