Have you heard? Hundreds
of programs exist to help seniors today.
This could make life much better
for you.
You want to learn about all the help
that might be out there for senior citizens, right? Often there are so many
different programs you don’t know how to go after them. Some programs help
with health care and prescription costs. Others may offer financial
assistance or property tax relief. Still others might help you find part-time
work, a social worker, daily hot meals, or places you can volunteer.
The service is confidential and
free.
You do not give your name, address or
Social Security number. You do have to give your zip code because where you
live can help you decide the closest location to apply for certain programs.
You will be asked your age, whether or
not you serviced in the military, if you are disabled, what your monthly
income is. Questions like that.
Help is here.
The National Council on Aging has come
up with one place to learn about state and federal programs you might be
eligible for. It’s simple, fast. And it’s free. You do need a computer to
get the information, but organizations in your community can help you connect
to the Internet. Your senior center. A friend or relative. Your
neighborhood library. Your church. The Bexar Area Agency on Aging.
The website for consumers is
www.benefitscheckup.org/link/bexar_aging.
When you get to the web site, you will
answer about 30 simple, easy to understand questions that will help figure out
what programs you are likely to be eligible for.
It will take about 15-20 minutes to
complete.
If you would like assistance in
completing the questionnaire, the Bexar Area Agency on Aging has trained
Benefits Counselors to help you. This can be done in person, or over the
phone (we will mail you the results), or we can send you a paper version of
the questionnaire, which you can complete and send back. We will enter your
information into BenefitsCheckUp, and then mail you the results. For this
assistance, please call (210) 362-5254.
Sample of included programs:
Who can use BenefitsCheckUp and how
often?
Anyone can use BenefitsCheckUp. You
can use it yourself or you can ask a relative, a trusted friend, or someone in
your local community to help you.
BenefitsCheckUp is free no matter how
many times you use it. This means you can fill in the zip code of another
town or state—somewhere an elder friend or relative lives for instance—and
find out what benefits that location might offer.
The website for Consumers is
www.benefitscheckup.org/link/bexar_aging.
If you are a BenefitsCheckUp
Counselor, please go to
www.benefitscheckup.org/oe.
For
assistance with BenefitsCheckUp please call the Bexar Area Agency on Aging at
210-362-5254.
