Q: Ms. H asks: “My elderly mom has outlived her assets, and her Social Security allotment will no longer cover the bills in a few months time (expensive hourly care). My income is not enough for us both. Do you have any suggestions?”
A: Let me start by saying that I sincerely sympathize with your situation and appreciate your asking this important question.
The Social Security Administration offers two programs that may be of assistance to you. Both of these programs have income and resource limitations. First, we have the Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs. If your parent’s income is not over $16,335 per year and she does not have resources greater than $12,640, then she may be eligible for this benefit.
Second, we administer a program called Supplemental Security Income. If your parent’s monthly Social Security benefits are less than $694 and she does not have any resources over $2,000, then she may be eligible for this program.
For additional information, you may visit our website at www.socialsecurity.gov or call us at 866-964-0029.
In addition, you may find assistance through the Tennessee Commission on Aging & Disability.
You can contact them at www.tennessee.gov or call them at 866-836-6678 or 800-624-5547. If you live in the Georgia area, you can contact the Division of Aging Services at www.ga.gov or call them at 866-552-4464.
These organizations offer assistance for family caregivers. Furthermore, these organizations provide information on eligibility requirements for energy assistance and qualified Medicare beneficiary for your mother. If she is eligible for QMB, it will pay all or a portion of her Medicare Part B.
Remember if you do not have a computer at home, the library has computers and Internet access at no cost.
Submit questions to local Social Security Director Martin Coffey by writing to Business Editor Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times Free Press, P.O. Box 1447, Chattanooga, TN 37401-1447, or by e-mailing him at dflessner@timesfreepress.com.