Ivy, 86, was living on just $1,125 a month—barely able to afford health insurance, put food on the table, and pay for her home heating bill. Luckily, Ivy found an NCOA community partner—one of 90 Benefit Enrollment Centers nationwide. Benefits counselors helped Ivy apply for and receive $270 a month in food assistance and $169 added back to her Social Security check to cover her health insurance premium. The center also helped Ivy apply for programs that allow her to pay for water, electricity, and phone services. An estimated 20.5 million older adults like Ivy live on less than $22,000 a year, and many must choose between paying for food or medicine each month. Providing benefits counseling is at the heart of NCOA’s mission to ensure every person can age well. In 2023, NCOA’s local partners helped eligible individuals apply for $588 million in public assistance.
National Council on Aging
National Council on Aging
Gentle music
Speaker 1: Older man 1
Whatever I need. This has been my lifeline.
Speaker 2: Older woman
There are people who are thinking about me. They have social workers who call. That's what it's all about, outreach, reaching out to the ones who are more vulnerable than the others. So we appreciate it.
Speaker 3: Senior center director
We have mission and purpose. That's what keeps you working and keeps you developing resources.
Speaker 1: Older man 1
To have interaction with somebody like this is, it's consistent all the time, gives me a sense of security.
Speaker 4: Older man 2
They call me every day, see if I need anything, if I'm sick or I'm feeling bad. It makes me feel good. Somebody cares.
Speaker 5: Senior center director
We need to take care of who took care of us. We need to start taking care of them.
End Slide:
Generosity changes lives. Give today at ncoa.org/Donate.
