Advocacy

Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich were AARP Pennsylvania’s guests on an August 25 TeleTown Hall aimed at encouraging older and disabled Pennsylvanians to apply for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program this year and informing them of the historic enhancements to the PTRR program, which AARP Pennsylvania advocated for, that will take effect in 2024.

Recently, Governor Shapiro signed two significant bills - House Bill 1100 and House Bill 611. AARP Pennsylvania celebrates these legislative actions, which will bolster the well-being of older homeowners and renters, helping them stay in their homes and communities.

The Master Plan for Older Adults will serve as a 10-year, state-led and stakeholder-driven roadmap to build and maintain a Pennsylvania where every resident can live and thrive at any age. And the Commonwealth needs your help to make it happen. Read on to see how you can help guide the ongoing process.

As the peak summer vacation season approaches, AARP Pennsylvania is warning travelers to be on the lookout for online vacation rental scams. Popular online vacation platforms offer a convenient and affordable way to find vacation rentals, but scammers are using them to take advantage of unsuspecting travelers.

The Pennsylvania Senate is considering House Bill 611, which – if passed in its current form – will provide no increase for needed aging services and supports. We need your help to restore these cuts.

If there is one thing everyone should understand, it’s that “scammers” are career criminals skilled at the art of manipulation and no one is immune. These crooks target people of any age; in fact, 41% of those who reported a fraud loss to the Federal Trade Commission last year were under the age of 30. So, what can a person do if they experience fraud?

Spring has sprung and with warmer weather comes home repairs. Unfortunately, shady contractors are out there looking homeowners in the market for spring repairs. Contractor fraud and home improvement scams can cost homeowners thousands of dollars and leave them with shoddy workmanship, unfinished projects, or even damage to their homes.

In collaboration with our Consumer Issues Task Force (CITF) - led by Chairperson Mary Bach and supported by Associate State Director of Community Outreach David Kalinoski - AARP Pennsylvania has a long and respected history of advocating to spread information and knowledge about frauds and scams.

Gift card sales rose from $130 billion in 2015 to $173 billion in 2021, and while they are popular with consumers, they are also popular with criminals. In fact, researchers estimate that $40 to $50 billion is stolen from fraud victims in any given year.

AARP knows that access to an employer-based retirement plan is critical for building financial security later in life. That is why we are fighting for over two million Pennsylvania employees who work for a private sector employer that does not offer a traditional pension or a retirement savings plan to easily save for retirement.