Monthly cash benefits based on years of employment and amount withheld from earnings.

Full Retirement Age (FRA): 65 IF born before 1938; IF born 1938 and later, gradually rises from 65 to 67. In 2007 FRA for a person born in 1942 is when he/she reaches 65 and 10 months.

Earning limit for persons under 65 -$12,960

Individuals 65+ - no limit.

For persons under 65, for every $2 earned over the limit, $1 withheld from benefits.

A person who attains age 65 in 2007 can earn up to $34,440 with no loss of benefits.

For the year persons obtain age 65, for every $3 earned over the limit, $1 withheld from benefits, but only counting earnings before the month you reach the full benefit retirement age.

None.

Social Security Administration:
1(800) 772-1213
www.socialsecurity.gov

Payments based upon work record of deceased.

Widow/Widower age 60+ or 50+ and disabled.

All same as SS Retirement Benefit.

Payments based upon sufficient work prior to onset of disability.

Disabled individual of any age, with an impairment that is expected to keep him/her out of a customary occupation for a minimum of one year, and spouse, if spouse is 62+, or with dependent child under age 16.

All same as SS Retirement Benefit.

Monthly cash benefits to meet food, clothing and shelter needs, financed through general tax revenues, not the Social Security Trust Funds.

Persons 65+, blind or disabled of any age who have low income and resources. Must be of U.S. citizenship or lawfully admitted permanent resident prior to August 22, 1996.

Individuals living alone-$710+$20*, Couples $1038+$20*

Individuals living with others - $646 + $20*, Couples $980+ $20*

Individuals living in another household –$438.34+$20*, Couples- $668.67+$20*

*First $20 unearned income is excluded

Individuals: $2,000.
Couples: $3,000.

Exemptions: $1,500 per individual for burial fund; a car per household, home (primary residence), personal, household goods.

Social Security Administration
1(800) 772-1213
www.socialsecurity.gov

Coverage for acute hospital care and limited coverage for skilled nursing facility, home health care and hospice.

$992 deductible for 1st through 60th day of hospitalization. Co-insurance payments thereafter.

Persons 65+ who:
a) are eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits; or
b) those who wish to purchase coverage, though they are not eligible for the above benefits; or
c) disabled workers after entitlement to disability for 24 months; or
d) persons with chronic renal disease.

None.

Social Security Administration
1(800) 772-1213
www.medicare.gov

HIICAP
1(212) 333-5511

Optional; partial coverage (80% of approved fee) for physician, outpatient clinic, skilled nursing care and durable medical equipment; $93.50 premium per month; $131 yearly deductible.

Same As Medicare Part A

Covers both brand-name and generic prescription drugs at participating pharmacies in your area. Medicare prescription drug coverage provides protection for people who have very high drug costs.

Everyone with Medicare is eligible for this coverage, regardless of income and resources, health status, or current prescription expenses.

Note: The annual open enrollment period starts on November 15th and ends on December 31st. If you don’t sign up for a plan during this period you may have to pay a penalty. If you are new to Medicare, you may join a Medicare prescription drug plan from three months before you turn 65 to three months after you turn 65. Generally, if you are disabled, you may join three months before and three months after your 25th month of disability.

None

Social Security Administration
1(800) 772-1213
www.medicare.gov

NYC Department for the Aging
1(212) 341-3200

Pays for Medicare premiums. It can also pay for coinsurance and deductibles if provider also accepts Medicaid.

Persons age 65+ or disabled who have low income and low resources, are enrolled in Medicare Part A and eligible for Medicare Part B.

Individuals: $851/month, $4,000 in Resources

Couples: $1,141/month, $6,000 in Resources

Individuals: $1,021/month, $4,000 in Resources

Couples: $1,369/month, $6,000 in Resources

At these income limits, program pays for Medicare part B premiums only.

In addition, there are other programs that can help pay all or part of the Medicare Part B premium. These programs are called QI-1 and QWDI. These programs are for people with higher incomes.

New York City Human Resources Administration
1(877) 472-8411

Comprehensive health care benefits, including coverage for hospitals, physician, skilled nursing facility, health related facility, home care.

Persons 65+, blind, disabled children under 21 or the caretaker relative of a dependent child who is experiencing deprivation of parental support.

Individuals: $700/month + $20*
Couples: $900/month + $20*

* When one spouse is institutionalized and receiving Medicaid, the other spouse while not receiving Medicaid may retain $2,541 in monthly income and $101,640 maximum in assets.

* The first $20 of income is exempt. Individuals/couples with incomes slightly higher than the above maximums must pay Medicaid the surplus between their income and the maximum Medicaid allowable income.

Individuals: $4,200.
Couples: $5,400.
Exempt: primary residence, car, certain additions for burial.

Medical Assistance Program

Application for Medicaid made at offices throughout New York City
HRA Hotline: 1(877) 472-8411
or
HIICAP: 1(212) 333-5511

Medicaid coverage as described above, but on a month-to-month basis after the use of excess income to cover medical costs.

Same as Medicaid Full Coverage except for income levels.

No maximum, providing that medical expenses reduce net income to the levels listed above.

Same as Medicaid

Monthly allotment of benefits through a debit card system for purchasing nutritious food items; dollar value depends on household size and income.

Elderly 60+, or disabled

Each case reviewed individually.

$3,000 per household.
*Note: Clients can own one vehicle of any value.

HRA Hotline: 1(718) 291-1900

Cash payments for food, rent, moving expenses, utilities, furniture, repairs, etc. in case of emergency.

SSI-eligible persons or currently receiving SSI; with a documented need for assistance.

Same as SSI

Same as Food Stamps

Reduces cost of basic telephone service to as little as $1.00 a month

Persons eligible to receive assistance benefits from at least one of these programs: Medicaid, Food Stamps, SSI, Heap, Veterans non-service related Disability Pension and Veterans' Surviving Spouse Pension.

See eligibility.

Verizon 1(800) 555-5000
www.lifelinesupport.org

Relief from obligation to pay rent increases; landlord is compensated by reduction in real estate taxes.

Persons 62+, who live in rent-controlled, Mitchell-Lama, rent stabilized apartments, and whose rent is one-third of their income or more - not including air conditioning, auxiliary services and utility charges.

Combined total household income from all sources must be less than $27,000 including Social Security Income. After July 1, 2008 the amount will increase to $28,000.

None.

NYC Dept. for the Aging,
SCRIE 1 (212) 442-1000 or 311 in NYC
(For Mitchell-Lama, call the Dept. of Housing Preservation and Dev. 1(212) 863-8494)

Renters/homeowners $50-$400. If heat included in rent: $40 or $50. Grant or energy credit, depending upon income, household size and type of fuel used.

Low income homeowners and renters.

Monthly income:
Individuals: $1,764;
Couples: $2,307

None.

NYC Department for the Aging
1(212) 442-1000 or
311 in NYC

Reduced Fare privileges on NYC owned buses and subways and the Staten Island Ferry - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Reduced Fare benefits are also available on NYC Transit and some private express bus lines during non-rush hours. Available to customers with one of the following forms of identification: Reduced Fare Metro Card, Medicare card. Reduced Fare Metro Card automatically deducts correct reduced fare, and allows you to transfer free between NYC Transit subways and buses.

Persons 65+ and disabled riders.

None.

NYC Transit 1(718) 243-4999
or 311 in NYC

Provides transportation for people with disabilities who are unable to use public bus or subway service for some or all of their trips. It offers shared ride, door-to-door paratransit service. MTA New York City Transit administers AAR; private carriers under contract to NYC Transit provide service.

Disabled riders.

None.

NYC Transit
1(877) 337-2017

Cuts prescription drug costs.

NYS residents 65 or older; must meet income guidelines.
Not Eligible if receiving full Medicaid benefits.

Fee Plan:
Single: $20,000 or less;
Married: joint income $26,000 or less.

Deductible Plan:
Single: $20,001 to $35,000
Married: joint income $26,001 to $50,000

None.

EPIC Helpline
1(800) 332-3742

Exemption from school property taxes for owner occupied primary residences. All New York City homeowners qualify for a basic exemption and senior citizen homeowners can qualify for an enhanced exemption if they meet the below qualifications.

Enhanced: Seniors 65 years of age or older who own and live in a one, two or three family home, condominium or cooperative apartment, whose income is less than $67,850. The benefit reduces property tax approximately $375 a year.

Basic: All residential property owners who live in a one, two or three family home, condominium or cooperative apartment, regardless of age and income. The benefit reduces property tax approximately $200 a year.

See eligibility.

None.

New York City Department of Finance
Customer Assistance Line
1(212) 504-4080 or 311
www.nyc.gov/finance