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For Immediate Release A Conversation with Senator Brubaker Forms for student financial aid available The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to determine eligibility for many grants, loans and other financial aid at the federal and state levels, and can now be completed for the 2008-2009 school year. Each year, millions of students fail to complete the FAFSA because they think they will not qualify for aid, but students at all higher education institutions are eligible. Many factors, including family income, a student's year in school, and tuition costs, are considered, meaning that a large percentage of students will qualify for some sort of aid. The U.S. Education Department will process applications for the 2008-2009 academic year until June 30, 2009, but state aid deadlines are May 1, 2008, for Pennsylvania residents in a four-year degree program or two-year transfer program, and August 1, 2008, for residents in two-year non-transferable programs. Students should also contact their school's financial aid office to verify deadlines, since some require that a FAFSA be filed much earlier to qualify for school-sponsored scholarships and other aid. The FAFSA for both new and returning students must be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you prefer the paper form, you may call 1-800-4FED-AID to request one, or you can download a form from the FAFSA web site. Commonwealth earns perfect score in pandemic preparedness Pennsylvania was one of seven states to recently earn a perfect score in a nationwide health preparedness study. The study, compiled by the Trust for America's Health, a non-partisan research organization, used 10 indicators to rate a state's preparedness for events such as a flu pandemic or bioterrorism. These ranged from a state's ability to distribute drugs from the national stockpile to whether the state uses a disease surveillance system that is compatible with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and the anthrax scares that followed soon after, states have made significant progress in preparing for major health emergencies, the report noted. I am very pleased to see that Pennsylvania scored so high, and commend our state and local governments for working together to see that our citizens will be as safe and protected as possible in case of an emergency. Ice, wind and insurance Although we have already seen some winter weather, January and February are typically months in which ice and wind also affect Pennsylvania. The state Department of Insurance recommends that you review your homeowners and auto insurance policies before you begin clean up and repairs following damage from a winter storm. The Department advises that you contact your insurance agent or company immediately to start the claim process, and not touch the damage until an insurance adjuster can look at it and give you instructions. While you can make temporary repairs to your home, permanent repairs before an adjuster's inspection could trigger a denial of your claim. You should also keep a log with notes and your insurance company's instructions, along with pictures of the damage which can be useful in case an appeal to your company's claim manager becomes necessary. Once you begin repairs, you can check to make sure you are working with a reputable contractor by checking with the Better Business Bureau, getting estimates and references, and asking for everything in writing. In addition, individuals can direct related questions and concerns to the Insurance Department at 877-881-6388, or through the Harrisburg regional office at 717-787-2317.
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