Get Your Benefit Check-Up
Q: Are many seniors losing out on benefits they don't know about?
A: Yes. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has published a "Benefits Check-Up" that lists 1,000 benefits programs that they say many seniors miss out on. Here is the NCOA list of "missed benefits":
1. SSI—Supplemental Security Income. This is a program that adds income to your Social Security check. 1.2 million seniors are missing out on SSI checks of $300 or more per month. Also, ask about the Special Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries program (SLMB) and the Qualified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB) to augment Social Security checks.
2. Medicaid—3 million seniors miss out on this key health benefit. Medicaid (known as "Mass Health" in Massachusetts), pays for hospital and doctor care. It also covers nursing home care, and drugs—the major gaps in Medicare.
3. Food Stamps—As many as 3.7 million seniors are eligible today for the Food Stamp program, but aren’t enrolled.
4. Pharmacy Assistance—29 states, including Massachusetts, offer financial assistance with the cost of prescriptions. The Pharmacy Advantage program is a publicly-funded insurance program for seniors of any income. Some members pay monthly premiums, with subsidies for lower-income elders.
5. Property Tax Relief—Massachusetts has state programs to reduce property taxes for income eligible seniors. In addition to tax exemptions and deferrals, Massachusetts now offers a "circuit-breaker" that limits property taxes proportionate to your income.
6. Veterans' Benefits—The Veterans Administration offers help with medical care, in-home services, home loans, etc. to veterans, regardless of their incomes.
7. Health Insurance Counseling—The SHINE program offers free help and counseling on Medicare, Medicare supplement insurance, and HMOs. SHINE stands for Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders.
8. State Veterans Benefits—Many states offer supplemental benefits for veterans, such as extra educational, advocacy, or health services.
9. Weatherization—The weatherization program provides free home energy repairs and services that can lower energy bills for seniors.
10. Nutrition Services—Seniors of all incomes over the age of 60 can get congregate meals at local senior centers and other convenient locations or meals on wheels at home if they can't get out.
To search for benefits that might help you, go to the NCOA web site at BenefitsCheckup.org. To be connected to an eldercare information specialist in your area, call 1-800-AGE-INFO and push "3."