State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38
Update

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*Constituent Stories**

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*Helping
a Family Get Back on Their Feet*

I am proud that my hard-working
staff was able to help over 30 constituents with their PA Department
of Human Services (DHS) benefits in October. This week we're sharing
one of their stories.

A constituent reached out to our office last
month to get help during an incredibly difficult time for her family.
With no income and limited access to food, she was doing everything
possible to keep her household afloat. Despite being approved for food
and utility assistance beginning October 1, 2025, technical delays at
the PA Department of Human Services left her waiting for support that
had yet to arrive. To make matters worse, she had very real concerns
that even if her benefits started, they might stop in November due to
the federal government shutdown.

"It has been incredibly hard to
survive," she shared. "We roll coins for groceries. My mom and sisters
drop off food when they can. I'm diabetic--food isn't optional, it's
medically necessary."

My staff worked with her to review details of
her case and gather the documentation needed to move things forward.
We helped her complete a Zero Income Statement--an important form for
households without earnings--and provided additional materials
confirming her eligibility to DHS.

With these updates in place, her
benefits were quickly reinstated. That same day, $560 in SNAP
assistance was added to her EBT card, and her LIHEAP application for
heating assistance was reopened and is now expected to be
approved.

What had been weeks of anxiety and uncertainty turned
into relief and stability--all thanks to the constituent's persistence
and the collaborative effort to ensure her family received the help
they needed.

The federal government reopened last week, but new
work requirements and other program changes have left state
governments that administer these life-sustaining federal programs
with a backlog. If you are facing difficulties with benefits like
SNAP, LIHEAP, Medical Assistance, etc. do not hesitate to reach out to
my office. We can help!

Contact one of my district offices at
412-364-0469 (Ross), 724-224-2131 (Natrona Heights), or email me at
[email protected] [link 1].

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*Upcoming
Events**

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[link 2]

*Last Week for our Community Food Drive*

My office is
hosting a food drive through December 1st. We are collecting needed
pantry items for North Hills Community Outreach and Feeding the Flock.
Please help out our neighbors in need by donating if you are
able.

State Sen. Lindsey Williams hosts food drive in Harrison,
Ross | TribLIVE.com [link 3]

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*Monthly
Office Hours at the Kingsley Association*

*Friday, December 5,
2025, from 9:00 AM -1:00 PM*

My office hosts monthly office hours
on the first Friday of every month at the Kingsley Association. Stop
by and say hello to our staff between 9:00 AM -1:00 PM and get access
to all of the services that our District Offices provide:

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Property Tax/Rent Rebates

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Senior Photo Connect Cards

-
PennDOT Forms

-
Connection to Resources

-
Unclaimed Property
Searches

-
Voter Registration

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And much more!

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*Good
News**

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*96.9
BOB FM Turns 20!*

I was pleased to present the team at 96.9 BOB FM
with citations commemorating their 20th Anniversary earlier this
month! Besides running a great radio station, BOB FM has been my
friendly Ross District Office nextdoor neighbor since 2019.
Congratulations to this hard-working group and look forward to
listening along for another 20 years!

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*Pittsburgh
Water ABC Project Kick Off*

I joined Pittsburgh Water as they broke
ground on their "ABC Project" earlier this month! This is the next
phase in their Water Reliability Plan and is named for its three major
components: restoration of the *A*spinwall Pump Station, complete
replacement of the *B*ruecken Pump Station, and construction of the
*C*learwell Bypass.

Every Pennsylvanian has a constitutional
guarantee to clean, pure water, and that includes drinking water. The
ABC Project will modernize our water distribution system, fulfilling
that promise of clean drinking water, while adding backups that will
ensure that water continues to flow in emergency situations.

Read
about the ABC Project at:
[link removed] [link
4].

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*Veterans
Honored at Highlands School District*

Thank you to Highlands School
District for including me in your 3rd Annual Veterans Day Celebration!
It was an honor to help recognize four Highlands Veterans for their
dedication to the community and to our country.

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*$cam
Jam in Morningside*

We had an excellent turnout for our $cam Jam at
the Morningside Senior Center! Attendees gained valuable insights into
how to protect themselves from investment fraud and everyday scams.
Attendees also had a chance to win prizes with a few rounds of "fraud
bingo."

A big thank you to the PA Banking and Securities, AARP
Pennsylvania Office, Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania
Office of Attorney General, and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for
joining us!

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*Honoring
our POW/MIA*

I was honored to join the Pittsburgh Steelers for
their annual dedication of the POW/MIA chair at Acrisure Stadium. This
empty chair serves as a reminder of all of the sacrifices made for our
country by these still missing service members.

You are not
forgotton - we're saving a seat for you.

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*Legislative
Update**

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*Funding
Higher Education*

I joined higher education classroom leaders from
across Pennsylvania as they rallied in Harrisburg for increased
investments in our colleges and universities.

I'm glad we finally
passed our 2025-26 budget and funded our state-related universities
like Pitt and Penn State. That money is starting to get out the door
to the organizations who have been waiting more than 4 months for
members of the Legislature to do their job.

And this budget did
include some modest bumps to grants and loans for students. But higher
education was mostly flat-funded. We all know that in this economy,
flat funding is a funding cut.

Pennsylvania is 49th in the country
in higher education investment; so it's no wonder that 64% of our
college graduates have student loan debt--the third most in the
country. I have about $130,000 in loan debt myself.

The fight for
investment in higher education strengthens professors' working
conditions and, in turn, improves students' learning conditions. The
more we invest, the better off Pennsylvania's future will be. We can't
keep getting by with what we've been doing for the past few years and
expect new results. It's time to make a real investment in higher
education for all Pennsylvanians.

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*News
You Can Use**

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[link 5]

*Big Changes for Pennie Open Enrollment
this Year
*

Open Enrollment for Pennie [link 6], Pennsylvania's official
health insurance marketplace, runs from November 1, 2025 - January 15,
2026! If you enroll by December 15th, you will have coverage on
January 1, 2026. And if you enroll by January 15th, you will have a
coverage effective date of February 1, 2026.

Pennie is still the
best option if your employer does not offer health insurance, but we
want to make you aware of significant changes that will result in
increased monthly premiums and documentation requirements due to
federal changes authorized by H.R. 1 of 2025 (also known as the One
Big Beautiful Bill).

*Changes this Open Enrollment Period: *

-
The enhanced premium tax credits (EPTC), introduced in 2021 to make
health insurance cheaper, are due to expire on December 31, 2025.
*Congress has not extended the EPTC which means monthly premiums will
go up starting January 2026 for most Pennie enrollees*.

-
If you
are a "lawfully present immigrant" you may no longer qualify for
financial savings.

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There are additional documentation
requirements to verify your information.

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There are higher
penalties for income changes without updating Pennie.

For details
on these changes go to: [link removed] [link 7].
*Enrollee Action Items*

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Read all communications from Pennie and
their insurance company.

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Update your information. *Due to
recent federal changes, there are increased penalties if income
information is not up to date.*

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Shop for plans during the 2026
Open Enrollment period starting November 1st at pennie.com [link 8].
Plans and prices change every year, especially this year.

*Go to
**[link removed]* [link 9]* to get started with your enrollment.
*You will need the following to complete the enrollment process:

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Photo ID(s) - driver's license, passport, or other document proving
your identity

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Social security number(s)

-
Last four weeks
of pay stubs

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Immigration documents, if applicable

-
Most
recent tax return(s)

*Need help?* Go to [link removed]
[link 10] or call 1-844-844-8040. Phone assistance is available during
the Open Enrollment period from November 1st - January 15th:

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Monday - Friday | 8:00am - 7:00pm

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Saturday
| 8:00am -
2:00pm

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Sunday | closed

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Special Extended Hours:

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Monday, December 15 | 8:00am - 10:00pm

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Thursday, January 15 |
8:00am - 7:00pm

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[link 11]

*Call PA MEDI for Your Medicare Open Enrollment
Questions!*

It is also time for Medicare Open Enrollment which
closes December 7th! Don't forget to take advantage of Pennsylvania's
FREE Medicare counseling program, Pennsylvania Medicare Education and
Decision Insight (PA MEDI).

During open enrollment every year, new
Medicare beneficiaries can sign up for Medicare Prescription Drug
coverage and health plans that complement Medicare. Current Medicare
beneficiaries can renew, join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage or
Prescription Drug Coverage to better meet their needs during the open
enrollment. Any changes you make will take effect on January 1, 2026.
There are an overwhelming number of Medicare health insurance options
out there, but fortunately the PA MEDI counseling service is available
to help you make informed decisions based on your individual needs.
Counselors are trained to optimize your cost savings and access to
healthcare and benefits. They do not sell or endorse Medicare
insurance products, companies, or agents. Consultations are free,
confidential, and unbiased.

This work is done with the help of
approximately 250 dedicated PA MEDI volunteers at local AAAs across
the Commonwealth. PA MEDI Counselors can help you understand:

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Medicare eligibility and enrollment

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Benefits & Services covered
under Parts A & B

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Financial Assistance Programs

-
Benefits
under Long-Term Care policies

-
Medicare Prescription Drug (Part
D) Benefit

To set up an appointment online with a PA MEDI counselor
go to:
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[link 12].

You can also call the PA MEDI Helpline at
1-800-783-7067, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., or the
Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging at 412-350-4234 to set up a
Medicare counseling appointment.

Learn more about PA MEDI, events
and programs, or become a volunteer at:
[link removed]
[link 13].

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[link 14]

*Grants Open to PA Communities for Rain Poetry!*

PA
Humanities has a new grant opportunity to bring the joy of
water-activated "Rain Poetry" to the streets and public spaces of
Pennsylvania's communities. Schools, libraries, arts groups, and
community organizations can make their own installations using a Rain
Poetry Toolkit developed by creators of past Rain Poetry host sites.
With this kit, your project will be easy!

Grants are awarded to
projects that use the Rain Poetry framework. Applications opened
October 14 and will be accepted through December 4, 2025.

-
*Download* [link 15] *the Rain Poetry Toolkit*

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*Preview* [link
16] *Grant Guidelines and Application*

-
*Watch* [link 17]* the
Webinar*

-
*Apply Now* [link 18] *through Grant Portal*

For
more information go to:
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[link 19]

Questions? Reach out to program staff at
[email protected] [link 20].

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*North
Park - Latodami Birding Hike*

*Wednesday, November 26,
8-10am*

Looking for a brisk outdoor experience before your
Thanksgiving celebrations get underway? Join the North Park Rangers at
Latodami Nature Center for a Birding Hike on Wednesday, November 26.
Hike starts at 8am, so dress appropriately and bring your
binoculars!

For more information and to register go to:
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[link 21].



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*We are Hiring Spring Interns!**

We are seeking
motivated and civically engaged college students to join our team as
*Spring Interns* in our district office located at *5000 McKnight
Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237*. This part-time position runs from
*January through May*, with the possibility of extension, and offers
compensation of *$15 per hour.*

Interns will work *15-25 hours per
week* and gain hands-on experience supporting the daily operations of
a legislative district office. Responsibilities may include assisting
with constituent casework, conducting policy and issue research,
drafting letters, memos, and outreach materials, supporting community
events, and contributing to communication efforts. Interns will work
directly with staff and have the opportunity to develop professional
skills in communication, writing, research, and public engagement
while learning how a legislative office functions.

Ideal candidates
are *college juniors or seniors* interested in government, political
science, journalism, human services, community organizing, or related
fields. Successful applicants will be detail-oriented, strong
communicators, comfortable working collaboratively, and committed to
public service.

The mission of the office of Senator Lindsey
Williams is to build community by meeting constituents where they are,
to advocate alongside them to improve their quality of life, and to
show people that government *can* and *should* work for them.

To
apply, please submit a *resume and cover letter* [link 24] by
*December 12*. We encourage interested students to apply and become
part of a team dedicated to making a difference in the
community.

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As
always, please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have
by phone at 412-364-0469 [link 25] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link
26] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 27]. My staff will return
your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

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Senator
Lindsey Williams

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tel:412-364-0469
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mailto:[email protected]

Contact
Information:

Website:
[link removed]

Office Location:
District
Office
5000 McKnight Road
Suite 405
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone:
412-364-0469
Fax: 412-364-0928
Monday ? Friday 9-5

Harrison
Office
1826 Union Avenue
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
Phone:
724-224-2131
Fax: 724-224-2145
Monday ? Thursday 9-5

Harrisburg
Office
366 Capitol Building
Senate Box 203038
Harrisburg, PA
17120-3038
Phone: 717-787-6538
Fax: 717-787-8625
By appointment
only


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