Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Caregiver Support Group in Somerville
If you are caring for an older relative, spouse or close friend and feeling isolated or overwhelmed, you are not alone. Come share experiences and practical support. The Caregiver Support Group meets the third Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Somerville Council on Aging, 167 Holland Street in Somerville. If you are interested, please contact Nancy O'Connor at 617-625-6600, ext. 2317.
Medicare Enrollment Resources
Beneficiaries, their caregivers, and family members can begin to review 2008 Medicare prescription drug plan and health plan information online through the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder at http://www.medicare.gov/.
The enhanced plan finder options offer more information and greater clarity on available drug plans, including out-of-pocket costs, pharmacy networks, and important Medicare news and updates. Navigation improvements also make the plan finder tools more user-friendly, so beneficiaries will find it easier to locate information about available drug plans. Open enrollment began on November 15th. For more information or assistance, call the Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services Aging Information Center at 617-628-2601 ext. 3151.
Check out these new sites to assist during open enrollment from the National Council on Aging:
- http://www.mymedicarematters.org/
- http://www.mimedicareimporta.org/
The consumer website translated into Spanish. - http://www.mymedicarecommunity.org/
The online community for professionals who work with Medicare beneficiaries.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Families Can Receive Up to $18,000 per Year to Care for Sick/Disabled Relatives
Caring for a Sick or Disabled Relative or Friend? The Adult Family Care Program pays family members and friends to provide care at home. Receive up to $18,000 per year to provide care that prevents or delays institutional care. Call the Aging Information Center at Elder Services: 617-628-2601 ext. 3151 and ask about Adult Family Care. Sick or disabled individual must be 18 years or older and eligible for MassHealth.
Elders Can Get Protection from Utility Shut Offs
If you heat with gas or electricity, there are shutoff protections for seniors---year round. Some other low-income households have limited protection during the period November 15 to March 15th. The utility companies call this a "winter moratorium" on shut-offs. However, if everyone in your household is over 65, the company cannot terminate your service for failure to pay a past due bill without approval of the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy (DTE).
If you can't pay your bill all at once, you can work out a payment plan with the company. In addition, you have a right to a hearing at the DTE before termination. Utility companies are also required to give written notice of a shut-off to the state's Executive Office of Elder Affairs.
Elders may believe that their electric or gas heat cannot be shut off. This is technically not true. If the state approves the utility's request, you can be terminated-even during a "winter moratorium". But in practice, it is not likely that the state will approve a heating-related shut-off during the winter months.
There is also financial aid to help pay heating bills. Some seniors will be able to take advantage of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which can help pay for heating bills---whether you use gas, electricity, coal, oil, wood, or propane. LIHEAP assisted roughly 141,000 households last winter in Massachusetts. The program is managed by regional non-profit organizations. LIHEAP will provide fuel assistance payments for people with annual income of up to $20,420 for a single person, and $27,380 for a two person household. The maximum grant this winter is expected to be around $609.
To sign up for the heating assistance program in your area, call the state "Heatline" at 1-800-632-8175 and enter your zip code. If you feel your gas or electric service has been improperly terminated, call the DTE at 1-800-392-6066. If you owe a company money, call the state Attorney General's office, at 1-888-514-6277. They will contact your utility or oil company and help you work out a repayment plan. Do it before the snow flies.
If you can't pay your bill all at once, you can work out a payment plan with the company. In addition, you have a right to a hearing at the DTE before termination. Utility companies are also required to give written notice of a shut-off to the state's Executive Office of Elder Affairs.
Elders may believe that their electric or gas heat cannot be shut off. This is technically not true. If the state approves the utility's request, you can be terminated-even during a "winter moratorium". But in practice, it is not likely that the state will approve a heating-related shut-off during the winter months.
There is also financial aid to help pay heating bills. Some seniors will be able to take advantage of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which can help pay for heating bills---whether you use gas, electricity, coal, oil, wood, or propane. LIHEAP assisted roughly 141,000 households last winter in Massachusetts. The program is managed by regional non-profit organizations. LIHEAP will provide fuel assistance payments for people with annual income of up to $20,420 for a single person, and $27,380 for a two person household. The maximum grant this winter is expected to be around $609.
To sign up for the heating assistance program in your area, call the state "Heatline" at 1-800-632-8175 and enter your zip code. If you feel your gas or electric service has been improperly terminated, call the DTE at 1-800-392-6066. If you owe a company money, call the state Attorney General's office, at 1-888-514-6277. They will contact your utility or oil company and help you work out a repayment plan. Do it before the snow flies.
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