Previous Help Line Articles: Telephone Scams Q: How can I protect myself from telephone scams? A: According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers lose more than $40 billion a year to telemarketing fraud. People over 50 years of age account for about 56% of all victims. Last year almost 9 million Americans were robbed of private financial information. A recent phone operation into Massachusetts was the Canadian Lottery scam. A caller, posing as an IRS representative, told elders they had won the lottery, but first they had to pay taxes on the winnings—by Western Union or check. Recently, thieves used a list of World War II veterans and retired teachers they bought from a company that owns a database of 210 million US consumers. People who enter sweepstakes or who buy mail order items end up on lists like this that are sold to scam artists. Telephone scams can involve phony prize offers or travel deals, and fake charities. The FTC warns seniors to listen for the “buzz words for fraud,” which include: --Act "now" or the offer will expire. --You’ve won a "free" gift or prize---if you pay for "postage and handling.” --We need your credit card or bank account number or, our courier will pick up your check. --You can’t afford to miss this "high-profit, no-risk" offer. It’s illegal under federal law for a telemarketer to call you if you have asked not to be called. They must tell you it’s a sales call, the name of the seller, and what they are selling - before they make their pitch. Callers are not allowed to withdraw money from your checking account without your express, verifiable authorization. If you get an unwanted call, you can say: "I don’t do business with people I don’t know," "Please put me on your ‘Do-Not-Call List,’" "I need written information about your offer.” The simplest response is, "I’m not interested. Thank you and good-bye." It’s not rude to hang up on a scam artist. The FTC recommends that children talk to their elderly parents and remind them not to make any deals over the phone, and never give out information about your bank accounts or credit cards unless you have made the call, and know who you are speaking with. If you suspect you’ve been called by a scam, file a complaint with the FTC by calling (202) FTC-HELP. To reduce telephone sales calls, send your name, address and telephone number to: Direct Marketing Association, Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014. Put your home phone and cell phone on the FTC’s Do Not Call list by calling (888)-382-1222 or going to www.donotcall.gov. You will still get calls from charities, political groups, surveys, or companies with which you have ties. Sign up for the Massachusetts Do Not Call list by calling (866) 231-2255. State residents can file a complaint about phone scams with the Attorney General at (617) 727-8400. Preventing Falls Q: Any tips for preventing falls among the elderly? A: Everybody spoofs the old commercial in which an elder says, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.” But falls are the top cause of accidents in people over the age of 65, and the main cause of serious injuries and accidental deaths for seniors. One in three people over the age of 65 fall each year. More than 15,000 elders die each year from falls, and 2 million end up in emergency rooms. The most common injury from falls is a hip fracture. One in four people who have a hip fracture die within a year. Poor eyesight or poor hearing can lead to falls, as can a basic illness, which affects your strength and balance. The side effects of some medicines can cause dizziness. Medicines for depression, sleep problems and high blood pressure often cause falls. Some medicines for diabetes and heart conditions can affect your balance. Have your doctor check all your drugs for correct dosage and possible interactions. Get your eyes checked every year, and see your doctor right away if you feel dizzy, weak or unsteady on your feet; if you feel confused; or if you fall. To reduce the risk of falls, experts say older people should focus on strength training exercises to keep muscles strong. Exercise programs like yoga and tai chi improve balance. Because your home can also be a fall-hazard, due to poor lighting, scatter rugs, cluttered furniture - here are some tips to lower your risks: Wear shoes with nonskid soles (put away your house slippers). Be sure your home is well lit in every room used. Place night lights in your bedroom, bathroom, hallways and stairways. Remove throw rugs or use carpet tape to fasten them. Don’t place electric cords across pathways. Put grab bars put in your bathtub, shower and toilet area. Install handrails on both sides of stairways. Don't use stools and stepladders. Get help for jobs with climbing. Wax your floors with a non-skid wax, or not at all. Put non-skid treads on your stair; nail down well any stair rugs. Repair your sidewalks and walkways so they are smooth and even. Anytime you get up from bed, sit on the side of the bed before you stand up, to give your blood pressure time to adjust. Have a commode by your bed to avoid a trip to the bathroom at night. Fall-related medical expenses cost Americans more than $20 billion annually. Congress has been considering a number of falls prevention bills, but no major education effort has passed. Meanwhile, each week, another 30,000 people over the age of 65 are seriously injured in a fall. To contact The Assistive Technology Exchange in New England, go to their website at http://www.getatstuff.com/ or, you can reach them by email at ATinMA@getatstuff.com or by phone toll free 1-866-682-9955 (in state), 617-204-3851 (voice), 617-204-3815 (TTY), 617-204-3887 (FAX). Tri-Valley continues to be ready to assist you with other questions through its free information & referral HELP-LINE at (508) 949-6640 or 1-800-286-6640. You may also access Tri-Valley by E-mail: info@tves.org or visit the agency’s Web Site at: www.tves.org Used Eldercare Equipment Q: Where can I buy & sell used home care equipment? A: There’s is a new service on the internet that will allow people to buy and sell equipment for individuals with disabilities. If you have some equipment that you no longer need - like a wheelchair, grab bar for the shower, hospital bed, tub seat, lift chair - there is now an “assistive technology” website with free listings. The Assistive Technology Exchange of New England offers any device that helps a person with a disability to live more independently or safely. Supplies and equipment such as ventilators, oxygen equipment, and catheters will not be accepted. Items posing hygiene or safety risks also will not be listed. The goal of the AT Exchange in New England is to put equipment that is not currently being used into the hands of someone who can benefit from it. People from states outside New England can list. The listings on the Exchange will include items for vision, hearing, speech communication, learning, cognitive, developmental, mobility, seating and positioning, daily living, environmental adaptations, transportation and vehicle modifications, computers, recreational, sports and leisure. The Exchange is not for vendors or distributors, it’s for the individual who has an item, or is looking for an item. Companies are welcome to donate equipment. Anyone can browse the AT Exchange on the internet, but to sell or buy, you first have to register, which is easy to do. Each person who signs up gets a unique user name and password. Every listing submitted is reviewed by a staff person at the Exchange for approval. Staff at the AT Exchange can help review current listings for you, or post items on your behalf. You must update your listing at least once every 90 days, or it will be removed from the Exchange. Items posted within the last 7 days are identified with a “new” symbol. You can even search for items that have been added within the past 7, 14, or 30 days. Currently, there is only one item on the Exchange: a wheelchair for $150 offered by someone in Hanover, Massachusetts. But check out this new service, and spread the word. In a few months, you may find something you really need for a loved one, or a friend.  Food Stamp Use Rises Q: Are elderly people eligible for food stamps? A: Yes, and if you are a senior and have not applied for food stamps---Massachusetts is looking for you! Only a few years ago, Massachusetts ranked last in the nation with 60% of the people eligible for food stamps not on the program. But, over the past 5 years, an aggressive outreach plan has turned those numbers around. Today, Massachusetts ranks Number 1 in the percentage of new food stamp users. In 2001, there were 222,519 state residents using food stamps. Today, there are 445,381 people enrolled. The program has doubled! Across the country, about 25.7 million people use food stamps. In 2006, the Massachusetts issued $408 million in Food Stamp benefits, which also help the economy by increasing grocery store sales. Some older people may not apply for food stamps because of myths they have heard: Food stamps are just for young mothers with kids: False. The program is for people with limited income, regardless of their age. About half the people benefiting from food stamps are children---but only 8% were age 60 or older. Food stamps mean using funny-colored "money": False. Today, people use a debit card that looks just like any other plastic credit card. The state deposits your monthly food stamps benefits in an electronic benefits transfer account. They send you a card to use at food store checkouts to pay for your food. Whenever you buy food with your card, your receipt will show the amount of money left in your account. Food stamps can only buy limited items: False. Food stamps can be used to buy almost any food item in any store where you usually shop for food. Massachusetts residents who use food stamps can spend the money they save to help pay their other bills. Food stamps aren’t worth much financially: False. The average food stamp benefit in 2004 was $1,020 a year. A single person will get less than a family---but even the minimum benefit is worth $120 a year. Since there is no cost to apply, that frees up $120 to use for something besides food. · Food stamps are hard to apply for: False. You can apply at food stamp outreach locations throughout the state. To find an office near you, call the toll-free Food Source Hotline at 1-800-645-8333. Ask them what items you need to bring when applying for food stamps. You will need to bring information about your income and expenses, such as Social Security or SSI payments, rental payments, and medical bills. Remember, hundreds of thousands of people have qualified. For more information about food stamps in Massachusetts, and how to apply, call 1-866-950-FOOD. If you want to find out if you could be eligible, check out the Internet tool at www.foodstamps-step1.usda.gov. Property Tax Credit Time Q: Is the “circuit-breaker” property tax credit for the elderly still available? A: Yes, if you are age 65 or older, you may be eligible for a state "refundable credit" to help pay for your local property taxes. This credit, known as the "circuit breaker," could save you up to $870 when you file your state income taxes for 2006 this spring—even if you owe no state taxes. In fact, reading this column could be worth $3,340 in credits. The "circuit-breaker" is a tax credit elders can claim on their state income tax form for the property taxes they paid during the tax year on the residential property they own, or rent, as their principal residence. Your credit is based on how much your property taxes, including water and sewer charges, exceed 10% of your "total income" for the year. For renters, the credit is the amount by which 25% of your annual rent exceeds 10% of your total income for the taxable year. For tax year 2006, the maximum credit allowed for both renters and homeowners is $870. You apply for the credit on your state income tax Form 1, not from your local city or town assessors. To be eligible, the taxpayer or spouse, if married filing jointly, must be 65 years of age or older by the end of 2006. The taxpayer's "total income" cannot exceed $46,000 for a single filer, $58,000 for a head of household, or $70,000 for taxpayers filing jointly. For homeowners, the assessed valuation of your home as of January 1, 2006, cannot exceed $684,000. The credit is based upon the actual real estate taxes or rent paid by a taxpayer. You can’t apply if: 1) you file "married filing separate" status; 2) you get a federal or state rent subsidy; 3) you rent from a landlord who is not required to pay real estate taxes, or 4) you are the dependent of another taxpayer. If you file for the $870 credit before April 15, 2007, you can also claim up to an $840 credit for 2005, $820 for 2004, and $810 for 2003. That’s a total of $3,340 in credits if a person has never used the circuit breaker before. For more background on this credit, call the state Department of Revenue at 800-392-6089, press "1" and then wait for customer service to answer. If you don’t use a tax preparer, get a family member or friend to help you fill out the forms and Schedule CB on your tax form. The Sandwich Generation Q: Is there help for the “sandwich generation?” A: Yes. The “sandwich” refers to the middle-aged generation that has both elderly parents and dependent children. They are squeezed between the demands of caring for their elderly parents, and supporting their dependent children. A study released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that sandwich generation women in the age range of 45 to 56 years old annually transfer a total of $18 billion to children and elders, and spend 2.4 billion hours a year helping their kids and their parents. There are roughly 20 million women in this age group. The study found that it is not very common (1%) for women to be living with their parents and their kids in a three generation household, but nearly 16% of this age group either had a parent living with them, or gave their parents on average $1,124, and spent 1,008 hours or more helping their parent with personal care. More than 80% of the sandwich women gave an average of $6,263 to their kids, and 74% gave $1,521 to their parents. 80% spent 23 hours a week helping their kids, and 30% gave 26 hours a week to their kids. Research shows that the sandwich generation gives more money to their kids, but more hours of assistance to their parents. “It is apparent,” the study said, “that a sizable minority of women in this age group are spending a lot of time and money supporting their parents.” Sandwich generation women are more likely to be married, not part of the workforce, and to be wealthier than other women their same age. But marriage is no longer considered to be a major factor in being in the sandwich generation. Income and not having to work are more common factors for the sandwich group. It would be wrong to see the sandwich generation as a new phenomenon, but there has been increased attention paid to this group, in part because as life-expectancy increases, middle-aged people tend to have parents who are still alive. Women are also having children at later ages, so they are being parents at an older age. They are also more likely to be working outside of the home. Perhaps most important, the baby boom generation---by virtue of its size alone---draws more media attention to this problem. More and more sandwich generation members are realizing that they don’t have to carry the full burden of caring for children and elders alone. In Massachusetts, caregivers can get help in assessing what eldercare or respite services they might be eligible for, and strategies for balancing family obligations. Call 1-800 AGE INFO, press “3” and ask for the “Family Caregivers” program in your area. Finding a Nursing Home Q: How can I find a good nursing home? A: In Massachusetts, 80% of the people who enter a nursing home come from a hospital first. If a hospital discharge planner says your Mother must be out in 24 hours, and gives you a list of area nursing homes---you are suddenly under pressure to make a decision. But the goal in our state is to make nursing home care a last resort, so be sure to ask for home care alternatives as your first resort. And then: Extend your hospital stay: Use your appeal rights under Medicare to extend the hospital stay for two days. Ask for a “notice of non-coverage.” That will buy you additional time. Check out alternatives: Call 1-800-Age-Info, press “3” to be connected to your local Aging Services Access Point (ASAP). Ask to speak with a nursing home screener. If your relative is on MassHealth, inquire about the “community choices” program as an alternative to nursing home care, or the personal care assistance program. Get the names of local facilities: Your ASAP can give you a list of nursing homes and put you in touch with your local nursing home ombudsman. Ask that person about their experiences with area homes—good and bad Look for report cards: The federal government maintains a “Nursing Home Compare” website at www.medicare.gov that will give you info on local homes. Also go to www.consumerreports.org and look for their “Nursing Home Quality Monitor.” Check the ownership: Look first at the independent, non-profit homes, rather than at a for-profit chain. Non-profits or religious groups usually have a mission to help people, not just their bottom line. Ask if the home has changed owners multiple times. If the facility is part of a large chain, you may have a harder time complaining about bad care. Visit Several Times: If you’ve got one or two homes on your list, make unannounced visits. Stop by after breakfast to see how many people are still in bed. Visit at dinnertime and taste the food yourself. If residents are eating in their rooms, that’s not a good sign. Ask the nurse aides how many residents they each care for. The smaller the number, the better. Read the Reports: Ask for the home’s Form 2567. That’s the state inspection survey. If you have difficulty obtaining it, that’s not good. A survey with lots of violations indicates problems. Ask if the administrator and the director of nursing have worked at a facility for several years, that’s a positive sign. Frequent turnover of key staff can indicate bad morale or mismanagement. Talk to the administrator: What is his or her philosophy of care? Is this philosophy written down and given to families to read? Do advance research: Nursing homes are an expensive investment. Do some research before a family member needs care. Ask your ASAP about what alternatives exist in the community for people who might need nursing home care, and learn those options first. New Family Leave Plan Q: Is there a new family leave plan & tax benefit for people caring for elders? A: The state Senate has proposed a “working families” plan with a tax cut for working families with dependents, and paid family and medical leave. The tax cut plan would increase the deduction that state taxpayers can claim on line 13 of the state tax form for the care of a disabled or elderly parent or spouse. Currently, you can deduct $3,600 for a dependent age 65 or over, or disabled person, or a $7,200 deduction for two dependents. The Senate plan would raise this deduction to $5,000 for one dependent, and $10,000 for two dependents for families with incomes up to $75,000. These deductions lower the amount of income taxed at 5.3%, so the deduction today is worth around $191 off your taxes, and the Senate plan would lift that to $265—an increase of $74 for a family with one dependent. With two dependents, the tax break would increase by $148. If you don’t claim the line 13 deduction, the Senate proposal also increases the deduction for dependent care expenses you can claim on line 12 of the state tax form. The maximum deduction today for “qualifying expenses” for the care of a disabled dependent or spouse, is $4,800 for one person, $9,600 for two or more qualifying dependents. The new plan would raise the maximum deduction to $10,000 for one person, $15,000 for two or more dependents. This would increase the maximum tax break from $254 for one dependent, to $530, a $276 increase, and a $286 increase for two dependents. The second plan is a paid family leave benefit, which would allow workers to receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a sick family member, including a spouse, a parent, or the worker herself. Leave pay would be capped at $750 a week, so workers earning up to roughly $39,150 a year could get their full pay during a leave of up to 12 weeks, or up to $9,000 in one year. This leave would be paid from a trust funded with premiums paid by employees only, not their employers. The typical worker in Massachusetts would pay around $2 a week into the fund and an employee must have been on the job for the prior 9 months, and worked at least 900 hours for her employer. There is a 5 day waiting period, so workers will have to take unpaid leave or sick/vacation time for those first 5 days. “This will ensure that when an employer’s aging mother suffers a heart attack or stroke, she can be with her parent in the emergency room and help with the recovery.” explained Senate President Robert Travaglini (D-East Boston), who proposed the plan. “Where I come from, family is the most important thing. Government cannot replace the family’s crucial role, but it can support families and offer them the resources to be strong.” For more background on the “Working Families Initiative” contact info@masshomecare.org. May 15 Drug Deadline Q: Can I still join the Medicare Drug plan? A: Yes, but after May 15, 2006, there will be a penalty for joining late. The U.S. Treasury Department says that Medicare spent $5.1 billion in claims for the new Medicare drug benefit in January and February of 2006, the first two months of the new plan. To date, 26 million seniors have joined the plan, and Medicare is paying for more than a million prescriptions a day. If you use an average amount of prescription drugs, Medicare claims the new drug coverage will pay over half of your drug costs next year. If you have very high drug costs, Medicare will pay up to 95% of these costs—but only after you spend $3,600 out of your own pocket. If you don’t sign up for Medicare D by May 15^th, you will not be able to get into the plan again until open enrollment from November 15 to December 31, 2006. The late fee means your premium will go up at least 1% per month for every month that you wait to join. You will have to pay this penalty as long as you have Medicare drug coverage. If you bought a plan with a premium of $31.49 per month, but bought it eight months late, your premium would be $34, which is about $30 more per year in penalty fees. If you have not bought a plan yet, be sure to look at the relationship between the premium, the deductible, and the “extra coverage” offered by each plan. Some plans may offer more coverage and additional drugs for a higher monthly premium. The major advantage of some plans is that they continue to cover your drugs once you are inside the “donut hole,” which occurs once your costs (plus the Medicare D costs) reach $2,250. The next $2,850 in bills are yours to pay—unless your drug plan offers “extra coverage” in the gap. If your drugs’ total cost are more than $187.50 per month, you are going to fall into the donut hole, and extra coverage for generic and brand name drugs may be worth the higher premium cost. Medicare drug plans are offered by county, and the premiums for these plans in Massachusetts range from $7.32 per month, to $65.58 per month. The most expensive plan costs 9 times more than the cheapest. But premium price is not the whole story. The cheapest plan on the market, for example, has a $250 deductible, and provides no coverage in the donut hole. The same company has a plan with a premium nearly 8 times more expensive--but it covers both brand name drugs and generic drugs in the gap, and thus would be a better buy for elders with high drug costs. A $250 deductible is equal to nearly a $21 dollar per month added to your premium. The plan with a $7.32 monthly premium and a $250 deductible, is really a $28.15 a month plan if you have drug costs that total $200 a year. The deductibles for all these drug plans are either $0 or $250. Despite all these confusing plans, you can get help in selecting the Medicare drug plan that’s right for you, by calling the SHINE program toll-free at 1-800-AGE INFO and pressing “2”. Home Heating Deduction Q: Is there a new state tax break on home heating oil? A: Yes. Last November, the state legislature passed An Act Providing Heating Assistance and Tax Relief. This law is buried in state income tax Form 1. It was designed to provide relief from the high cost of heating your home or apartment. But the new home heating deduction won’t warm your wallet. It’s hard to find the home heating fuel deduction on your state tax form, because it doesn’t have its own line on Form 1. But its there, lurking behind line 15, which is merely labeled: “Other deductions from Schedule Y.” When you go to Schedule Y, you’ll find the fuel deduction at the very bottom of the form, on line 14, listed as the “home heating fuel deduction for certain taxpayers.” You then have to “See worksheet for instructions.” The worksheet can be found on page 21 of the Form 1 Instruction book. The worksheet explains that if you use home heating oil, natural gas or propane, you can deduct from your taxable income any fuel you bought in November and December of 2005--the actual cost or $800--whichever is less. One person with an adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less, can claim the deduction. Someone married filing jointly or filing as a head of household can have up to $75,000 in income. Married but not filing jointly, you can’t claim the deduction. The deduction is for up to $800, but if your fuel bills for November and December don’t add up to $800, you can file for the rest of your $800 in your next tax return for 2006, using months January, February and March to qualify. There are special rules for renters and condo owners, and for that you have to read another instruction guide. But here are two reasons why this new home heating fuel deduction gives seniors the cold shoulder: 1) Many low-income seniors don’t owe any state taxes, because all the meager income they have comes from Social Security, which is not taxable by the Commonwealth. Because this home heating deduction is not a credit, just a deduction, it does people with no state tax liability absolutely no good. 2) For seniors who do pay state taxes, what this deduction means is that you can deduct up to $800 off your “total 5.3% income.” In other words, you are not saving $800 in state taxes, but only lowering your taxable income by $800, before the state computes your taxes after all income deductions. That $800 would have been taxed at 5.3%, so the most you save in actual taxes is $42.40 this year. The cost of a gallon of fuel oil nationally as this is written is $2.44 a gallon. The new legislative tax break, at the maximum benefit, would pay a senior back for about 17 gallons of oil. That’s about 7% of a 250 gallon tank fill-up. Many seniors may not want to wade through all the calculations and tables and instructions to save a maximum of $42.40. For seniors, the meager financial gain from the home heating fuel deduction may leave them feeling left out in the cold. Medicare D Online Q: Can I still sign up for the Medicare drug program? A: Yes. You have until May 15^th to enroll in a drug plan. If you don’t enroll by May 15^th, you will pay a late penalty, and the next enrollment will not be until November 15 to December 21, 2006. There are many factors to consider before joining a Medicare D plan. For people who have access to the internet, Medicare has a “drug plan finder” that can help you make an enrollment choice. Go to www.medicare.gov, and click on “Compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans.” Then click “Find a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.” You will then be able to make a “personalized” search for plans. You will need to enter the 9 digit Medicare Claim Number from your Medicare card, your last name, date of birth, and zip code. You will be asked if you currently have any form of prescription drug coverage, like MassHealth, or a Medigap plan, and if you received a letter from Medicare saying you qualify for financial help. You will then be asked to choose which kind of Medicare drug plan you are interested in. This could be a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), or a Medicare Advantage Plan, which covers both health care and drugs. If you choose a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, and you live, for example, in the Boston area, you will get a list of 45 drug plans to review. They range from the cheapest, the Humana PDP Standard plan, with a monthly premium of $7.32, to the Aetna Medicare Rx Premier plan at $65.58 per month. The cheaper plans usually have a $250 deductible, and offer no “gap coverage”, which refers to the “donut hole” where you pay 100% of the cost of your prescriptions. The “gap” starts after $2,250 in drug costs, and continues for the next $2,850 in drug costs. In our Boston area search, we found 3 plans that provided coverage for generic drugs in the gap, and only one that covered brand name and generics. Plans with no deductible and gap coverage will cost the most. Before using this Medicare plan finder, you should first price the monthly cost of the drugs you now take as if you had no insurance at all. Most drug stores will give you prices over the phone. If you have very high drug bills, it may make sense for you to consider “gap coverage.” Anyone with drug costs over $190 a month is going to fall into the donut hole area. The Medicare Finder lets you check to see if your drugs are covered by the plan, and what “tier” they fall under. There are 3 tiers, with 3 being the most expensive. What tier your drug will fall into varies from plan to plan. A plan that has your drugs in Tier 2 instead of Tier 3, will save you copayments at the drug store. You can even check which drug stores in your area are participating in each plan. Once you have used this new Medicare online tool, call 1-800-Age-Info, press “2” and ask to speak with a SHINE counselor. Discuss with the counselor what kind of plan you think you want, and get their advice before enrolling in this complex new insurance. Tri-Valley continues to be ready to assist you with other questions through its free information & referral HELP-LINE at (508) 949-6640 or 1-800-286-6640. You may also access Tri-Valley by E-mail: info@tves.org or visit the agency’s Web Site at: www.tves.org Fuel Assistance Help Q: Will there be help to pay fuel bills this winter? A: Yes. Rising gasoline prices have prompted concerns among seniors about the cost of heating their homes this winter. The state will offer fuel assistance to households with limited incomes. Last year, the state provided helped more than 130,012 households. This winter, a single person with gross annual income (before taxes) up to $19,140, or a married couple up to $25,660 per year, will qualify for some fuel assistance. There is no asset test for the fuel aid program. The amount of fuel assistance this season is likely to range from $415 to $609, with added benefits for high energy costs. The state uses a formula that gives the lowest income households with the highest fuel costs, the most benefits. According to the state’s fuel assistance plan, roughly $74.29 million in federal funds could be coming to the state, depending on final Congressional action. Of that total, around $53 million would be for heating assistance. Because of the spike in fuel costs, more state funding is considered a likely possibility. The application period for fuel assistance grants is November 1, 2005, to April 30, 2006. There is no priority given to seniors or disabled people, so be sure to apply for fuel aid early in the heating season, and don’t wait until your last delivery. Homeowners are eligible for the program, but so are renters. A renter who pays their own heating bill directly is eligible for fuel assistance, and a person whose heat is included in the rent may also qualify, if their total rent payment is greater than 30% of their household income. Some renters are not eligible for this program. If someone is living in public housing, and their rent is limited to 30% of their income, and they don’t pay for heat directly, they will not get fuel assistance. If you are not sure if you qualify, contact the program and ask how your situation will be handled. The fuel program also has a “fast track” application process for people who are experiencing a heating crisis, such as a utility shut off notice, or an empty oil tank. A fuel crisis also includes a person with no heat, for any reason, or someone facing the imminent loss of heat. There are 28 agencies across the state that will determine if you are eligible for the fuel program, and pay your fuel dealer towards the cost of your heating bills. This fuel assistance program, which is known as the “Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will cover payments for oil, propane, wood, or coal, as well as natural gas and electric utilities. To find out where you can get fuel assistance, you should contact the “Energy Assistance Agency” nearest you. The Department of Housing and Community Development has a toll-free HEATLINE number you can call to find out the fuel assistance program in your area. Call 1-800-632-8175, or 617-573-1560. Food Stamp Debit Cards Q: What are these new debit cards for food stamps? A: The state is hoping to dramatically increase enrollment in the food stamp program by automatically sending out debit cards in the mail to people who are eligible—even though they never applied. It’s estimated that half the people in Massachusetts who qualify for food stamps, don’t use them. Many elders, for example, don’t use food stamps because they are reluctant to ask for any financial assistance, and it’s not easy to get past the bureaucracy to get the benefits. Massachusetts has started a new program called the Bay State CAP program, or Combined Application Project. CAP is sending debit cards to people who are on SSI (Supplemental Security Income). The first mailings to 29,000 people living alone have already gone out. Another round of mailing to roughly 35,000 SSI recipients will go out later this fall, to those not living alone, or who are considered homeless. The state’s Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) sent out letters to let these SSI recipients know they are eligible for food stamps. A second letter was sent which had in it a blue EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card, with financial benefits already in the card’s account. A third letter was sent out with a PIN number, or Personal Identification Number, for the cardholder to use their card. People getting these new EBT cards were told they would lose their food stamp benefits if they did not use any amount of the card’s benefit within 45 days of receiving it, or August 12, 2005. Once the card is used, the holder is certified to receive food stamps for three years with this card. The food stamp money is kept in a special account until the cardholder wants to use it. The card is only good for eligible food items. With these new EBT cards, you just have to look for the word “Quest” on the window of participating stores, and when in the check-out line, swipe the card just like it was a credit card, and enter your secret PIN number. Your store receipt will tell you how much money is left in your food stamp account, or you can call 1-800-997-2555 to get your balance. Some EBT cards can also be used like ATM cards to withdraw cash at a machine. In stores that don’t have the EBT system, the clerk can still fill out a manual voucher that you sign for food stamp purchases only. The new card can be used at area supermarkets, or at some approved prepared meals programs. To get more information on this new, easy access program for food stamps, call the CAP hotline at 1-800-645-8333. Or, go to the website www.mass.gov/dta. To find out if you can get food stamps, use the calculator at www.gettingfoodstamps.org. Tri-Valley continues to be ready to assist you with other questions through its free information & referral HELP-LINE at (508) 949-6640 or 1-800-286-6640. You may also access Tri-Valley by E-mail: info@tves.org or visit the agency’s Web Site at: www.tves.org Tri-Valley Elder Services, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation providing in-home and community based services in 25 Southern Worcester County towns. Marilyn L. Travinski is the executive director. ### Financial Abuse of Elders Q: Is financial abuse of seniors a growing problem? A: Unfortunately, yes. This year in Massachusetts, a total of 31 new reports of elder abuse are made every day. Although neglect, physical and emotional abuse of the elderly make up the largest number of on-going cases of abuse, there are roughly 37 new cases of financial abuse opened every month in our state. According to national studies, as many as 60% of adult Americans say they have been victims of financial crime. One national study concluded that financial exploitation accounts for one-third of the elder abuse cases in America. Financial abuse against the elderly can take many forms, sometimes from strangers, and sometimes from family members. Common examples of frauds include: phony prizes and sweepstakes; investment scams; bogus charity contributions’ “emergency” home repairs (roof repairs, driveway resurfacing, pest control); home loans at exorbitant rates; duplicative burial policies; “miracle” health remedies; vacation scams; telemarketing and mail scams, etc. In most cases, the offenders gain trust of the elder by using a business name similar to a well-established group, by showing concern for the elder’s well-being, and by telling the elder they have been “chosen” or “lucky” to get this special offer. These frauds happen quickly, with elders often being told to keep the details secret. Warning signs of scams include: a promise that you will win something; a demand that you act immediately; a refusal to send you written information; an attempt to scare you into buying something; an attempt to get you to wire money or give it to a courier. Another major source of financial abuse is by relatives and caregivers. Family members will borrow money from an elder and never pay it back; steal money or valuables; deny services to conserve funds; cash pension checks without permission; misuse ATM and credit cards; force an elder to sign over property. Relatives or caregivers will add their name to a bank account; transfer the title to a home; misuse their power of attorney role; induce an elder to change their will. Despite this wide variety of financial crimes against the elderly, government officials say that elder fraud is dramatically underreported. Many victims will not report the fraud because they feel ashamed to admit that they were conned, or that a family member stole from them. They may also fear that other people will think they can’t care for themselves. If you suspect that someone you know is being financially abused, call 1-800 Age Info, and press “4”. You will be connected to your local protective services agency. Reports of elder abuse will be investigated by workers specially trained to handle reports of abuse or exploitation, under the state’s mandatory reporting and investigation law. Medicare Has No Teeth Q: Does Medicare cover dental expenses? A: No. One of the most obvious gaps in Medicare coverage is the lack of dental care. Medicare not only doesn’t cover most dental procedures, like fillings, extractions, and dentures—it doesn’t cover routine preventive care, like cleanings. Medicare covers a wide range of preventive services, from glaucoma screenings to bone mass measurements—but it’s a plan with no teeth in it. “Unfortunately,” Medicare admits, “the Medicare program does not cover routine dental care…for (it) is statutorily excluded from coverage. It would take an act of Congress to change the national coverage decision to not cover dental care.” A new report published by the Merck Institute of Aging and Health says that only 15 states meet the oral health target goal of 20% or fewer of its elders having suffered complete tooth loss. Massachusetts, for example, with 22.7% of its older population with complete tooth loss, failed the goal. The Merck study suggests that elders with bad oral health tend to have incomes below $15,000, less than a high school education, diabetic, or a non-Hispanic black. The MIAH recommends the following six guidelines to help elders lower their risk for dental decay: Drink fluoridated water and use fluoride toothpaste. Carefully brush teeth and floss to reduce dental plaque and prevent periodontal disease. See a dentist regularly. Dentists can help spot precancerous or cancerous lesions early in their development. Avoid tobacco products, including spit tobacco, which contains sugar. Smokers have a seven times greater risk of developing periodontal disease. Avoid excessive alcohol drinking, which is a risk factor for oral and throat cancers. Get dental care before undergoing chemotherapy or radiation to the head or neck. These therapies can damage oral tissues and lead to bone destruction. Low-income elders have bad oral health because they can’t afford to see a dentist regularly, and Medicare is of no help. In Massachusetts, the health care program just for the poor has no dental benefits. The Medicaid program classifies adult dental services as an optional benefit, allowing states the choice of including it, or not. In 2003, Massachusetts eliminated dental coverage for adults on Medicaid. Even though bad oral health can lead to many other health related problems which result in higher public cost, the preventive importance of good dental care has no bite in Massachusetts. Bad oral health is a political problem, more than a public health issue. Medicare Drugs Soon Q: When are Medicare drugs starting? A: January 1, 2006. Seniors will start to get information about the new program this spring. Enrollment in the “Part D” prescription plan will start on November 15^th. In May, the Social Security Administration will begin notifying seniors who may be eligible for a subsidy. People on Medicaid will now have their drugs paid for by Medicare instead. People on both Medicaid and Medicare will automatically be assigned by the federal government to a prescription drug plan (PDP), which is a stand-alone drug plan. Part D will be voluntary. It will only be available through private plans. It is estimated that these plans will cost $35 a month in 2006. Most prescription drugs will be covered. One of the major problems with the new Medicare drug plan is the cost to the consumer. When you enroll in Medicare D, the first $250 in drug costs is your deductible to pay. The next $2,000 in costs will be 25% yours to pay, or $500. Your plan will cover the other 75% of that amount, or $1,500. But after you have reached $2,250 in expenses, the plan drops out for the next $2,850 in costs---all of which you have to pay yourself. This is called the “donut hole.” If you have $5,100 in drug costs annually, the Medicare plan will cover only $1,500, leaving you with $3,600 in out of pocket costs. You will pay another $420 in premiums. Stated another way, if your drug bills are around $425 per month, you will pay $335 of that monthly cost, or 79% of the tab. Medicare D plan is best for people with “catastrophic” drug costs, because once you reach $5,100 in annual costs, Medicare will pay 95% of the balance. The Part D subsidy is a sliding fee scale based on income and assets. If you have income of $9,630 or less, you will not have to pay a monthly premium or the deductible. There will be no donut hole coverage gap for you, only a small copayment for your drugs. A person with $13,000 a year in income, and assets below $6,000, will also have no premium or deductible, and no donut hole. A person with $14,450 in income will pay a small premium, a $50 deductible, some copayments, but no donut hole. Your house is not counted as an asset, but bank accounts and savings are counted. These income figures will change every year, because they are based on the federal poverty limit. You must enroll in a Medicare Part D plan within 6 months of becoming eligible, or pay a late penalty. You can enroll in a Prescription Drug Plan, or stay in a Medicare Choice plan--which will now be known as a “Medicare Advantage” plan. Medicare supplemental plans now providing drugs, like Medex Gold, will no longer be open for new enrollees after January 1, 2006. The existing Prescription Advantage state plan will likely be changed to fill some of the Part D holes. To sort through options call 1-800-Age-Info and push “2” to speak with a free SHINE Counselor in your area. Property Tax Breaks Q: Are elderly property tax breaks changing? A: Very likely. Governor Mitt Romney recently said “we must also extend a helping hand to our seniors…. Let’s help them by providing property tax relief…” The property tax breaks available to elders have not kept pace with inflation. A study by the State Auditor found that state reimbursement to communities for elderly homeowners has been capped at $500 per exemption for the past 20 years. The Auditor recommended that the Legislature increase the amount of the property tax exemption for elders, and that state payments to municipalities be increased. The report also recommended an increase in the financial eligibility criteria for elderly exemptions, and repeal of the provision capping the number of exemptions for which the state will pay communities. Under Massachusetts law (Chapter 59, section 5), persons 70 years or older who meet certain income, whole estate, and residency requirements, can get a property tax break worth $500. Not all towns have the same options, because some of these clauses have to be adopted by vote of the city or town. Elders have to file for these tax breaks every year before December 15^th, or 3 months after property tax bills are mailed. For several of the exemptions, an elder must have lived in Massachusetts for the past 10 years, and owned their property for 5 years. There are three major exemptions (Clause 41, 41B, 41C) and they all have different income and estate limits. Clause 41 allows a single senior to have only $6,000 in gross receipts (not counting Social Security), Clause 41B allows $10,000, and Clause 41C allows $13,000. There are also “whole estate” limits which vary. A Clause 41 estate (not counting your home) is $17,000 if single, $20,000 for Clause 41B, and $28,000 for Clause 41C. Elderly couples get higher recei