Access Your Benefits Program

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release    August 7, 2009
Contact: Lois K. Weissberg (216) 621-8010 or lweissberg@psa10a.org

Northeast Ohio Community Service Organizations to Launch Access Your Benefits Program
We can help you save money

CLEVELAND, OH (August 14, 2009)—The Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA) and partners announced the launch of the Access Your Benefits Program, which offers older adults a fast, no-cost and confidential way to find out which public benefit programs they are eligible for and assistance in applying.

Your doctor checks your health. We can check your benefits eligibility! Consumers may be eligible for one or more of over 1,300 Federal, State and Local public benefits programs. Benefits Ambassadors, trained volunteers, can help sign up consumers and complete a Benefits Eligibility Survey. To learn more about the survey and be referred, dial 2-1-1 (24 hours/7 days) or a Benefits Enrollment Center.

If you are 55 or older (18 and older with disabilities), with limited income Access Your Benefits can help you find out if you are eligible for one or more of the following programs: prescription drug discounts; health care benefits; nutrition programs and food stamps, property tax relief, telephone discount programs, home energy assistance programs and senior employment programs.

Access Your Benefits was developed in collaboration with Asian Services in Action, Inc, Benjamin Rose Call Center, Cleveland Department of Aging, Fairhill Partners, Greater Cleveland Volunteers (formerly RSVP), Linking Employment, Abilities & Potential (LEAP), MetroHealth Advantage, Senior Transportation Connection, WRAAA, 2-1-1, and funders National Council on Aging (NCOA), United Way of Greater Cleveland and the Senior Success Vision Council.

Call 2-1-1/First Call for Help to be directed to a place where help is available or call Fairhill Partners at 216-421-1350 Ext. 182.