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CONSUMER CREDIT
COUNSELING SERVICES OF MASSACHUSETTS
1985 Main Street, Third Floor
Springfield, MA 01103
413-788-6106
Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 5:00 PM
Fees: $25, Anyone with budget, credit problems. Consumer Credit
Counseling Service is a noon-profit service that provides confidential
financial counseling to individuals and families. Services include
assistance with budgeting and money management, debt management,
housing counseling, and consumer education.
Valley District
Dental Society
195 Plumtree Road, Springfield 01118, 536-1600; Tuesdays/Thursdays;
1:00 - 5:00 PM
Provides information and referral service for those seeking a
general dentist or specialist.
Western Mass
Hospital
91 East Mountain Road, Westfield 01085, 562-4131
Dental clinic which provides comprehensive services for those
who are unable to afford dental care. Sliding fee based on income
and number of people in household.
DENTISTRY FOR
ALL
Massachusetts Dental Society
83 Speen St, Natick 01760
800-342-8747, Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 5:00 PM
Dentistry For All, a dental care program for the elderly, low
income, and uninsured. Applicants must meet financial need requirements.
The program offers comprehensive dental care includes periodic
dental work, cleaning, x-rays, etc. For more information send
a written request to the agency.
DISCOUNT&
FREE PHARMACY ASSISTANCE
Free Pharmacy Program
Mass Home Care, 24 Third Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803
800-243-4636, Monday thru Friday, 9 - 5PM
More than 50 drug manufacturers offer indigent patient programs
for people of all ages who have limited income and no Rx drug
coverage. Not for those on Medicaid or Medicare Supplemental
Plans. Applications available from Mass Home Care and must be
completed by your physician.
ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS:
Social Security, SSI, Survivors Benefits
The Senior Center staff will work with residents on questions
or problems concerning entitlement including Social Security,
SSI, Medicare, Food Stamps, and other programs. We can also assist
in completing applications for fuel assistance. Contact Linda
Collina for details.
FUEL ASSISTANCE
Valley Opportunity Council
300 High St., Holyoke 01040
413-552-1548, Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 5:00 PM
The Valley Opportunity Council provides services to a wide variety
of economically disadvantaged people. The Council administers
the fuel assistance program for Hampden County excluding the
city of Springfield.
HOME CARE- Greater
Springfield Senior Services
66 Industry Ave., Springfield 01104
http://www.javanet.com/~gssi
781-8800, Monday - Friday; 8:00 - 5:00 PM
GSSSI is a multi-service state home care agency which works to
help low-income, frail elders so that they may remain living
independently at home. Covers the towns of Agawam, Brimfield,
East Longmeadow, Feeding Hills,, Hampden, Holland, Longmeadow,
Monson, Palmer, Springfield, Wales, West Springfield, Wilbraham.
Eligibility Criteria:
Participant must be 60 years of age or older.
Income: The applicant must have an income less than $18,219 per
year if single or less than $25,781 per year if married. The
applicant must meet fragility standards that have been defined
by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA). Assistance needed
with bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, toileting and incontinence
maintenance, meal preparation, housework, laundry, shopping,
taking medicine, transportation, money management are a sampling
or need criteria established by EOEA. Please call GSSSI for further
explanation of eligibility criteria.
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT LOAN CLOSET - available through Senior Center
Medical equipment on loan; walkers, commodes, high rise toilet
seats, quad canes, tub grab bars and limited wheelchairs. Please
contact the Senior Center before purchasing such items. No charge
for items loaned. Upon returning equipment, please leave your
name. For details call the Longmeadow Senior Center at 565-4150
MONEY MANAGEMENT
Greater Springfield Senior Services
66 Industry Ave, Springfield 01104
781-8800, Monday - Thursday, 9:00 - 2:00 PM
The Money Management Program at Greater Springfield Senior Services
is an in-home services which helps low-income, frail older people
who have difficulty with budgeting, paying routine bills and
keeping track of financial matters. There are two levels of assistance:
A Bill Payer Service which can assist elders with budgeting,
writing checks and balancing their checkbooks, and a Representative
Payee Service for elders who are incapable of managing their
own finances. A representative payee is a volunteer appointed
by the Social Security Administration with a physicians consent
to manage Social Security and SSI benefits. These volunteers
assume legal authority of a special checking account for the
elder.
REAL ESTATE TAX
EXEMPTIONS - Town of Longmeadow
Clause 41C - Elderly Persons - 70 years of age or older
A tax exemption is a discharge from the obligation to pay all
or a portion of tax. Exemptions are conferred by the Legislature
on particular categories of persons or property. The exemption
amount for Clause 41C is $500. Applications must be filed annually
on or before December 15 with the local assessors in the city
or town where the property is located. If the tax bill is mailed
after September 15, however, applications may be filed within
three months form the date the bill was first mailed. Filing
an application does not entitle one to a delay in tax payment.
An applicant for an exemption must provide to the assessors whatever
information is reasonably required to establish eligibility.
This information may include, but not be limited to: birth certificates:
Evidence of domicile and occupancy and income tax returns. For
eligibility, an individual must satisfy requirements relating
to age, ownership and domicile, annual income, whole estate or
assets. Not more than one exemption may be granted under Clause
41C on the same parcel of real estate. An individual must be
70 years or older or joint owner with a spouse 70 years or older
as of July 1 or the tax year. Under Clause 41C, an individual
must own and occupy the subject property on July 1 of the tax
year and the individual must have been continuously domiciled
in Massachusetts for the 10 years preceding the application and
have owned and occupied the property or other property in Massachusetts
for 5 years. Annual Income: Gross Receipts minus social security
allowance must be less than: $13,000 if single, $15,000 if married.
Whole estate less than value of the home except for the value
of any possession which exceeds three dwelling units and produces
income cannot exceed: $28,000 if single and $30 if married. For
further information contact the Longmeadow Board of Assessors
by calling 565-4115.
CLAUSE 37 - BLIND
PERSONS - Exemption Amount - $437.50
Applications must be filed annually on or before December 15
with the local assessors in Longmeadow. If the tax bill is mailed
after September 15, however, applications may be file within
three months from the date the bill was first mailed. Filing
an application does not authorize an applicant to delay making
a tax payment. Not more than one exemption may be granted under
Clause 37 on the same parcel of real estate. For eligibility,
an individual must satisfy requirements relating to proof of
blindness and ownership and domicile. For further information
contact 565-4115.
QUALIFYING VETERANS
Clause 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, Paraplegics
Applications must be filed annually with the local assessors
I the city or town where the property is located on or before
December 15th, or three months after the actual tax bills are
mailed, whichever is later. Filing an application does to entitle
the applicant to a delay in tax payment. For further information
on eligibility and exemption amounts contact the Longmeadow Assessors
office at 565-4115.
SENIOR PHARMACY
PROGRAM
124 Watertown Street, Watertown, MA 02172
800-953-3305
Massachusetts residents, age 65 +, low income, no insurance coverage
for medications. Ann application can be obtained from the area
Longmeadow Senior Center or state home care agency. It is state
funded program which provides up to $750 yearly for prescription
medications. Eligibility includes the following: 65 years or
older: an income no greater than $11,844 per year * Couples apply
individually. And no insurance coverage for medications.
SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION
1550 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103
413-785-0110 or 1-800-772-1213
The Social Security Administration oversees a wide range of program
which provide monthly cash payments, including SSI(Supplemental
Security Income), and/or health insurance to individuals based
on certain criteria. One of these programs is Social Security
or Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI). Eligibility
varies and is described below:
SOCIAL SECURITY
RETIREMENT BENEFITS - applicants must have worked long enough
at a job covered by Social Security. Currently, retirees begin
collecting their benefits at age 65, however, anyone born after
1938 may begin collecting partial benefits at age 62.
SURVIVOR'S BENEFITS - Qualified dependents or survivors of an
insured person may be eligible for Social Security Benefits.
To qualify, one must be one of the following: under 18 years
old or a full-time high school student; a spouse with children
under the age of 16 ears old; widow/widower 60 years old or older;
a parent 62 years old or older who was dependent on the wage
earner; disabled widow/widower or a divorced spouse age 50-60
years old; unmarried child disabled before age 22.
DISABLED BENEFITS- for a disable person to be eligible for Social
Security Benefits, they must be unable to engage in work activity
due to a verifiable physical or mental disability that has lasted
or will last for at least 12 months, or have a disability that
will result in death. In addition to the regular work requirements,
applicants must have worked 5 years of covered employment in
the 10 years preceding the onset of the disability. Applicants
under the age of 30 years old may be eligible with lower number
of quarters.
TAX PREPARATION
PROGRAM - AARP
888-227-7669 - For location of tax assistance site
565-4150 - Longmeadow Senior Center
AARP provides seasonal TAX PREP ASSISTANCE at various sites in
and around Western Massachusetts. For information of where to
find tax preparation assistance in your town, call your local
Council on Aging, or call AARP 1-888-227-7669 for counseling
site in your area.
TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
Bell Atlantic - Lifeline
295 Worthington St, Springfield 01103
785-0500; 800-882-1417 - Voice. TDD
Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 8:00 PM; Saturday 8:00 - 5:00 PM
Individuals receiving AFDC, EAEDC, SSI, Medicaid, Food Stamps
or Fuel Assistance may participate. Bell Atlantic offers special
rates for qualified customers. Special discounts are offered
to individuals who are receiving financial assistance from on
or more of the above mentioned programs. Two types of discounts
are offered: "Link-up America" reduces the normal installation
charges for telephone services by 50% (up to $18.54), and allows
for the remainder of the service connection fee to be spread
out in monthly payments over a one year period, with not interest
charged. "Lifeline Program" reduces the monthly telephone
bill by $9.50 per month.
WOMEN'S PENSIONS
ASSISTANCE PROJECT
Gerontology Institute, UMASS
100 Morrissey Blvd
Boston, MA 02125
287-7330
The Women's Pension Assistance Project provides advocacy and
information regarding pension questions or problems women may
encounter. They conduct ongoing research and have staff available
to help with questions regarding taxes, benefits, and pension
rights.
FUNERAL SERVICES
CONSUMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
2250 East Devon Avenue, Suite 250, Des Plaines, IL 60018
800-662-7666, Monday - Friday, 9 - 4:00 PM CST
Provides consumer information, assistance/referral regarding
funeral planning.
MEMORIAL SOCIETY
P.O. Box 2821, Springfield 01101
783-7987
Springfield Memorial Society provides consumer advice and information
and referral about memorial/funeral services. Information is
available on pre-planning, burial, cremation, donation to medical
science, organ donation, and other related topics. One time donation
- $15.
SOCIAL SECURITY SURVIVOR'S BENEFITS - Qualified dependents or survivors of an insured person may be eligible for Social Security Benefits. To qualify, one must be one of the following: under 18 years old or a full-time high school student; a spouse with children under the age of 16 years old; widow/widower 60 years old or older; a parent 62 years old or older who was dependent on the wage earner; disabled widow/widower or a divorced spouse age 50-60 years old; unmarried child disabled before age 22.
WOMEN'S PENSIONS
ASSISTANCE PROJECT
Gerontology Institute, UMASS
100 Morrissey Blvd
Boston, MA 02125, 617- 287-7330
The Women's Pension Assistance Project provides advocacy and
information regarding pension questions or problems women may
encounter. They conduct ongoing research and have staff available
to help with questions regarding taxes, benefits, and pension
rights.
CommonHealth-Division
of Medical Assistance
311 State St., Springfield 01105
800-841-2900
CommonHealth is a program offering comprehensive health insurance
coverage to Massachusetts residents with disabilities and to
those under 18 years of age who are not eligible for medical
assistance. This coverage is available at a reasonable monthly
cost. It is administered by the Division of Medical Assistance
- MassHealth/Medicaid
INSURANCE HOTLINE/ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE
One Ashburton Place
Boston 02108
617-727-2200 extension 3499, 3440 or 3441
The Insurance Hotline receives calls form consumers with questions
or complaints about their service, billing, or coverage. Calls
are taken on health, life, homeowner, auto or disability insurance.
If warranted, attempts are made to recover consumers money.
MEDICAID
Division of Medical Assistance - Springfield
311 State St., Springfield 01105
785-4100, Monday - Friday 8:45 am - 5:00 PM
The Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance (also Known
as MassHealth/Medicaid) processes all community Medicaid and
long-term care Medicaid applications for all of Hampden &
Hampshire Counties. MassHealth/Medicaid is comprehensive health
insurance. MassHealth covers most medical needs such as: Physician's
Services: Hospital Services: Prescription Drugs: Medical Transportation:
Some Dental Services and some services not covered by Medicare.
MassHealth recipients choose either an independent primary care
physician, or may elect to join a Health Maintenance Organization
(HMO), such as HMO Blue, Kaiser. Anyone receiving AFDC or SSI
is automatically eligible for Mass Health. Others may be eligible
for MassHealth if they meet income and asset guidelines, and
if they get into one of the following categories: children under
18; persons 65 or older; disabled persons; pregnant women; families
with children under 18 in which one parent is deceased, incapacitated,
or absent; two parent families in which the principal wage earner
is unemployed or underemployed.
MassPRO-MA Peer
Review Organization
235 Wyman Street
Waltham, MA 02154
617-890-0011 or 800-252-5533
MassPRO is a federally designated peer review organization that
conducts utilization and quality of care review for the Medicare
population. Contact MassPRO to appeal a denial of hospital coverage.
MassPRO is committed to educating Medicare beneficiaries and
those who advocate for them, about their benefits under the Medicare
program, and about the purpose and review procedures of the PRO
program as carried out by MassPRO.
MEDICARE is a
federal health insurance program for people 65 or older, people
receiving Social Security Disability payments for at least 2
years, and those with permanent kidney failure.
Key Phone Numbers:
Medicare Advocacy Project (MAP) - 1800-323-3205
MEDEX Hotline - 1-800-258-2226
Medicare Claims Hotline - 1-800-882-1228
Medicare Fraud & Abuse Hotline - 1-800-882-1228
Medicare Advocacy Office - 1-800-462-5540
Office of Elder Affairs - 1800-882-2003
Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213
SHINE - Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Elders - 1800-882-2003
MASSPRO Info Hotline - 1-800-252-5533
Durable Medical Equipment - 1-800-842-2052
ELDERLINE - Homecare Information - 1-800-243-4636
Medicaid Customer Service - 1800-841-2900
Mass Federation of Nursing Homes - 1800-227-3367
HCFA - 1-617-565-1232
PhRMA - Medication Information - 1-800-762-4636
MEDICARE ADVOCACY
PROJECT
Western Mass Legal Services
127 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103
413-781-7814 or 1-800-746-3205
The Medicare Advocacy Project(MAP) provides advice about Medicare
program requirements. It also provides representation to those
inappropriately denied coverage for needed medical services.
Operating Agency: Social Security Administration.
Health Insurance
Counselors/ SHINE PROGRAM
Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Elders provides trained
volunteer counselors who will assist you with all questions and
problems relating to health insurance such as Medicaid/MassHealth,
Medicare, MEDEX, long term care planning, managed care plans,
private insurance plans. Appointments are necessary. Call 565-4150.
SUPPLEMENTAL
SECURITY INCOME - SSI
Social Security Administration
1550 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103
413-785-0110: 1-800-772-1213
The Social Security Administration oversees a wide range of program
which provide monthly cash payments, including SSI(Supplemental
Security Income) is one such program for the aged, blind and
disabled. SSI is a needs-based program which has asset and income
limits for eligibility. Recipients of SSI are usually automatically
eligible for Medicaid. A Social Security recipient may also be
eligible for SSI, if income and asset guidelines are met. Eligibility
varies and is described below for 1997:
- Applicants must be 65 years old or older, blind or disabled
- Applicants cannot have more than $2,000 in countable assets for an individuals or $3,000 for a couple. Assets that are not included are primary residence, automobile (under certain circumstances, household goods of reasonable value, certain kinds/amounts of insurance, and property essential to support self-support.
- Applicants cannot have income of more than: $630/month for an individual or $942/month for a couple. The first $20 of income is disregarded in determining benefit amounts. There may be other allowable deductions for certain categories such as student earnings, income set aside as part of an approved plan for self-support and work expenses for the blind.
