Search
 

Seniors to surf for benefits

WASHINGTON - The elderly can now make just one stop at BenefitsCheckUp.org to find out how to sign up for federal and state assistance. ``In most communities, if you want to find out benefits information, you have to go to 15 different offices,'' said National Council on the Aging president...

By Myriam DiGiovanni | Updated on June 19, 2001

WASHINGTON – The elderly can now make just one stop at BenefitsCheckUp.org to find out how to sign up for federal and state assistance. “In most communities, if you want to find out benefits information, you have to go to 15 different offices,” said National Council on the Aging president James Firman. “Now you can in 10 minutes do what it would have taken you 10 weeks to do.” The site was created by NCOA with help from AOL Time Warner, Lucent Technologies, New York Life Insurance Co., and the Merck Co. Foundation. It contains a free and confidential screening tool to determine eligibility for nearly 1,000 assistance programs nationwide and provides detailed instructions on how to apply for them. It took the companies nearly two years to work with all 50 states to gather the diverse benefit information. With 12.4% of Americans age 65 or older, Firman said this is a service long overdue. The database lists a variety of assistance including supplemental income to free home energy credits for lower heating and cooling costs, legal services and prescription drug benefits. Only a zip code is required to determine local benefits and those without Internet access can go to a library or community center with computers to visit the site. According to AOL, more than 70% of older Americans now go online to search for information for themselves and for their families.

Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to CUTimes.com, part of your ALM digital membership.

Your access to unlimited CUTimes.com content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Critical CUTimes.com information including comprehensive product and service provider listings via the Marketplace Directory, CU Careers, resources from industry leaders, webcasts, and breaking news, analysis and more with our informative Newsletters.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and CU Times events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including Law.com and GlobeSt.com.

Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Recommended Stories

Credit Union Times

Join Credit Union Times

Don’t miss crucial strategic and tactical information necessary to run your institution and better serve your members. Join Credit Union Times now!

  • Free unlimited access to Credit Union Times' trusted and independent team of experts for extensive industry news, conference coverage, people features, statistical analysis, and regulation and technology updates.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and Credit Union Times events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including TreasuryandRisk.com and Law.com.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join Credit Union Times

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.