for Seniors from
Assemblymember
Kevin Cahill
This pamphlet 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.
If you are not sure which agency to turn to, or if you encounter any difficulties in your search for assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (845) 338-9610. And, if you would like additional copies of this pamphlet, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Kevin Cahill
Member of Assembly
Governor Clinton Bldg.
One Albany Ave. • Suite G-4
Kingston, NY 12401 • (845) 338-9610
Office Hours
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday
Benefits
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Social Security: Monthly cash benefits based on years of employment and amount of money withheld from earnings.
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Survivor: Payments based on work record of deceased.
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Disability: Payments based upon sufficient work prior to onset of disability.
Eligibility
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Social Security: Full Retirement Age (FRA): 65 if born before 1942; if born 1943 and later: gradually rises from 65 to 67. In 2010 FRA for a person born in 1944 is when he/she reaches 66.
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Survivor: Widow/Widower age 60+ or 50+ and disabled.
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Disability: Disabled individual of any age, with an impairment that is expected to keep him/her out of a customary occupation for minimum of one year, and spouse, if spouse is 62+, or with dependent child under age 16.
Income Limits
The earning limit for persons under 65 is $14,160. For individuals 65+ there is no limit. For persons under 65, for every $2 earned over the limit, $1 is withheld from benefits. A person who attains age 65 in 2010 can earn up to $37,680 with no loss of benefits. For the year persons attain FRA; for every $3 earned over the limit, $1 is withheld from benefits, but only counting earnings before the month you reach the full benefit retirement age.
Resources Limits
None
Information
Social Security Administration: 1-800-772-1213, www.socialsecurity.gov
Benefits
Monthly cash benefits
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.
Monthly Income Limits
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Individuals living alone: $761+$20*; couples: $1,115 + $20*
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Individuals living with others: $697 + $20*; couples: $1057 + $20*
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Individuals living in another household: $272.34 + $20*; couples: $820 + $20*
*First $20 unearned income is excluded.
Resource Limits
Individuals: $2,000
Couples: $3,000
Exceptions: $1,500 per individual for burial fund; a car per household, home
(primary residence), personal household goods.
Information
Social Security Administration:1-800-772-1213, www.socialsecurity.gov
Medicare Part A and B Hospital Insurance Program
Benefits
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Part A: Coverage for acute hospital care and limited coverage for skilled nursing facility, home health care and hospice, $1,100 deductible for 1st through 60th day of hospitalization. Coverage insurance payments thereafter.
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Part B: Optional: partial coverage (60% of approved fee) for physician, outpatient clinic, skilled nursing care and durable medical equipment: $96.80 premium per month; $155 yearly deductible.
Eligibility
Persons 65+ who:
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are eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits; or
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those who wish to purchase coverage, though they are not eligible for the above benefits; or
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disabled workers after entitlement to disability for 24 months; or
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persons with chronic renal disease.
Income Limits
None
Resources Limits
None
Information
Social Security Administration: 1-800-772-1213, www.socialsecurity.gov
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: 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, 2011 to December 31, 2011. 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.
Income Limits
None
Resources Limits
None
Information
Social Security Administration: 1-800-772-1213,
www.socialsecurity.gov
Ulster County Office for the Aging: (845) 340-3456
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)
Benefits
Pays for Medicare premiums. It can also pay for coinsurance and deductibles if providers also accept 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: $903/month
Couples: $1215/month
Special Low Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)
Individuals: $1083/month
Couples: $1457/month
At these limits, program pays for Medicare Part B premiums only.
In addition, there are other programs that can help pay for 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.
Information
Ulster County Social Services: (845) 334-5000
Benefits
Comprehensive health care benefits including coverage for hospitals, physicians, skilled nursing facilities, home care.
Accountable Income Limits
Individuals: $767/month +$20*
Couples: $1,117/month + $20*
When one spouse is institutionalized and receiving Medicaid, and another spouse, while not receiving Medicaid, may retain $2,739 in monthly income and $109,550 maximum in assets.
*The first $20 of income is exempt.
Resource Limits
Individuals: $13,800
Couples: $20,100
Exempt: primary residence, car, certain additions for burial.
Information
Ulster County Social Services: (845) 334-5000
Medicaid Excess Income Program
Benefits
Medicaid coverage as previously described, but on a month-to-month basis after this 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 previously.
Resource Limits
None
Information
Ulster County Social Services: (845) 334-5000
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.
Information
Ulster County Social Services: (845) 334-5000
Emergency Assistance for Adults (EAA)
Benefits
Cash 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
None
Resource Limits
Same as SSI.
Information
Ulster County Social Services: (845) 334-5000
Benefits
Reduce 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, SS, HEAP, Veterans non-service related Disability Pension and Veterans’ Surviving Spouse Pension.
Income Limits
None
Resources Limits
See eligibility.
Information
Visit www.lifelinesupport.org, click Low Income Household pull down menu, then apply for Lifeline.
Home Energy Assistance Program
Benefits
Renters/Homeowners $50-$600. If heat is included in rent: $40-$50. Grant or energy credit, depending upon income, household size and type of fuel used.
Eligibility
Low-income homeowners and renters.
Income Limits
Monthly Incomes:
Individuals: $2,030
Couples: $2,657
Resource Limits
None
Information
Ulster County Social Serivces: (845) 334-5000
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 $28,000 or less.
Deductible Plan: Single: $20,001 to $35,000, Married: joint Income $26,001 to $50,000.
Resource Limits
None
Information
EPIC Helpline: 1-800-332-3742
School Tax Relief (STAR) Exemption
Benefits
Exemption from school property taxes for owner-occupied primary residences. All New York homeowners qualify for a Basic exemption and Senior Citizen homeowners can qualify for an Enhanced exemption if they meet the following 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 $74,700. The benefit reduces property tax approximately $350 a year.
Basic: All residential property owners who live in a one-, two- or three-family home, condominium or cooperative apartment, regardless of income. The benefit reduces property tax approximately $200 a year.
Income Limits
See eligibility
Resource Limits
None
Information
NYS Department of Taxation and Finance: 1-877-6-STAR-NY (1-877-678-2769)
Benefits
One free round trip service per week for shopping; unlimited free trips for medical appointments.
Eligbility
Persons 60+ who are registered with the OFA. Transportation is free to registered Seniors and the van is wheelchair accessible. Service is based on availability and advance reservations are required.
Income Limits
None
Resource Limits
None
Information
Ulster County Area Transit: (845) 340-3333
Cahill bill bans prescription data mining (A.5891-B).
Assemblymember Cahill authored legislation to restrict sales of prescription records used to market drugs to doctors and medical personnel, ensuring the interests of the patient—not the pharmaceutical industry—come first.
His bill, endorsed by AARP, increases transparency in pharmaceutical marketing practices.
Assemblymember Cahill sponsored measures requiring drug companies to annually report to the state’s Department of Health gifts of $75 or more made to health care practitioners, helping to end influence peddling for new, higher cost medicine.
Cahill bill provides Seniors with larger print STAR applications (Ch. 66 of 2007).
Assemblymember Cahill authored legislation that will authorize the Office of Real Property Tax Services to make certain tax forms, including STAR-related forms, available for Senior Citizens in a larger printversion.