There is financial assistance for an aging parent.
According to the Center for American Progress, in 2008 there were 3.4 million Americans over the age of 65 living below the poverty limit. Many senior citizens that earn more than the poverty limit still struggle to make ends meet, with the rising costs of housing and health care. Adult children of elderly parents often struggle to provide for their families and may have difficulty helping their parents financially.
Supplemental Security Income
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides a monthly check for people age 65 and over if they meet income guidelines established by the Social Security Administration. People that qualify for Social Security retirement benefits may not qualify, but people that do not get Social Security might.
Food Assistance
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, helps people with low income buy food. Income guidelines vary from state to state. Other food assistance programs include Meals on Wheels, which delivers hot meals to senior citizens, and food banks, which give free food to needy people. The availability of such programs varies from area to area.
Medical Assistance
Medical care can be quite costly and many aging people require some sort of regular medical treatment or medications. Most people over the age of 65 qualify for Medicare, but Medicare only covers certain things and people must pay a premium for some parts of Medicare and they must pay an annual deductible and co-pays for many services. People over the age of 65 may qualify for Medicaid as well as Medicare if they meet state-specific income guidelines. They may also qualify for assistance with their Medicare premiums.
Other Forms of Assistance
Different states, cities and counties offer different assistance program for the elderly and for people with low income. Some forms of assistance include help paying gas and electric bills, discounts on telephone service or free telephone service, free or low cost transportation to medical appointments and other appointments, assistance paying for home repairs and assistance paying for health care service and durable medical equipment not covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
Finding Assistance
While many forms of assistance exist for aging parents, finding these resources can be a challenge. Contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 to ask if your parents might qualify for SSI. Contact the agency that administers Medicaid in your county to find out if they might qualify for Medicaid.
Tags: Social Security, assistance paying, forms assistance, health care, income guidelines
