4-10-2025 10:04pm

Council on Aging’s Benefits Enrollment Center Helps Lower-Income Older Adults Apply For Money-Saving Benefits

Beth Callahan Editor

Photo via Pexels.com

Story courtesy of Council of Aging

WARREN COUNTY, OH -- Identifying and applying for benefits can be a daunting process for anyone, let alone for an older adult – especially one who doesn’t have internet access or reliable transportation.

As an official National Council on Aging (NCOA) Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC), Council on Aging (COA) assists limited-income older adults who are Medicare eligible and individuals with disabilities connect with certain cost-saving benefits for which they may be eligible.

“We’re finding that many older adults in our region don’t know about the programs we can connect them with as a BEC,” said Jennifer Sorrell, manager of COA’s BEC. “Many are pleasantly surprised to find out they can save money and make their budgets stretch further after enrolling.”

The benefits for which COA’s BEC provides enrollment assistance are:

Prescription Drugs

Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low Income Subsidy (LIS) Program – helps cover prescription drug plan costs, including Part D premiums, deductibles and copayments.

Health Care

Medicaid – pays for a broad range of medical services and limits out-of-pocket costs for qualifying, low-income individuals.
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) – help cover Medicare premiums and other related expenses for people with low income.

Nutrition Assistance

SNAP – provides nutrition assistance to eligible individuals and households via a monthly benefit on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, like a debit card, which can be used at authorized retailer stores to purchase food.

Home Energy

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – helps low-income households with energy costs, providing financial assistance to pay heating and cooling bills and other energy-related expenses.

“We encourage individuals in our service area of Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties to reach out to us to learn more about which of these programs they might qualify for if they are 65 or older and Medicare eligible. Sometimes people assume they won’t qualify– but then find out, once they work with us, that they do,” Sorrell said.

According to NCOA, this is not uncommon. For example, many older adults believe they’re not eligible for SNAP benefits, when in fact as many as three out of five people who qualify don't enroll. There is no charge for Council on Aging to work with individuals to determine their eligibility for one or more of these benefits, or to assist with applying for them.

A COA team member will provide as much assistance as is needed to apply for benefits. This often includes help with gathering required documentation and submitting applications. After an application is submitted, COA follows up with the applicant three separate times to see if benefits were approved. If issues arise, a COA staff member may intercede with the appropriate agency on behalf of the applicant.

An applicant who prefers in-person assistance rather than help by phone may visit a COA office. If the applicant is unable to leave their home or doesn’t have transportation to a COA office, a COA staff member can provide in-home assistance.

“Those who we’ve helped to apply for these benefits are very happy that someone is willing to assist them. I hear from them that it’s so confusing,” said COA staff member Madeline Hegeduis, who assists individuals with their applications.

Those 65 and older and those with disabilities in the COA service area who are curious if they qualify for any of these benefits should contact Council on Aging at (513) 721-1025, menu option 2 and ask to speak to a Benefits Enrollment Center representative.

About Council on Aging

Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio (COA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing quality of life for older adults, people with disabilities, their families and caregivers. COA promotes choice, independence, dignity and well-being through a range of services that help people remain independent for as long as possible. COA is a state-designated Area Agency on Aging serving Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties. One call to COA links people to the wide variety of agencies, information and programs that serve older adults and people with disabilities.