Financial Services

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• Program Dates

  Notary

  Eligibles

  Requirements

  Income

  Resources

  Relief Amounts

  Levels of Relief

  Applications

  Recertification

  Changes

The purpose of this program is to provide assistance in the payment of monthly city solid waste fees to citizens of Newport News with low annual incomes.

Program Dates:

Applications are available throughout the year.

Notary:

All applications must be notarized. Assistance with application completion and free notary services are available by appointment at the Newport News Department of Social Services in Rouse Tower.

Eligibles:

Residents of the City of Newport News legally responsible for paying the solid waste fee, either directly in their water bill or indirectly through rent paid to landlords.

Requirements:

Applicant must be legally responsible for payment of the Solid Waste fee, reside in the dwelling, nursing home, mental institution, or institution for physical and/or mental care. Rental property, vacant property, and businesses are not eligible.

Income:

Combined total gross income of all household members is counted. Eligibility is based on income and household size.

• Exemptions:

  Residents and relatives (other than individual legally responsible for paying solid waste fees and spouse), receive a $7,000 deduction each from their gross annual income.

Resources:

Applicant and spouse allowed up to $75,000 in assets. Includes checking balance, savings, certificates of deposit, savings certificates, value of automobiles, boats, campers, stocks & bonds, cash value of life insurance policies, and non-exempt property, and excess property value.

• Exemptions:

  If homeowner, value of home and up to 1 acre of land it resides on.

Relief Amounts:

The amount of relief an applicant is eligible for is based on total gross combined annual income of applicant & all residents, after deductions are applied.

Levels of Relief:

• 100% Relief:

  100% relief of $2.53 per week is provided and no solid waste fee is charged on the applicants water bill. If applicant is paying solid waste fees through property rental, a check for the amount of the fees, $2.53 per week, is mailed to the applicant 6 months after the month eligibility is established.

• 67% Relief:

  67% of relief will provide relief of $1.69 per week and the applicant will be responsible for paying the remainder of the weekly solid waste fee of $0.84. $0.84 per week will be billed to the applicant in their water bill. Renters will receive a check 6 months after the month of sligibility for $1.69 per week.

• 33% Relief:

  33% relief will provide relief of $0.84 per week and the applicant will be responsible for paying $1.69 per week of the remaining solid waste fee in their water bill. Renters will receive a check 6 months after the month in which eligibility is established for $0.84 per week.

  (All relief amounts are reflected only in the amount of Solid Waste Fee that is charged, it has no impact on the amount of your bill for water consumption or other fees reflected on your water bills.)

Applications:

The Newport News Department of Social Services (Rouse Tower, 6060 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, Virginia 23605; 247-2300) administers the Solid Waste Fee Relief Program. Applications will be mailed to individuals upon request.

Applications may be picked up in person at either of our Social Services offices (6060 Jefferson Avenue or 368 DeShazor Drive). Home visits, application completion, and notarization of applications are arranged for individuals who are bedridden or homebound. Call 247-2300 for information, 247-2601 after November 1st.

Recertification:

Applicants found eligible for the Solid Waste Fee Relief Program are required to be recertified at least annually. An application will automatically be mailed to eligible applicants when it is time to renew their eligibility.

Changes:

Individuals who have been found eligible for any of the three levels of relief are required to report any changes that would effect their eligibility due to changes in their income, resources, or situation. Changes are to be reported to the Newport News Department of Social Services as they occur.