Page 5 - Senior Times South Central Michigan January 2022 - 29-01

Senior Times - January 2022 Page 5
CALHOUN COUNTY SENIOR MILLAGE EXPANDS INCOME ELIGIBILITY
By: Helen Guzzo, LMSW, Manager, Calhoun County Senior Services
decrease in the number of seniors served in 2020 and 2021.
To help rebuild program participation and serve more older adults, the Senior Millage Allocation Committee approved raising income limits to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level for the 2022 calendar year.
The spending and administration of Calhoun County Senior Millage is overseen by a 13-member volunteer board called
the Senior Millage Allocation Committee. Calhoun County Commissioner Gary Tompkins chairs the Committee. In addi- tion, County Commissioner Jake Smith is one of the 13 members. In a unanimous vote in December 2021, the Senior Millage Allocation Committee approved a one- year increase of program income limits for income-tested Senior Millage-funded pro- grams.
appointments and food shopping is available for those who can no longer drive or who don’t have a vehicle. Benefits Counseling, which is help for seniors to understand Medicare and Medicaid benefits, is also open to all seniors.
First approved by voters in 1996, Senior Millage funds 22 programs to serve older adults, age 60 and over, and was renewed for another ten years in 2020. Calhoun County Senior Millage raises about $3 million in tax dollars each year to provide services that promote health, safety, dignity, and indepen- dence for older adults.
Approximately one half of all Senior Millage-funded programs are income-tested to target limited dollars to those older adults most in need in the County. It is surprising the numbers of older adults who live on $1,000 or less in Social Security each month. Non-income tested programs include: the home delivered meals program, or Meals
on Wheels, which is targeted at older adults who can no longer easily prepare food due
to increased frailty or temporary disability from a surgery or injury. Group meals or congregate dining is available to all, as is exercise programs through Senior Fitness & Fun operated by Senior Health Partners.
an assessment and limited homecare to help seniors who are experiencing decline to stay as healthy and independent as pos- sible. Assistance programs include Ramps for Accessibility, Minor Home Repair, Home Heating Assistance, and Money Management.
The expanded eligibility increases the income limit of Senior Millage income-test- ed programs from 200% to 250% of the Federal poverty level as established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the calendar year 2022. Each year the Federal government issues poverty guidelines that determine eligibility for many Federal, state, and local assistance program. This is a strategy to help increase the num- bers of older adults served in Senior Millage- funded programs and assist senior house- holds who might be struggling to afford one of the provided services.
To see if you qualify, interested individu- als should see the County’s website, or call Calhoun County Senior Services at (269) 781-0846, or contact a specific program directly. Countable income includes Social Security benefits (after the Medicare Part B premium is deducted), pensions, annuities, and 401K payments. Senior Millage pro- grams are not asset-tested. This expansion of services will help more people benefit from assistance available through these important programs administered through nine trust- ed nonprofit organizations operating in the County.
After serving a record number of older adults in 2019, due to the COVID-19 pan- demic, Senior Millage has seen a continued
Community Action provides a Senior Transportation van program that serves older adults and people with disabilities in the County so that transportation to medical
Helen Guzzo, LMSW, is the Manager
of Calhoun County Senior Services, which funds a variety of services for residents age 60 and over with Senior Millage tax dollars. To learn more, call (269) 781-0846.
For one person, this increases the limit from $2,147 per month to $2,683, or an annual income of $32,200. For a two-per- son household, this increases the limit from $2,903 to $3,630 per month, or an annual income of $43,550. Extending this increase to future years will depend on the financial demand that increasing eligibility creates, this decision will be made in late fall 2022.
Income-tested programs are health pro- grams not covered by Medicare including Dental, Hearing, Vision, and Personal Emergency Response Systems/help buttons. Prescription Assistance for seniors without prescription drug coverage is also avail- able. Community Care Options provides
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