Benefits & Public Access

Results: 9

• Basic Needs (2)
  B

  Basic Needs

  B
  
  Programs that furnish survival level resources including food, housing, material goods, transportation and utilities for individuals with low or fixed incomes, people who are homeless, older adults and/or people with disabilities who are otherwise unable to adequately provide for themselves and their families. Also included are related services that are available to the community at large.
• General Benefits Assistance (2)
  FT-1000.2500

  General Benefits Assistance

  FT-1000.2500
  
  Programs that focus broadly on helping individuals who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining grants, payments, services or other benefits for which they are eligible rather than offering more specialized services relating to a particular type of benefit.
• Housing Expense Assistance (1)
  BH-3800

  Housing Expense Assistance

  BH-3800
  
  Programs that pay current housing bills or finance new living accommodations for people who are otherwise unable to provide for their housing needs. Housing expense assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.
• Language Translation (1)
  PH-3500.4550

  Language Translation

  PH-3500.4550
  
  Programs that offer the services of bilingual individuals who have reading and writing proficiency in the second language to transfer documents written in the second language into English or vice versa or to explain the meaning of documents written in English to people whose reading proficiency in English is inadequate, using that person's native language.
• Medicaid (2)
  NL-5000.5000

  Medicaid

  NL-5000.5000
  
  A combined federal and state program administered by the state that provides medical benefits for individuals and families with limited incomes who fit into an eligibility group that is recognized by federal and state law. Each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services within parameters established at the federal level. Many people are covered by Medicaid, though within these groups, certain additional requirements must be met. Eligibility factors include people's age, whether they are pregnant, have a disability, are blind, or aged; their income and resources (like bank accounts, real property or other items that can be sold for cash); and whether they are U.S. citizens or lawfully admitted immigrants. Families who are receiving benefits through TANF and individuals who receive SSI as aged, blind and disabled are categorically eligible groups. The rules for counting a person's income and resources vary from state to state and from group to group. There are special rules for those who live in nursing homes, for people served under the Medicaid Waiver program, for people served by Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) programs and for children with disabilities living at home. Medicaid makes payments directly to a person's health care provider; and some recipients may be asked to pay a small part of the cost (co-payment) for some medical services. Most states have additional "state-only" programs to provide medical assistance for specified low-income persons who do not qualify for the Medicaid program.
• Medical Expense Assistance (1)
  LH-5100

  Medical Expense Assistance

  LH-5100
  
  Programs that pay the health care expenses of people who are unable to obtain necessary care without assistance. Medical expense assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.
• Medicare (1)
  NS-8000.5000

  Medicare

  NS-8000.5000
  
  A federally funded health insurance program administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for people age 65 and older; for individuals with disabilities younger than age 65 who have received or been determined eligible for Social Security Disability benefits for at least 24 consecutive months; and for insured workers and their dependents who have end stage renal disease and need dialysis or a kidney transplant. As with ESRD, the 24-month waiting period is waived for disability beneficiaries diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease). Premiums, deductibles and co-payments or out-of-pocket costs apply to Medicare coverage for most people. Special programs that assist with paying some or all of these costs are available for low income individuals who qualify. Medicare has four parts, but not every Medicare beneficiary has every part. Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care and home health care that meets the program eligibility criteria. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, preventive services and more. Together, Medicare Part A and Part B are called Original Medicare. Medicare Part C enables private insurance companies to offer Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans under contract with CMS that provide all Part A and Part B benefits to plan enrollees. Medicare Advantage Plans include Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider Organizations, Private Fee-for-Service Plans, Special Needs Plans and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans. Some plans offer extra benefits and services that aren't covered by Original Medicare, sometimes for an extra cost; and most (but not all) include Medicare prescription drug coverage. Medicare Part D (Medicare prescription drug coverage) is an optional benefit that helps beneficiaries cover the cost of prescription drugs. The plans are offered by insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare and add prescription drug coverage to Original Medicare, some Medicare Private-Fee-for-Service Plans and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans.
• Property Tax Exemption Information (1)
  DT-8700.6500-600

  Property Tax Exemption Information

  DT-8700.6500-600
  
  Programs that provide information and guidance regarding property tax relief programs that grant partial or complete exemptions from property taxes for homeowners who are experiencing severe financial hardship. Exemptions are a reduction in the assessed value of a home by a specified amount and corresponding reductions in property taxes. Some forms of relief, known as "circuit-breaker" programs, offer exemptions that phase out as income increases. Many exemption programs have specified eligibility criteria, e.g., older adults, people with disabilities, widows, veterans and disabled veterans who have a permanent service-connected disability of a specified percent. In some cases, people who qualify must also meet income guidelines. In others, income is not a factor.
• Utility Service Payment Assistance (1)
  BV-8900.9300

  Utility Service Payment Assistance

  BV-8900.9300
  
  Programs that pay all or a portion of the utility bills of people whose utilities have been or are at risk of being shut off including any reconnection fees that may apply. Also included are non-emergency programs like those funded through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), also referred to as LIEAP or HEAP in some states, that provide home energy assistance, generally in the form of a credit, for low-income households that apply. The assistance is usually available once per calendar year (or heating season). Utility bill payment assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.