Help for the Elderly 

By Judy Milone, The New York Times

December 6, 2008 

Judy Milone, Assistant Director of the Member Services Department at the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, answered selected questions about what kind of assistance is available to seniors who are struggling financially.

Q: I need to find out how to get help. I will be 60 years old in March and need to find a reasonable apartment. I work with the Senior Service of America SEEP and donʼt make much money and canʼt seem to get into housing, subsidized apartments because of income. I am constantly moving from one personʼs apartment to another and canʼt afford the amount of money I have to pay for rent. Please forward to appropriate person who can help me. 
--By Linda Underdue

Q: My grandparents have recently moved to a new apartment in Queens which is a little higher priced than they had hoped. It would be extremely helpful if there were any programs that help senior citizens with rent payment issues, as I do not believe they qualify for programs such as SCRIE. Thank you. 
--By Heather Reyes

Ms. Milone's response to the questions above:

A: There are some housing programs for the elderly, but certainly not enough to meet the needs of low-income New York senior citizens. While tenants themselves can apply for the programs described below, it is always helpful to use the services of a professional for advocacy and guidance through the process. Workers at senior centers and case management agencies are often very knowledgeable and effective in securing senior housing, to the degree that it is available. One should apply early, have patience and be sure the application is updated as needed. 

Enriched Housing is run by New York City's Department for the Aging [D.F.T.A.] and a host of private agencies, and is designed to enable people who need some level of care to live independently in the community. This program provides room and board in an apartment in a small group or shared-living arrangement with supportive services, assistance with meal preparation, shopping, housekeeping and personal care. Continuous care or medical assistance is not provided. There is, however, 24/7 on-call emergency service. The applicant must be 65 or older and need help performing activities of daily living. Applicants can pay with their own funds or with their S.S.I. benefit. 

For local office contact information, contact NYC DFTA, Long Term Care Resource Center, 2 Lafayette St., 15th floor, New York, N.Y., 10007; (212) 442-3086; visit www.nyc.gov/dfta or call the city's information line, 311.

Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly is found in more than 100 sites in the City, operated by HUD. Residents pay no more than 30 percent of their income for rent. Program offerings vary from building to building, but many provide daily congregate meals, housekeeping, transportation and social services to aid residents' functioning. Eligible applicants are 62 or older with a gross annual income of not more than $20,700; other requirements vary across facilities. Interested applicants must call each managing agency or participating housing complex individually to apply. Application procedures vary, as do waiting lists, although most are long. To obtain a list of Section 202 managing agents, contact DFTA at (212) 442-1384 or www.nyc.gov/dfta or 3-1-1.

Shared Housing assists seniors who are in good health and self-sufficient, who want to share housing, living expenses and household responsibilities. They are operated by nonprofit organizations. Shared Housing matches elderly homeowner or renters who have extra bedrooms with people seeking such a living arrangement. Once a match is made, agencies usually do limited follow up. For more information; contact DFTA at (212) 442-3086 or www.nyc.gov/dfta or call 311. 

Adult Homes provide long-term residential care and range in size from five to 400 beds and are for seniors with some form of disability or frailty. Buildings must be licensed and meet specific standards set by the State Department of Health. There is a range of cost, and some supportive services are provided.

Family-Type Homes for Adult are private homes providing services similar to adult homes but in a smaller setting, usually caring for one to four seniors.

Residents must have some disability or frailty but not need ongoing medical care. These are less regulated than adult homes, and potential residents should be aware of safety standards and practices before moving in.

For either program: contact: New York City HRA, Voluntary & Proprietary Homes for Adults, 400 Eighth Avenue, 6th floor, New York, N.Y., 10001; (212) 971-2787, 2697.

Senior citizens 62 and older who live in rent-regulated apartments (including Mitchell-Lama housing) should find out whether they are eligible for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program [SCRIE]. This program provides eligible renters with an exemption from future rent increases, once the rent becomes more than one-third of the household's disposable income. (The landlord of the SCRIE tenant receives a tax abatement credit that makes up for the rent monies not being paid). The combined disposable annual income after deductions of all household members cannot be more than $28,000. SCRIE certificates must be renewed every two years, or every year for Mitchell-Lama residents. For applications, call DFTA at (212) 442-9366; use the D.F.T.A. Web site or call 311. 

Judy Milone's response to three questions posted by Norman Bauman, below.

(1) Does my friend really have legal rights to Medicaid, food stamps and possibly public assistance within certain deadlines that HRA is denying?

(2) If so, is there any process to get HRA to obey the law? Where can he get an advocate who can demand HRA do so?

(3) Social workers told us that people generally today are having this problem during the economic downturn. HRA is simply denying Medicaid and other services to people who are entitled to it. Is this true? Is this part of a broader pattern? Is HRA failing us when we most need them? 

Dear Mr. Bauman,
Your friend is in a very distressing situation in which it’s very easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged. I suggest focusing on securing the essential missing document -- the rejection letter from Unemployment Insurance. Human Resources Administration, HRA, rightfully needs to see if there are any financial assets and/or potential income from other sources before they process a request for assistance. A few advocacy organizations that perhaps can help advocate with Department of Labor/UI are:

Worker’s Defense League, 212/627-1931; 
National Employment Law Project, 212/285-3025 and 
Unemployment Action Center, 212/998-6568. 

HRA can give an Immediate Needs Grant [in the form of a payment or a voucher], before determining ongoing eligibility. Your friend needs to stress the health and safety factors of his lack of medication and need for food. Ask specifically for an Immediate Needs Grant and, if the worker and worker’s supervisor are not responsive, go up the “chain of command” in the HRA office. One level above the supervisor is the Administrative Assistant to the Director; this worker is often helpful. Above that position is the Deputy Regional Manager. A denial of an Immediate Needs Grant must be put in writing by HRA. 

If your friend is over 62, he should seriously consider applying for social security retirement benefits. Although the amount of the monthly benefit is quite lower the earlier you take it, your friend’s situation would argue that he seriously consider this. All inquiries, applications and appointments for the Social Security Administration start by calling their main number: 800/772-1213. 

There are many excellent agencies that provide case management for seniors throughout the city. To find the one that covers your friend’s zip code/community district, call 3-1-1, the City’s information line. As your friend ages, the case management agency can be sure he secures any benefits he is entitled to, as well as any other services and programs he could participate in. 

Q: I am 80 years old and live with my sister who is 84. She can't walk very much and we live in an area where we can't get to public transportation easily.

When we have doctor's appointments, or need to buy food, I have to ask my grandaughter or daughter to take us, but they work and have their lives.

Sometimes we miss the doctors appointments. How can I get the state or city to help me with transportation. Once they sent a hometaker to my house, but since I can do everything, they decided that I didn't need the help, and that meant I didn't need assistance with going to the doctor or to the store. Could you tell me what are my options. I receive medicaid and food stamps.
-- Posted by Mary

Dear Mary, The Access-A-Ride (AAR) Program operates exactly for seniors like you and your sister. It provides shared vans that can take you, door-to-door, to appointments or for any other purpose within the five boroughs. The cost is whatever the standard fare for buses and subways is at the time. Drivers can provide assistance from the outside door of the pickup location to the outside door of the destination and can assist with carrying light packages.

To apply for A.A.R., you need to go to an interview at an assessment center in your borough. There are various levels of eligibility, which are determined by your physical condition and which will be explained to you at the interview. Call Transit Control at (877) 337-2017 or (718) 393-4999 to ask for an application and an appointment. Decisions will be made in 21 days.

You might need help with this application process and, even if you do not, I strongly encourage you to become involved with a case management agency for senior citizens. This type of agency is knowledgeable about all sorts of benefits and services that could help you and your sister. These could be meal programs, or recreational activities, or ones to help you financially. It's good to be in contact with helpful, resourceful professionals who will keep an eye out for you. Some of these agencies have transportation programs themselves — either with staff or volunteers — and that could be another way for you to get around safely. To find the case management agency that covers your ZIP code/community district, call the City's information line at 3-1-1.

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