Nothing To Worry About

To all the parents who have young people entering school for the first time, I share with you this article I cut out of a newspaper many many moons ago; Enjoy!

Applications Available for Youth Garden Grant Program

PND - RFPs Applications Available for Youth Garden Grant Program

The National Gardening Association awards Youth Garden Grants to schools and community organizations across the United States with child-centered garden programs.

In evaluating grant applications, priority will be given to programs that emphasize one or more of the following: educational focus or curricular/program integration; nutrition or plant-to-food connections; environmental awareness/education; entrepreneurship; and social aspects of gardening such as leadership development, team building, community support, or service-learning.

Schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs, treatment facilities, and intergenerational groups in the United States are eligible to apply. Applicants must plan to garden with at least fifteen children between the ages of 3 and 18. Previous Youth Garden Grant winners who wish to reapply may do so but must wait one year and have significantly expanded their garden programs.

This year a hundred recipients will receive a $500 gift card from program sponsor the Home Depot and educational materials from the National Gardening Association.

The top five winners will also receive a $500 gift certificate to Gardening With Kids.

Yes, Some Unemployment Benefits Have Been Extended, but Not All

Snatched right from the Department of Labor's website:

COBRA Continuation Coverage Assistance Under ARRA

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides a COBRA premium reduction for eligible individuals who are involuntarily terminated from employment through the end of May 2010. Due to the statutory sunset, the COBRA premium reduction under ARRA is not available for individuals who experience involuntary terminations after May 31, 2010. However, individuals who qualified on or before May 31, 2010 may continue to pay reduced premiums for up to 15 months, as long as they are not eligible for another group health plan or Medicare.

The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 signed by the President on July 22, 2010, did not extend the COBRA premium reduction.

Individuals who believe they have been incorrectly denied the subsidy may request the Employee Benefits Security Administration review their denial and issue a determination within 15 business days. The application to request a review is available at http://www.dol.gov/COBRA.

My clarification:

1. Every person that is currently participating in the COBRA benefit premium reduction where the federal government is picking up 65% of the monthly COBRA fees, will no longer receive this financial assistance once they have exhausted the 15 month maximum under the ARRA. 

• Example: If you began paying for COBRA benefits as of August 1, 2009, and the regular fees were calculated at $1,000 per month for your family but with the 65% premium reduction in place you have been paying $350 per month.  As of November 1, 2010 you will be required to pay the $1000 per month because October 31, 2010 will be the last day of the 15 months of COBRA premium reduction assistance under the ARRA.  I strongly suggest that you check with your former employer about length of COBRA coverage past the 15 months and your new monthly fees.                                                                 

    2.   If you were involuntarily terminated (laid off) from your employment after May 2010, the
          65% premium reduction is not available to you.

****     I applied for a review and in less than the 15 days as stated on the DOL website, I
                was successful in being granted the 65% federal subsidy. If you have been denied,
                apply for a review.