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STATE LAWS CONCERNING AVAILABLE SOCIAL SERVICES Address given by Vira Lashchyk at the Social Services Workshop The lack of appropriate information and knowledge about state laws concerning available social services have created the myth in our community that social services are intended only for the poor and indigent. The Ukrainian press presents little information about services available not only to the indigent, but also to all senior citizens, without regard to their assets, who live in the United States. I wish, therefore, to share with you today what assistance is available to senior citizens, how it can be tapped, what assistance is available solely to the indigent, and what support any senior citizens may avail himself or herself of. The social service system may generally be divided into two categories. The first category refers to all citizens 65 or more years of age without regard to annual income. The second category deals with senior citizens who are single and have an annual income of not more than $9000, and to married individuals with a combined annual income of $12,000 or less. The assistance available to the indigent is: 1. Supplemental income 2. Medicaid 3. Food Stamps 4. Emergency fuel 5. Low Income Energy Assistance 6. Low Income Rent and Property Rebate 7. Subsidies for prescribed medication. In Pen nsylvania the PACE Program provides funds for this purpose. Citizens at least 65 years of age may avail themselves of the following services: 1. Medicare 2. Energy Rebate 3. Taxi Fare Reductions 4. Van Transportation to and from medical visits. Covered by Medicare. 5. Hospital beds, canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and other therapeutic equipment. Also covered by Medicare if prescribed by the physician. Each state of the union has its own corporation on aging which provides essential and necessary services to its senior citizens. The laws which govern such cor porations do, however, differ from state to state. It is, therefore, important to obtain the appropriate informa tion concerning your state’s laws governing social ser vices for senior citizens. Each state’s corporation on aging is funded by the federal government through state and city agencies respectively. The basic goal of such agencies is to provide senior citizens with the opportu nity to maintain an independent and dignified life in the community for as long as possible. Structurally state and city agencies serve two groups of senior citizens: (1) those who are healthy and mobile and can avail themselves of senior citizen centers’ activ ities and social serives, and (2) the “ In Home" group, i.e. those who are homebound. Referrals may be made by family, friends, hospitals neighbors, other community groups or individulas, in cluding the person in need of help. Senior citizens, regardless of income, may avail themselves of the following services: 1. Meals 2. Homemakers’ Services 3. Chore Services, i.e. heavy cleaning 4. Transportation to and from medical appoint ments I have nine years of experience as a social worker dealing with senior citizens. Often I encounter people who suffer from a persecution complex. Our people have had bitter experiences which have left their indeli ble mark. Our society, i.e. the Ukrainian-American community, generally avoids discussing such cases, often pretending that they do not exist. I also often meet people who have not appropriately arranged their own financial affairs, have not prepared their wills, and have not become U.S. citizens. In all such cases the individu al’s estate is turned over to the Soviet Union. There have even been cases in which funds were not available for a proper burial, because, after death, the individual’s bank accounts were frozen and unavailable. It is also important to note that each hospital houses a bureau of social services. Physicians must be aware of these services and must, I repeat, MUST refer patients, especially single individuals, to secure for them at least their basic needs: meals, visiting nurse service or a hos pital bed when appropriate. The costs for such services are covered under Medicare. I therefore wish to empha size once again, that it is of utmost importance to be acquainted and familiar with state and local laws and services available to senior citizens. Based upon my experience, I would also like to comment upon the lack of Ukrainian volunteers in the social services field. American social service agencies have numerous volunteer groups who maintain personal contact with senior citizens, often single, lonely, and ill individuals; for them the volunteers provide the assist ance, encouragement, and motivation they need to carry on the activities essential for dignified daily living. The volunteer movement of the United States encom passes at present all levels of community life. In 1985 approximately 89 million Americans served as volun teers contributed $110 billion to the economy of the 28 НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ", ВЕРЕСЕНЬ 1987 Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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