Benefits Checkup Screening For Seniors July 9

SOUTHBURY — Brownstein Jewish Family Service is teaming up with the Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging (WCAAA) and the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) for a Benefits Checkup Screening on Wednesday, July 9, with the CT Medicare Bus. The event will be held at the Jewish Federation Campus in Southbury from 10 am to 1:30 pm.

This screening is available to anyone on Medicare and will check for benefits that visitors may be entitled to but do not have at the present time. Many programs do not count assets (including your home) and are based entirely on annual income.

The modern air-conditioned bus has four computer stations and four trained counselors who will do a private and confidential screening. The Benefits Checkup Screening takes approximately 30 minutes.

Some of the state and federal benefits include:

*Medicare Savings Program

*Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

*Medicare Rx Extra help

*State Pharmaceutical Assistance programs (SPAP)

*Medicaid for Aged, Blind and Disabled

*Food Stamps Program

*Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

*Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)

*State Property Tax Relief/Rebates

*Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

*Telephone Assistance (Link-Up and Lifeline)

To quickly determine eligibility for any of these programs, visitors must answer just a few questions. Counselors will then be able to inform those who are eligible for these and other government and state programs that can save money on health care and prescription drugs.

Visitors will need the following information for themselves or any children living in the household:

*State and ZIP code

*Date of birth

*Type of residence (house, apartment or mobile home)

*Length of time in current residence

*Current income and assets from all sources for self, spouse, and others in the household

*Estimates of current expenses such as mortgage/rent, utilities, out-of-pocket medical bills, expenses for caring for someone at home while the person works or goes to school, etc.

*Names of prescription medications — it is recommended to bring the prescription bottles or information available about the person’s medications from their health professional.

Reservations are required and will be filled on a first come, first served basis. For more information and/or to make a reservation, contact Debby Horowitz, Brownstein Jewish Family Service director, at 203-267-3177, extension 105.