Help for People 65 and Older with Incomes at $1360/mo Single, $1820/mo Couple

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Unemployment, decreases in investment income and disappearing pensions have left many retirees quietly struggling to make ends meet. AARP estimates that unemployment for people 55 and older has increased over 300% in the last decade. Wayne State University reports 37% of people over 65 in Michigan don't have enough income to pay for basics like food, housing, transportation and their medical needs. The situation is worse in the City of Detroit, where 60% of retirees are at risk. Perhaps an older adult you know - a neighbor, friend or even a parent - is choosing between a meal or their medication

"Older adults are used to providing for themselves and their families. Even facing financial hardship, they may not ask for help without encouragement," explains Kate White, Executive Director of Elder Law of Michigan. "We created the Benefits Enrollment and Options Center (BEOC) to serve as a resource to help older adults get assistance to pay for things like food, medicine, insurance and utilities. We want older adults with modest incomes and assets to call us for help." BEOC offers significant help for single elders with gross incomes of $1360/month or less and assets of $8100 or less and elder couples with gross incomes of $1,820/month or less and assets of $12,910 or less. "The BEOC is a Medicare funded service that older adults are able to call from the safety and comfort of their own homes to speak with a caring case manager," said White. There is no charge for assistance.

For help making ends meet for older adults in your life call the Benefits Enrollment and Options Center today at 1-866-400-9164.

About Elder Law of Michigan:Elder Law of Michigan is 501(c)3 charitable, non-profit organization. Our mission is to promote and protect the rights, health and economic well-being of people as they age and older people with disabilities by providing information, advocacy, legal advice and professional services. ELM seeks to be the most trusted resource for adults to ensure that they are safe, informed, treated fairly and economically secure as they age. For more information, please visit www.elderlawofmi.org.

CONTACT: Kate White, Executive Director, Phone: (517) 853-2375 or Cell:(517) 896-0347, Email: kwhite@elderlawofmi.org