NEWSFLASH...1-29-2008.... JUST PUBLISHED...SEE BELOW FOR NEW MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE INCOME GUIDELINES WHICH ALLOWS THOUSANDS MORE CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS WHO'S VEHICLES HAVE FAILED THEIR "REGISTRATION RENEWAL SMOG TEST" TO NOW "INCOME QUALIFY" FOR UP TO $500 WORTH OF PROFESSIONAL SMOG REPAIRS AT A SHOP THEY CHOOSE FOR JUST $20 TOTAL COST TO THEM! I HAVE JUST BEEN INFORMED BY EMAIL BY THE PROGRAM MANAGER OF THE CONSUMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS JUST PUBLISHED NEW FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES, USED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO CALCULATE THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE INCOME TABLE THE CAP PROGRAM USES TO "INCOME QUALIFY" SAVY CONSUMERS LIKE YOU FOR FREE SMOG REPAIRS. I HAVE ALSO BEEN INFORMED THAT THE ADJUSTED FIGURES HAVE ALSO BEEN REFLECTED THIS WEEK ON THE SMOG CHECK WEBSITE www.smogcheck.ca.gov AND A SPECIAL NOTICE, CONCERNING THIS CHANGE HAS BEEN SENT TO ALL SMOG CHECK STATIONS STATEWIDE. I HAD SEVERAL CUSTOMERS FAIL SMOG CHECK RECENTLY BUT, AT THAT TIME, THEIR INCOME LEVEL WAS JUST SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN ALLOWED TO QUALIFY. I HAD THEM WAIT THE FEW WEEKS TO SEE THE NEW NUMBERS AND NOW THEY DO QUALIFY! YESTERDAY THEY DIDN'T QUALIFY BUT TODAY THEY DO! THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR THEM AS THEY WILL SAVE $80 ON THEIR COPAYMENT, NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT! CHECK BACK HERE LATER NEXT WEEK TO SEE IF YOU MEET THE NEW MAXIMUM TO GET ALL YOUR SMOG REPAIRS DONE FOR ONLY$20. .....THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!!
THE 2 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF TO DETERMINE IF YOU QUALIFY
1. AM I BEING SENT BY DMV TO A "TEST ONLY CENTER?"
2. IS MY ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME BELOW THE MAXIMUM?
IF THE ANSWER TO EITHER OF THESE QUESTIONS IS YES AND THE SMOG CHECK IS BEING REQUIRED TO RENEW YOUR REGISTRATION, YOU QUALIFY!
2 VERY IMPORTANT FACTS
Fact 1) YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE LOW INCOME TO QUALIFY FOR THIS HELP .... IF YOUR REGISTRATION RENEWAL NOTICE IS TELLING YOU TO GO TO A "TEST ONLY CENTER" FOR THE SMOG TEST... "Smog Check Required at a Test Only Center" This qualifies your vehicle automatically.
Fact 2) All low income persons WILL QUALIFY for the "free repairs".
THE ONLY FOLKS WHO DON'T QUALIFY have incomes above the federal poverty level guidelines and are NOT being referred to a"Test Only Center".
For Example:
1 person(single)= $23,400 per year
2 persons = $31,500
3 persons = $39,600
4 persons = $47,700
5 persons = $55,800
6 persons = $63,900
2) "What if I fail to qualify by just a few hundred dollars, should I lie and report a lower income to the CAP program?"
Absolutely, if you want to be BANNED FROM THE PROGRAM FOR LIFE. If you have been sent to "Test Only" and are also trying to get income qualified to lower your co-pay, but your income exceeds the maximums, it's best to pay the higher co-pay and not risk eternal banishment. After all the difference is only $80 between the co-pay for income qualifiers vs. "Test Only" qualifiers and the state worker who is processing your application is only 1 keystroke away from knowing the truth.
3) "Why should I come to you to get help with the application, can't I just follow the instructions on the form?"
Sure, if you have an advanced degree in "gov-speak" and 45 minutes to an hour to spare to try to figure out how to do it. I've timed it. But with my instructions, we're done in 10 minutes flat and you know exactly what to expect to happen. I've now helped more than 1000 people navigate through the process sucessfully. I want you to have a smooth experience so you will return in 2 years for your next test and to refer business to me in the meantime. I would venture to guess that no other smog check station in the state has as much experience referring consumers into the repair program. I even get called by my local smog check competitors who are inquiring how they can get their friends and relatives approved! Could I mean that they don't tell their own customers who fail the test about these "free repairs". Hmmm........
4) "Come on now, there has to be a catch here. Nothing in life is free".
You know you're right, there is a catch. For all of the diagnosis of the problem and all of the repairs, repairs you will be required to pay a co-payment which is usually $20, so the repairs are not exactly "free" per se, but since it is your tax money which is funding the program, it's like you are getting some your own money back from the system.... Finally!
