Get a Confidential BenefitsCheckUp

Find out if you’re eligible for extra help with your bills

Many older people struggle to pay for medicines, health care, food, utilities and other important bills. Sometimes you have to choose between your medicine and your meals, or your health and your heat.

BenefitsCheckUp is a program sponsored by the National Council on Aging. A one-hour, confidential BenefitsCheckUp can tell you if you can get extra help. A trained local Benefits Ambassador will help you find out if you’re eligible for:

• Prescription drug assistance
• Nutrition programs and food stamps
• Property tax and rental rebate programs
• Cash assistance
• Housing assistance
• Home energy assistance
• In-home supportive services
• Legal services
• Health care services
• Employment services

Benefits ambassadors come to the Center for Healthy Aging at Lehigh Valley Hospital—17th and Chew in Allentown and Lehigh Valley Hospital—Muhlenberg in Bethlehem. The volunteers are specially educated and will respect your privacy. You will need to have this information:

• Month and year of birth -- you and your spouse
• ZIP code
• Type of home -- house, apartment or mobile home
• Length of time in current home
• Veteran status -- you and your spouse
• Names and dosage of all prescription medications you take – bring the bottles with you to the interview
• Estimated income and assets from all sources – you, your spouse and anyone else who lives with you
• Estimates of current expenses – mortgage or rent, utilities, medical bills, etc.

For dates and times that volunteers will be at the Center for Healthy Aging or Lehigh Valley Hospital—Muhlenberg, check the current Vitality Plus calendar. You can also complete the questionnaire online or call 610-402-CARE for more information.

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