5 Lesser-Known Resources to Get Senior Citizen Benefits

posted on Nov 02 by Amelia in the Advocacy, Disability News, Interesting Links category

Now, more than ever, senior citizens are pushing back their retirement dates to make ends meet. Some are even coming out of retirement to take jobs with pay barely above minimum wage. In today’s economy, senior citizens need all the assistance possible. While benefits such as AARP, Medicare, and Social Security continue to be among the most well known and largest resources of income and health care above and beyond a senior’s standard pension plan, there are benefits to aid seniors in maintaining their lives that are not as well known.

1. The GETS (Government Emergency Telecommunication) card gives callers a higher chance of completing calls in times of emergency when the phone networks are congested. The card gives you access numbers and a personal identification number that would ensure a senior could call for help and get through. The card is perfect for seniors that live alone in areas that are at a higher risk for natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes. To see if you qualify, visit the GETS website at http://gets.ncs.gov/ftr_hold.html.

2. The AAHSA (American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging) helps seniors and their families through not-for-profit organizations that provide services seniors need in their homes. Over 5,700 organizations that offer adult day services, home continuing care, retirement communities, nursing homes, home appliances, furniture, repairs, careers for seniors, and thousands of others joined together to assist seniors maintain their independent lives in their homes that live on a limited budget. To see all the services offered by AAHSA, visit their website at http://www.aahsa.org.

3. Reverse mortgages are becoming more and more popular in America. Originally created by the Federal Housing Administration, a reverse mortgage enables you to withdraw some of the equity in your home. Many seniors use it to supplement social security and pension payments. It’s a special type of home loan that lets your convert a portion of the equity in the home into cash. The equity that built up over years of paying the home mortgage payments can be paid to the owner. Unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no repayment is required until the borrower no longer uses the home as their principal residence.

4. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is available in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and offers financial assistance to senior citizens,  families, or individuals who qualify. The website is a little daunting and not quite user-friendly, but don’t let that dissuade you from filing for assistance. With the temperatures dropping and the home heating bills rising, every little bit helps. For more information, visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap for more information.

5. BenefitsCheckUp.org is an all-in-one clearinghouse to help you get started with discovering what programs for which you’re qualified to receive benefits. It’s a service provided by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and according to their website, they’ve helped over 2,600,000 seniors find over $9 billion in benefits and counting as of the date of this writing. The BenefitsCheckUp could prove to be a godsend that can help you determine if you qualify for LIHEAP along with many other programs and is a must visit in your search for senior assistance http://www.benefitscheckup.org.

In addition to the above items, remember that many businesses offer a senior citizens discount, and some of those discounts do not make you wait until you’re a 65-year-old retiree. For example, AMC Movie Theaters offers a senior discount day for anyone 55-years-and-older. Check with your local AMC for more information regarding their day or if you don’t have one near you, try checking with your local multiplex for a similar offer. Be your own best advocate whenever you can and whenever we find more senior resources, AMS Wheelchair Vans will be there to help.