Financial assistance is available for elderly parents.
Some elderly people are fortunate enough to have good retirement plans or significant savings but others live on very limited incomes and have trouble just making ends meet. If you have an elderly parent who needs financial help, you need to know where to look for assistance. Prepare to fill out lots of applications and make a number of phone calls. Chances are you'll find the help your parent needs.
Instructions
1. Contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office to find out if your elderly parent qualifies for Social Security retirement benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Supplemental Security Income provides monthly benefits for elderly people limited income and resources and who do not qualify for Social Security retirement benefits. If your parent needs help completing an application for retirement benefits or SSI, you may assist him or he can ask for help at the Social Security office.
2. Contact the welfare agency in the county in which you live to find out if your elderly parent qualifies for any financial help offered through that agency. The name of the agency varies by state; in South Carolina it is called the Department of Health and Human Services and in Missouri it is the Department of Social Services. If your parent needs help completing an application for financial assistance, you may assist her or she can ask for help at the welfare office.
3. Ask at the welfare agency if your parent might qualify for other types of help instead of or in addition to financial help. For instance, he may qualify for food stamps or Medicaid. In most states, you can apply for all those things on one application. You can assist your parent with his application or trained staff at the welfare agency will provide any assistance needed.
Tags: Social Security, your parent, parent needs, elderly parent, financial help, retirement benefits
