Monday, November 29, 2010

Kanawha County Prosecutor's office expanding elderabuse intervention

Rob Schulenburg, Assistance Prosecutor for Kanawha County, explains how elderabuse and financial exploitation of seniors is seriously underreported and takes substantial resources to investigate and prosecute in this article in today's Charleston Daily Mail. His boss, the elected Prosecutor Mark Plants is allowing 3 more assistant prosecutors to work on elderabuse cases in Kanawha County.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Medicare Premiums and Deductibles 2011

Part A generally pays inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, and some home health. Most beneficiaries do not pay a premium for Part A since they have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment.

Part B generally pays a portion of the cost of physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and other items.

Here below are the premiums, deductibles, and copays for Medicare Parts A and B for 2011:

Part A
Hospital Deductible$1132
Hospital Copaydays 61-90$238/day
days 90+$566/day
Skilled Nursing
Facility Copay
days 21-100$141.50
Part B
Premium for individual by income<$85k$115.40
$85k to $107k $161.5
$107k to $160k$230.70
$160k to $214k$299.90
>$214k $369.10

Monday, November 01, 2010

Apply for WV LIEAP 12/6 to 12/10

Low Income Energy Assistance Program - (LIEAP)
LIEAP will officially open for general intake on Monday, December 6th, and close at the end of the day on Friday, December 10th. Applications may be obtained at local DHHR offices, Community Action agencies, and county senior centers. The online application will also be available on the DHHR website at www.wvinroads.org. In situations where a heating emergency exists, applicants must be seen by a DHHR Worker.
The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) assists eligible households with the cost of home heating through direct cash payments or payments to utility companies on their behalf. A crisis component is available for households without resources facing the loss of a heating source. Eligibility for both program components is based on a combination of factors, including income, type of heating payment, and total heating costs.
LIEAP is funded entirely by a federal block grant. The program's duration and the amount of the payment is dependent on the amount of the grant. A portion of the grant is transferred to the Office of Economic Opportunity for the Weatherization Program. Applicants for LIEAP may be referred to Weatherization for additional assistance.
The Division of Family Assistance (DFA) operates LIEAP in each of the DHHR field offices for a short time each winter, usually beginning with an automated payment or a mail-out to targeted households. In addition, DFA contracts with the Community Action network and with regional Agency on Aging offices to perform outreach and accept LIEAP applications at their local sites.
View the FY 2011 LIEAP Fact Sheet below for further information, including income guidelines. If you have questions, please contact your local County Office.
FY 2011 Fact Sheet
20% Discount Program
The Special Reduced Residential Service Rate Program (20% Utility Discount Program) was established by statute to assist certain eligible participants in receiving a 20% discount from their electric and/or gas company.
In order to be eligible for this rate reduction, one must be a recipient of either SSI, WV WORKS, or SNAP (former Food Stamp Program) AND be 60 years of age or older. One must be a recipient of one of these programs during November, December, January, February, and March to get the discount for that month.
The electric and/or gas company will be responsible for determining your eligibility for the Special Reduced Residential Service Rate.
Tel-Assistance/LIFELINE and Link-Up
Through Tel-Assistance/Lifeline, telephone companies offer reduced basic service to eligible low-income elderly and disabled customers. The Division of Family Assistance issues applications to eligible recipients and provides ongoing eligibility information to the telephone companies and informs them when customers are no longer eligible for Tel-Assistance. This is handled centrally by the Division of Family Assistance.
Through Link Up, telephone companies offer a discount on telephone installation to low-income households. Applications and certification of eligibility are handled centrally by the Division of Family Assistance.