After spouse's death, and dealing with long term care, all assets were depleted - how can I get financial help to help pay for rent, health insurance and all other expenses??
Yes, there are resources out there. I agree, you need Social Services. You may qualify for Medicaid as your supplimental insurance. You get prescriptions, dental, vision and help with transportation. Where I live we have HUDD Senior housing. They require 30% of your total income for rent. Electric is set. You would be responsible for Cable.
Office of Aging may have resources for you too. But its all up to you to make the move.
I would suggest getting on whatever waiting lists you can for subsidized housing. For Section 8 or for individual senior apartment complexes (rent based on income in many), the wait list sometimes can be years. It doesn't hurt to put your name on just in case. I agree that the local Area Agency on Aging can provide valuable information. Good luck to you.
Contact your local Senior Services Center. The Social Workers there can point you in the right direction. Most cities have Housing Authorities and Senior Housing and or Low income housing is included. Senior Services may also be able to help with applications for help with gas, electric and possibly food program. There are many Food Pantries that you could get help from. One in my town is set up like a regular grocery store and you can go in and "shop". Someone suggested the VA but that may not be a great place to start only a very small number of people would qualify. And for yourself begin the application process for Medicaid. Ask the Social Workers at the Senior Services to help with that. In some areas there is free or reduced cost legal help for seniors and low income.
You need to contact your local SS office. You should receive your husbands benefits and if you are below a certain monthly income, you will qualify for SSI and health, food and utility assistance. Bless you. You will be fine. Call the Social Security Office.
You are on Medicare? It's fabulous health insurance. New York has what's called Section 8 housing. Apply for it. New York has among the most generous safety nets in the nation. There's Meals On Wheels for food. There's Visiting Nurse Service that accepts Medicare. There's all sorts of senior transportation and public transport options.
Do you have children? Can they help you financially? Independent living is private pay and you may need to downsize.
Have you considered moving to a private home with another widow and splitting expenses with her?
Do try all the options suggested so far. Additionally, you may want to approach it from the "wrap around" rules.
In my area, when applying for one aid program, the applicant is deemed to be applying for all - whether or not all services are needed/desired. A very labor intensive documentation process.
Before everything really hits the fan, start seeking information from your bank, doctors, and others you may need to call upon in the near future. Ask if any of them offer notary services and if there is a charge to you. Sometimes they will recognize you as a person and a customer before you really start the dealing. It helps relieve stress to lay some groundwork.
Think housing, medical, utilities, bank accounts, tax records etc. As for presentation of your evidence, have printed prescription listings from your pharmacy. In our state those listings are provided free - one of the few such items for which my spouse and I haven't charged. Have death certificate in hand, any insurance cards, personal identification. Registration for any cars you own. Any housing/mortgage or rental receipts. Birth certificates and Social Security cards for you and your deceased spouse. The same and maybe more than had to previously be presented for your husband. Medicaid will require all of this information.
Proof of income or any gifts for the last 5 years, regardless of source, is a must-have. Since Medicaid can order transcripts of your taxes, have those readily available for your own reference.
In our community, subsidized housing requires proof of a steady income - a Social Security or SSDI check is required. In our community, there are some HUD "mixed" residential developments that accept renters among the working/retired groups, younger/older age groups, able/ disabled population. Families/singles are mixed into the group. You fit in somewhere, it's just a matter of getting on that waiting list as soon as possible.
Locate a notary public as some may require that as an in-house policy or legal requirements. I had to scramble once to locate a "traveling notary" while my spouse was hospitalized. My point is just be ready for all this and more and hope for the least aggravation in this process.
5 years after Dad died and about 2 years after Mom died, I was asked to produce their death certificates. Never mind the fact that all records/events were recorded on public records by that time!
Even though an applicant is currently with no resources, the county/state is always on the offense. So you are put into a defensive position of having to prove any and all information you do or don't provide.
Depending on where you live there should be some kind of Senior Affairs center that can at least help point you in the right direction. Unfortunately though everything is a drawn out process and everything has a waiting list, there is no express lane you need to be proactive and make as many calls as you can and keep things moving or the Government will lose you in the mix. It's a crying shame in the US we treat our Seniors as second class citizens after a lifetime of paying into the system.
All facilities accept long term care, because it is basically cash payment through a third party. But not all accept Medicaid too. Some do, some don’t. People have been evicted from facilities that do not accept Medicaid because of resource depletion.
Was the spouse a Veteran? There are stipend programs for widows. There is also reverse Mortgage if she owns her home. She can also apply for Medicaid that will work with her Medicare and cut hospital, drug and Insurance costs. You can own a home and a car and qualify. Also, if there are remaining bills medical and doctor bills, contact the offices and tell them the spouse is deceased and quite often they will write off or lower the bill. Having been a Medical office manager myself I know this first hand and have helped my own family members to do this.
The Department of Human Services. Community opportunities. Housing Authority. They go by many names. Your county DHHS office should be able to help point you in the right direction. You might qualify for medicare parts A and B. Human Services has a QUIMBY, SLIMBY, and other programs based on income for other help. If you're low income enough, depending on which state you're in, you might qualify for Medicaid. But please don't get hopes too high. They have stringent requirements; I know because I've been there, done that - but DO look into it - you still might qualify for something. Prayers.....
Office of Aging may have resources for you too. But its all up to you to make the move.
The Social Workers there can point you in the right direction.
Most cities have Housing Authorities and Senior Housing and or Low income housing is included.
Senior Services may also be able to help with applications for help with gas, electric and possibly food program.
There are many Food Pantries that you could get help from.
One in my town is set up like a regular grocery store and you can go in and "shop".
Someone suggested the VA but that may not be a great place to start only a very small number of people would qualify.
And for yourself begin the application process for Medicaid. Ask the Social Workers at the Senior Services to help with that.
In some areas there is free or reduced cost legal help for seniors and low income.
New York has what's called Section 8 housing. Apply for it.
New York has among the most generous safety nets in the nation.
There's Meals On Wheels for food.
There's Visiting Nurse Service that accepts Medicare.
There's all sorts of senior transportation and public transport options.
Do you have children? Can they help you financially? Independent living is private pay and you may need to downsize.
Have you considered moving to a private home with another widow and splitting expenses with her?
In my area, when applying for one aid program, the applicant is deemed to be applying for all - whether or not all services are needed/desired. A very labor intensive documentation process.
Before everything really hits the fan, start seeking information from your bank, doctors, and others you may need to call upon in the near future. Ask if any of them offer notary services and if there is a charge to you. Sometimes they will recognize you as a person and a customer before you really start the dealing. It helps relieve stress to lay some groundwork.
Think housing, medical, utilities, bank accounts, tax records etc. As for presentation of your evidence, have printed prescription listings from your pharmacy. In our state those listings are provided free - one of the few such items for which my spouse and I haven't charged. Have death certificate in hand, any insurance cards, personal identification. Registration for any cars you own. Any housing/mortgage or rental receipts. Birth certificates and Social Security cards for you and your deceased spouse. The same and maybe more than had to previously be presented for your husband. Medicaid will require all of this information.
Proof of income or any gifts for the last 5 years, regardless of source, is a must-have. Since Medicaid can order transcripts of your taxes, have those readily available for your own reference.
In our community, subsidized housing requires proof of a steady income - a Social Security or SSDI check is required. In our community, there are some HUD "mixed" residential developments that accept renters among the working/retired groups, younger/older age groups, able/ disabled population. Families/singles are mixed into the group. You fit in somewhere, it's just a matter of getting on that waiting list as soon as possible.
Locate a notary public as some may require that as an in-house policy or legal requirements. I had to scramble once to locate a "traveling notary" while my spouse was hospitalized. My point is just be ready for all this and more and hope for the least aggravation in this process.
5 years after Dad died and about 2 years after Mom died, I was asked to produce their death certificates. Never mind the fact that all records/events were recorded on public records by that time!
Even though an applicant is currently with no resources, the county/state is always on the offense. So you are put into a defensive position of having to prove any and all information you do or don't provide.
Unfortunately though everything is a drawn out process and everything has a waiting list, there is no express lane you need to be proactive and make as many calls as you can and keep things moving or the Government will lose you in the mix.
It's a crying shame in the US we treat our Seniors as second class citizens after a lifetime of paying into the system.
That facility should have assistance for you to apply for Medicaid.
Her hubs was in LTC? She doing well and does not need care?
Contact the Area Agency on Aging. They will be very helpful finding programs in New York that she will qualify for.
Also, if there are remaining bills medical and doctor bills, contact the offices and tell them the spouse is deceased and quite often they will write off or lower the bill. Having been a Medical office manager myself I know this first hand and have helped my own family members to do this.
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