How AARP is Working for You

Colorado employers will soon be barred from asking questions that could reveal someone’s age on a job application, thanks in part to advocacy by AARP Colorado.

The Job Application Fairness Act, which takes effect July 1, 2024, aims to fight age discrimination by making it illegal for companies to inquire about age, date of birth, or dates of high school or college attendance or graduation on an initial job application.

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Only a third of adults 50 and older are aware that federal health officials recommend 150 minutes of weekly exercise, and even fewer are achieving this level of fitness, according to a new AARP survey.

AARP and NORC at the University of Chicago, a nonpartisan research organization, surveyed more than 1,900 people 50 and older about their exercise and healthy living habits between May 22 and June 6 of this year.

Although the vast majority said they know that regular exercise would improve their health and help them live longer, only 23 percent reported getting the 150 minutes a week that is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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Utility companies in New York will no longer be able to routinely raise their rates to pay for infrastructure upgrades to comply with state climate goals, thanks in large part to lobbying by AARP New York.

The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) last month ruled that power companies will have to show that they’ve applied for federal funding earmarked for such upgrades before passing the costs on to consumers. Our state office recommended the policy change earlier this year.

AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel called the decision “a win for ratepayers” who are “already overburdened” by high utility bills.

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AARP Pennsylvania celebrated the expansion of a state program offering property tax and rent relief to hundreds of thousands of older Pennsylvania residents at a bill-signing ceremony last week.

The law, which Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Aug. 4, raises the maximum rebate under Pennsylvania’s Property Tax Rent Rebate (PTRR) program from $650 to $1,000. It also increases the income limit to qualify from $15,000 to $45,000 a year for renters, and from $35,000 to $45,000 a year for homeowners. The income cap will rise with inflation.

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The popularity of cryptocurrency in online investing has given scammers a new tactic to steal your hard-earned money. Nearly 53,000 people reported losing a total of $1.4 billion in crypto to scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Cryptocurrencies including bitcoin, ethereum, solana and others are subject to far less government regulation than traditional financial products — making it easier for criminals to hide their identities and harder for victims to get their money back.

AARP wants to change that, which is why we endorsed bipartisan legislation last week that would strengthen transparency and federal oversight of cryptocurrency.

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Michigan voters will find it easier to cast ballots in 2024 thanks to a series of newly enacted voting laws, including a measure that will allow early voting statewide.

The changes, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law July 18, come after voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment last November to expand voting rights in the state. AARP Michigan worked to educate state residents about the ballot initiative, known as “Promote the Vote,” and fought to block a competing measure that would have made voting in the state more difficult.

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Medicare will test a new way to provide care to people with dementia that includes a major focus on the needs of unpaid family caregivers. The program, unveiled by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 31, is a big win for AARP in our fight to support family caregivers.

Called GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience), the model program is designed to “improve quality of life for people living with dementia, reduce strain on unpaid caregivers and help people remain in their homes and communities,” a CMS news release said.

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AARP applauds the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for its decision last week to require accessible bathrooms on single-aisle planes with more than 125 seats.

We’re also pleased the DOT significantly shortened its timeline for implementing the requirement after pushback from AARP. Under the DOT’s original proposal, it would have taken decades for the changes to be widely adopted.


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