A Special Message to Seniors from Assemblyman Carl E. Heastie

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR

SENIOR
CITIZENS
from

Assemblyman
Carl E. Heastie

2008 Edition

NYS Seal

Dear friends and neighbors,

I wanted to send you this pamphlet prepared to help elders navigate the special services available from the government to seniors. It is designed to provide you with basic information about senior citizen benefit programs, and to let you know how to find out more about them.

Our seniors have worked hard all their lives and paid their taxes, it is only fair that we should see these programs dedicated to improving the quality of life of our elder community. If you are not sure which agency to turn to or you require any assistance please be sure to contact my office at (718) 654-6539. If you would like additional copies of the pamphlet for your friends or family, please do not hesitate to ask.

As always, if there is any way that I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me. My office is here to serve you.

If you would like to join my Task Force on Elder Issues, please send me an e-mail at:
heastic@assembly.state.ny.us
or call 718-654-6539.

With Love and Hope,
signature
Carl E. Heastie

DISTRICT OFFICE:
1351 E. Gun Hill Road
Bronx, NY 10469
718-654-6539

OFFICE HOURS:
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday

Social Security Retirement Benefits

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

Eligibility
Full Retirement Age (FRA): 65 IF born before 1938; IF born 1938 and later, gradually rises from 65 to 67. In 2008 FRA for a person born in 1942 is when he/she reaches 65 and 10 months.

Income Limits
Earning limit for persons under 65 -$13,560

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 2008 can earn up to $36,120 with no loss of benefits.

For the year persons obtain FRA, 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.

Resource Limits
None.

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

Survivor Benefits

Benefits
Payments based upon work record of deceased.

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

Income Limits

Resource Limits

Government Agency
All same as SS Retirement Benefit

Disability Benefits

Benefits
Payments based upon sufficient work prior to onset of disability.

Eligibility
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.

Income Limits

Resource Limits

Government Agency
All same as SS Retirement Benefit

Supplemental Security Income

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

Eligibility
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.

Income Limits
Individuals living alone-$724+$20*, Couples $1060+$20*

Individuals living with others - $660 + $20*, Couples $1002+ $20*

Individuals living in another household –$447.67+$20*, Couples- $683.34+$20*

*First $20 unearned income is excluded

Resource Limits
Individuals: $2,000. Couples: $3,000. Exemptions: $1,500 per individual for burial fund; a car per household, home (primary residence), personal, household goods.

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

Medicare Part A
Hospital Insurance Program

Benefits
Coverage for acute hospital care and limited coverage for skilled nursing facility, home health care and hospice. $1,024 deductible for 1st through 60th day of hospitalization. Co-insurance payments thereafter.

Eligibility
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.

Income Limits

Resource Limits
None.

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

HIICAP
1(212)341-3978

Medicare Part B
Supplemental Medical Insurance

Benefits
Optional; partial coverage (80% of approved fee) for physician, outpatient clinic, skilled nursing care and durable medical equipment; $96.40 premium per month; $135 yearly deductible.

Eligibility

Income Limits

Resource Limits

Government Agency
Same As Medicare Part A

Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Coverage

Benefits
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.

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

Note: You may sign up when you first become eligible for Medicare (three months before the month you turn age 65 until three months after you turn age 65). If you get Medicare due to a disability, you can join from three months before to three months after your 25th month of cash disability payments. If you don’t sign up when you are first eligible, you may have to pay a penalty. If you didn’t join when you were first eligible, your next opportunity to join will be from November 15, 2008 to December 31, 2008.

Income Limits

Resource Limits
None

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

HIICAP
1(212)341-3978

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)

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

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

Income Limits
Individuals: $867/month, $4,000 in Resources

Couples: $1,167/month, $6,000 in Resources

(SLMB)
Individuals: $1,040/month, $4,000 in Resources

Couples: $1,400/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.

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

Medicaid Full Coverage

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

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

Accountable Income Limits
Individuals: $725/month + $20*

Couples: $1067/month + $20*

When one spouse is institutionalized and receiving Medicaid, the other spouse, while not receiving Medicaid, may retain $2,610 in monthly income and $104,400 maximum in assets.

* The first $20 of income is exempt.

Resource Limits
Individuals: $4,350. Couples: $6,400. Exempt: primary residence, car, certain additions for burial.

Government Agency
Medical Assistance Program Application for Medicaid made at offices throughout New York City

HRA Hotline: 1(877) 472-8411 or
HIICAP 1(212)341-3978

Medicaid Excess Income Program

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

Eligibility
Same as Medicaid Full Coverage except for income levels.

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

Resource Limits

Government Agency
Same as Medicaid

Food Stamps

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

Eligibility
Elderly 60+, or disabled

Income Limits
Each case reviewed individually.

Resource Limits
$3,000 per household.

*Note: Clients can own one vehicle of any value.

Government Agency
HRA Hotline:
1(877)472-8411

Emergency Assistance for Adults (EAA)

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

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

Income Limits

Resource Limits
Same as SSI

Government Agency
Same as Food Stamps

Lifeline Telephone Service

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

Eligibility
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.

Income Limits

Resource Limits
See eligibility.

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

Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)

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

Eligibility
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.

Income Limits
Combined total household income from all sources must be less than $27,000, including Social Security Income.

Resource Limits
None.

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

Senior Citizens Homeowners Exemption (SCHE)

Benefits
Sliding scale real estate tax exemption of 5% to 50%. Renewable every second year.

Eligibility
Real estate owners, including cooperatives and condominium owners, 65+, who use the property as their primary residence. Those turning 65 anytime during year are eligible. Applicants can apply at anytime to qualify for benefits for the following July 1st billing period. Those who are eligible for SCRIE are not eligible for SCHE. Those who qualify for SCHE will also automatically receive the Enhanced STAR exemption.

Income Limits
Combined total income for all owners from all sources must be less than $34,400. Individuals can deduct documented unreimbursed medical and prescription expenses.

Resource Limits
None.

Government Agency
311 in NYC or
NYC Department of Finance Customer Assistance Line
1(212) 504-4080
www.nyc.gov/finance

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

Benefits
Grant or energy credit, depending upon income, household size and type of fuel used.

Renters - $40-50 depending if heat is included.

Homeowners up to $540.

Eligibility
Low income homeowners and renters.

Income Limits
Monthly income:
Individuals: $1,876;
Couples: $2,454

Resource Limits
None.

Government Agency
311 in NYC

Reduced Fare

Benefits
Reduced Fare privileges on NYC owned local route buses and subways 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. MTA express buses are available at all times except during morning inbound peak hours (6 AM to 10 AM) and evening outbound peak hours (3 PM to 7 PM). All passengers can ride NYC DOT Staten Island Ferry for free. Available to customers with one of the following forms of identification: NYC Dept. for the Aging ID card, Access-a-Ride card, Reduced Fare ID card (pre 1995), Medicare card. Reduced Fare Metro Card automatically deducts correct reduced fare, and allows you to transfer free between NYC Transit subways and buses.

Eligibility
Persons 65+ and disabled riders.

Income Limits

Resource Limits
None.

Government Agency
NYC Transit 1(718) 243-4999 or 311 in NYC www.mta.info

Access-A-Ride (AAR)

Benefits
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.

Eligibility
Disabled riders.

Income Limits

Resource Limits
None.

Government Agency
NYC Transit
1(877)337-2017

Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC)

Benefits
Cuts prescription drug costs.

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

Income Limits
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

Resource Limits
None.

Government Agency
EPIC Helpline
1(800)332-3742

School Tax Relief (STAR) Exemption

Benefits
Abatement 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.

Eligibility
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 $70,650. 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 ofage and income. The benefit reduces property tax approximately $200 a year.

Income Limits
See eligibility.

Resource Limits
None.

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

www.nydoctorprofile.com

Benefits
Website created by the NYS Dept. of Health which provides information on practicing physicians. To perform a general search, please type the full name of the doctor where indicated. You may access information on educational background, legal actions, health plans, hospital affiliation, and more. If you prefer to speak to a customer service representative, a toll-free phone number is available below.

Eligibility

Income Limits

Resource Limits
None.

Government Agency
NYS Department of Health
1-888-338-6999
www.nydoctorprofile.com

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