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The New York STAR exemption is the tax property tax break available for owner-occupied, primary residences where the combined income of resident owners and their spouses is $500,000 or less.  This year there's been some changes to the STAR program and you must act soon in order to not lose your exemptions!These 8 facts will help yo understand what you must do: New legislation requires all homeowners receiving a Basic STAR exemption to register with the New York State Tax Department in order to receive STAR exemptions starting in 2014 and from then on. As a result, you do not have t

Do you know what free legal aid or low-cost aid is?  Do you know how to even start looking for free or low-cost legal assistance in New York?  The short Q&A article below will answer some of the most common questions regarding how to find free or low-cost legal aid, the types of cases that legal aid programs take, what you can expect from your legal aid lawyer, and more!If you cannot afford a lawyer, legal aid may be able to help you:There are legal aid offices (also called legal services) throughout the United States.  Legal aid offices are not-for-profit agencies that provide free lega

Maintaining healthy finances is often a daunting process for many people. It can be complex to keep track of the various interest rates, debts and obligations. It is also easy to fall into the trap of misinformation.  But its worth trying to figuring it all out!  Why?  Because financial literacy has been found to improve quality of life.  Plus, if you have a family its a skill you can pass onto your children to help get their life started on a successful life.

NY State of Health is the website that lets you shop for, compare, and buy a health plan online, in person or over the phone.  Because there is still very little we know about the health plans that will be available for New Yorkers, they have now opened up a Customer Service Center to help New Yorkers along the way. Trained representatives are now available to answer any questions you may have about the health plans, financial assistance, or anything else about the NY State of Health Exchange.

Today we remember the nearly 3,000 victims of 9/11, their families, and the brave and caring efforts of many individuals, community groups, and others that provided (and continue to) provide assistance.Please note that if you are still dealing with an issue as a result of the 9/11 events, there is still help out there.Please contact: Peaceful Tomorrows: http://www.peacefultomorrows.org/ 9/11 Families: http://911families.org/

There's no doubt that going to court is stressful.  There is a lot you have to do to prepare your documents and your thoughts to be ready to appear before a judge.This quick guide will help explain the different steps you will have to take when you go to court.

With Labor Day now upon us and all the news about the need to raise the federal minimum wage, we thought we would take a few minutes to share some of our favorite New York workers' rights resources.Many workers' rights are protected by federal, state, and local laws, therefore, take a few minutes to learn about these laws so you are prepared if anything comes up in your workplace.  Make sure to print or save this page for future reference!The Workers' Rights section on LawHelpNY.org gives New Yorkers up-to-date content and all the latest legal developments.  We looked around this section

[caption id="attachment_2707" align="alignleft" width="150"] Photo: United Way[/caption]This program assists home owners, landlords and renters whose primary homes were damaged by Sandy.  But, the current registration deadline is  October 31!  You can register online at nyc.gov/builditback or you can call 311.Renters —go to this link for details: Build it Back info for Renters.Renters, you may be eligible for rental subsidy.  To get some help figuring out your eligibility and how to apply, contact Catholic Charities: Catholic Charities is operating a Disaster Case Management progra

Are you 60 or older?Are you low income?Governor Cuomo has launched a new initiative to help you get fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers markets in your area.  As part of this initiative, low income Seniors can receive booklets with five $4.00 checks which can be used to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables at local Farmers’ Markets.

In New York State, over 2 million of the 19 million residents lack health insurance.  Due to the Federal Affordable Care Act, most Americans will be required to have that insurance by January 1, 2014, or face tax penalties.In preparation for these changes, below is a list of the top 10 things New Yorkers should be aware of in order to prepare for the health benefit Exchange:1.