Benefits and Services for Seniors in New York City

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Benefits and Services forSeniors in New York
City
NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING Diane
Rose, September 17, 2008
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Community Services

• Case Management
• -Case Assistance
• - Home Delivered Meals
• -Improving Long-Term Care Access
• Senior Centers
• Legal Services

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HELPING PEOPLE AGE WELL
Elderly Crime Victims Unit Helping seniors in
time of crisis.
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HELPING PEOPLE AGE WELL

• Grandparent Resource Center
• Helping Grandparents raise children

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HELPING PEOPLE AGE WELL

• HIICAP (Health Insurance Information Counseling
  and Assistance Program)
• Unbiased medical insurance counseling.

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HELPING PEOPLE AGE WELL

• Employment/Volunteer Opportunities
• -Senior Employment
• -Foster Grandparents Program
• -Intergenerational Programs

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HELPING PEOPLE AGE WELL
Information and Referral --Distribution of
literature --Walk-In Center --Community Outreach
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Benefits for Seniors Living in NYC
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Social Security

• Eligibility
• When to start collecting benefits
• Other family members may qualify for benefits
• Survivor Benefits
• Call Social Security Administration (800)
  772-1213
• Translation is available.

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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

• Maximum monthly benefits
• -724.00 for individuals living alone
• -1060.00 for couples
• Allowable assets
• 2000 for individual
• 3000 for couple
• 1500 Plus burial fund per person
• Call Social Security Administration (800)
  772-1213
• Translation is available.

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Veterans Benefits

• Contact
• US Department of Veterans Affairs
• New York Regional Office
• [phone] or
• [phone]

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Public Assistance

• Cash benefits for low-income persons
• Benefits vary depending on specific situations
• -assets
• -rent
• -housing status
• -work-related expenses
• Call 311 for more information

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Medicare

• A health insurance program for those 65 and older
  who are eligible to receive Social Security or
  railroad retirement benefits. Disabled people
  under 65 may be eligible after receiving Social
  Security Disability for two years.
• Application must be made three months before 65th
  birthday to avoid penalty.

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Medicare

• Part A Covers
• Inpatient hospital care
• Inpatient skilled nursing facility
• Home health care and hospice care
• Deductibles and co-insurance apply.

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Medicare

• Part B covers
• Doctor services
• Outpatient hospital services
• Durable medical equipment, and other medical
  services and supplies.
• Pays 80 of Medicare-accepted charges after an
  annual deductible of 135.00 has been met.
  Persons eligible for Part A pay a monthly premium
  of 96.40.
• Call Social Security Administration (800)
  772-1213
• Translation is available.

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Medicare

• Part C is Medicare Choice
• Choose from several Health Insurance HMOs to fit
  your needs.
• Part D is Prescription Coverage
• --Call HIICAP for help enrolling.
• Or
• Call Social Security Administration (800)
  772-1213
• Translation is available.

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Medicare Savings Programs

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB)
• Medicaid covers the monthly Part B premium
  (96.40) in addition to deductibles and
  co-insurance.
• Monthly income limitations
• One person 867.00
• Couple 1167.00
• Asset limitations none

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Medicare Savings Programs

• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries
  (SLIMB)
• Medicaid covers the monthly Part B premium
  (96.40).
• Monthly income limitations
• One person 1040.00
• Couple 1400.00
• Asset limitations none

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Medicare Savings Programs

• Qualified Individual 1 (QI-1)
• Medicaid covers the monthly Part B premium
  (96.40).
• Monthly income limitations
• One person 1170.00
• Couple 1575.00
• Asset limitations none
• Call 311 for more information
• Translation is available.

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Medicaid

• Health care coverage for low-income persons of
  any age.
• Eligibility criteria for those 65 years or older,
  blind, or disabled
• Income limitations
• 725.00 One person
• 1067.00 Couple
• Asset limitations
• 13,050.00 One person
• 19,200.00 Couple

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Medicaid

• Surplus Income Program
• Nursing Home Transfer of Income and Assets
• Call 311 for more information
• Translation is available.

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Food Stamps

• Asset limitations None
• Call 311 for more information
• Translation is available.

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MTA Reduced Fare

• Those persons 65 and older or with disabilities
  are eligible for a Reduced Fare on all NYC
  subways and regular buses.
• Apply at MTA Customer Service Center
• 3 Stone Street
• New York, NY 10004
• or
• Call 212-METROCARD

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Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)

• Tenants in rent-controlled/stabilized,
  Mitchell-Lama and hotel units may be exempt from
  certain rent increases.

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Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)

• Who can apply?
• Must be age 62 or over
• Must be the head of the household or the tenant
  of record, or the older spouse of that person
• Must live in either a rent-controlled or rent
  stabilized apartment, or a rent regulated hotel
  unit
• Apartment must be the actual residence
• Total household income for the previous year
  cannot exceed 28,000.
• Monthly rent must be more than one-third of your
  monthly household income.
• Call 311 for more information
• Translation is available.

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Senior Citizen Homeowners Exemption (SCHE)

• Savings of up to 50 to qualified property owners
  of 1 to 3 unit houses, condos or co-op
  apartments.
• Applicants must be 65 years or older (All
  co-owners must be 65 or older except for spouse.)
  
• Income limit 35,400 for the last calendar year.
• Call 311 for more information
• Translation is available.

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IT-214 and NYC-210

• Tax credits for people who do not file NYS income
  tax forms.
• IT-214 Benefit is based on value of property and
  income or rental costs and income.
• Amount of benefit varies
• NYC-210 Benefit is based only on residency in
  New York City during the prior year
• Benefit is 145 per person
• Call 1-800-225-5829
• Application online www.tax.state.ny.us

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Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

• A one-time grant per year to help low-income
  homeowners and renters pay fuel and utility
  costs.
• Monthly income limit for 2008-2009 program year
• 1963.00 one person
• 2567.00 couple
• No asset limit
• Call 311 for more information
• Translation is available.

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Weatherization Referral and Packaging Program
(WRAP)

• Free home energy services designed to lower the
  energy bills of low-income seniors.
• Income qualifications are the same as the HEAP
  income guidelines
• Call 311 for more information
• Translation is available.

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Elder Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC)

• Prescription coverage for seniors 65 and over.
• 20.00 is the maximum that a senior with EPIC
  would pay per prescription per month.
• No asset limits
• Income limits
• 35,000 one person
• 50,000 couple
• Call EPIC for more information
• 1-800-332-3742
• Translation is available.

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New York State School Tax Relief Program (STAR)

• Basic STAR is the New York State tax relief
  program that reduces the school tax portion of
  real property taxes for all New Yorkers who own
  one, two, or three-family homes, condos, or
  cooperatives. There is no age, income, or asset
  limitation.
• Enhanced STAR is an additional reduction for
  seniors 65 and older whose annual household
  income does not exceed 70,650.00 per year.
• Call 311 for more information
• Translation is available.